Exposing a Former Czech PM’s Offshore Finances
10/24/23 • 33 min
Pavla Holcová was greeted with an avalanche of threats when she woke up one morning. Her country’s former prime minister had publicly accused her of being a paid agent to undermine his re-election campaign.
In this episode you’ll hear about the dangers OCCRP’s investigative journalists face when trying to get to the truth, the horrific abuse they face and how the OCCRP helps to protect them and their sources.
Host Nick Wallis talks with Pavla and fellow OCCRP editor Pete Jones about how an investigation exposing ex-Czech PM Andrej Babiš’ undeclared overseas property deals led to a very public attack by the politician and media mogul. Pavla recounts her encounters with Babiš — and what kept her going in the face of horrific abuse from his supporters.
We also hear from Prague-based journalist Will Nattrass on why Babiš is seen as a threat to press freedom, corruption in the Czech Republic, and where the country’s politics could head in the future.
Dirty Deeds is a Little Gem production for OCCRP. The host is Nick Wallis. The producer is Lindsay Riley at Rethink Audio, with research from Phoebe Adler-Ryan and Riham Moussa.
Read the investigation:
This week’s guests:
- Pavla Holcová - @pafak
- Pete Jones - @PSJones01
- Will Nattrass
Transcript:
- Read the transcript on the OCCRP website here
More information on OCCRP:
- Keep up with the latest in global organized crime and corruption with our weekly newsletter
- Donate
[00:00] Introduction
[02:23] Pavla Holcová and Pete Jones explain how their investigation into Andrej Babiš began
[06:45] Pavla describes a public confrontation with Babiš
[08:03] Pavla describes how Babiš targeted her on social media and what consequences she suffered
[15:18] What kept Pavla going despite abuse from Babiš and his supporters
[18:03] Pete explains what makes OCCRP distinct as a news organization
[23:51] How OCCRP journalists prepare for and respond to threats
[26:08] The consequence of the article for Babiš
[27:11] Will Nattrass on Babiš, corruption and the direction of Czech politics
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pavla Holcová was greeted with an avalanche of threats when she woke up one morning. Her country’s former prime minister had publicly accused her of being a paid agent to undermine his re-election campaign.
In this episode you’ll hear about the dangers OCCRP’s investigative journalists face when trying to get to the truth, the horrific abuse they face and how the OCCRP helps to protect them and their sources.
Host Nick Wallis talks with Pavla and fellow OCCRP editor Pete Jones about how an investigation exposing ex-Czech PM Andrej Babiš’ undeclared overseas property deals led to a very public attack by the politician and media mogul. Pavla recounts her encounters with Babiš — and what kept her going in the face of horrific abuse from his supporters.
We also hear from Prague-based journalist Will Nattrass on why Babiš is seen as a threat to press freedom, corruption in the Czech Republic, and where the country’s politics could head in the future.
Dirty Deeds is a Little Gem production for OCCRP. The host is Nick Wallis. The producer is Lindsay Riley at Rethink Audio, with research from Phoebe Adler-Ryan and Riham Moussa.
Read the investigation:
This week’s guests:
- Pavla Holcová - @pafak
- Pete Jones - @PSJones01
- Will Nattrass
Transcript:
- Read the transcript on the OCCRP website here
More information on OCCRP:
- Keep up with the latest in global organized crime and corruption with our weekly newsletter
- Donate
[00:00] Introduction
[02:23] Pavla Holcová and Pete Jones explain how their investigation into Andrej Babiš began
[06:45] Pavla describes a public confrontation with Babiš
[08:03] Pavla describes how Babiš targeted her on social media and what consequences she suffered
[15:18] What kept Pavla going despite abuse from Babiš and his supporters
[18:03] Pete explains what makes OCCRP distinct as a news organization
[23:51] How OCCRP journalists prepare for and respond to threats
[26:08] The consequence of the article for Babiš
[27:11] Will Nattrass on Babiš, corruption and the direction of Czech politics
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
Bleeding Trees: Tracking Illegal Loggers in Namibia
John Grobler’s Namibian holiday led him on an unexpected journey tailing trucks and loggers to expose the interests behind illegal logging, a lucrative and illegal business making millions for Chinese companies and local elites.
In this episode Nick Wallis traces OCCRP’s investigation into who is killing the last of Namibia’s protected rosewood trees. We also hear from OCCRP journalist Khadija Sharife on how the tragic destruction of these prized forests fits into the wider looting of Africa’s natural resources.
Finally, sustainability expert Dr. Clemens von Doderer analyzes the causes of Namibia’s illegal logging and what needs to be done to put an end to deforestation.
Dirty Deeds is a Little Gem production for OCCRP. The host is Nick Wallis. The producer is Lindsay Riley at Rethink Audio, with research from Phoebe Adler-Ryan and Riham Moussa.
Read the investigations:
- Felling Namibia’s Ancient Giants
- ‘They Are Finishing the Trees’: Chinese Companies and Namibian Elites Make Millions Illegally Logging the Last Rosewoods
This week’s guests
- John Grobler - @JohnGrblr
- Khadija Sharife - @khadijasharife
- Dr. Clemens von Doderer
Transcript
- Read the transcript on the OCCRP website here
More information on OCCRP
- Keep up with the latest in global organized crime and corruption at OCCRP and sign up for our weekly newsletter.
- Follow on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to get the latest updates.
- Support investigative journalism in the public interest. Donate to OCCRP.
[00:00] Introduction
[02:33] Khadija explains why she commissioned an investigation into Namibian rosewood
[05:18] John gives a crash course on Namibia
[06:20] Why Chinese demand for rosewood trees is increasing
[08:03] Why and how John began investigating rosewood logging
[13:38] An explainer on CITES and why it’s important for threatened species
[16:13] How Namibia’s political and legal system fuels illegal logging
[18:55] What it’s like to take on a government as a lone journalist
[20:25] Can the redwoods be saved?
[24:33] Dr Clemens von Doderer explains the causes of illegal logging in Namibia
[27:26] How can illegal logging be stopped?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
Russian Meddling in Catalonia: A Playbook In Destabilization
A mysterious Russian offers Catalonia’s president $500 billion and 10,000 armed soldiers to make the break from Spain and create a cryptocurrency haven. This in the days running up to an historic vote to declare independence from Spain.
In this episode, Nick Wallis talks with journalists Antonio Baquero, Marc Marginedas and Lorenzo Bagnoli on how they tracked down the man pro-independence leaders called “Putin’s envoy” across Spain, Italy, and Russia — unveiling his past as a Russian diplomat with a history of representing the Kremlin.
We also hear from Institute for Statecraft senior fellow Nico de Pedro on how Russia used Catalonia’s independence movement in an attempt to destabilize Spain, as well as how ordinary Catalans felt when interference from the Kremlin was revealed.
Dirty Deeds is a Little Gem production for OCCRP. The host is Nick Wallis. The producers were Lindsay Riley and Ollie Peart, with research from Phoebe Adler-Ryan and Riham Moussa, at Rethink Audio.
Read the investigation:
This week’s guests
- Antonio Baquero - @antoniobaqueroi
- Marc Marginedas - @marcmarginedas
- Lorenzo Bagnoli - @Lorenzo_Bagnoli
- Nico de Pedro - @nicolasdepedro
Transcript
- Read the transcript on the OCCRP website.
More Information on OCCRP
- Keep up with the latest in global organized crime and corruption with our weekly newsletter.
- Donate.
[00:00] Introduction
[03:40] Antonio Baquera and Marc Marginedas explain how they began investigating Russian interest in Catalonia
[05:26] A profile of Victor Terredellas, key figure in the story
[08:38] How “Putin’s envoy” Nikolai Sadovnikov came to reporters’ attention
[11:52] Why are there ties between Catalonian independence leaders and the Russian government?
[15:36] Lorenzo Bagnoli explains Sadovnikov’s past as a diplomat in Italy
[20:41] A profile of Jordi Sardà Bonvehí, who accompanied Sadovnikov during his meeting with Catalonia’s separatist leader Carles Puigdemont
[23:42] How the reporters managed to interview Sadovnikov
[26:30] The effect of the story on the Catalonian independence movement, Italian mafia and Carlos Puigdemont
[31:23] Nico de Pedro explains why he and others are against Catalonian independence
[34:02] How the Catalonian independence movement is used by the Russian government to destabilize Spain
[36:56] How do ordinary Catalans feel about Russian interference in Catalonian independence?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/dirty-deeds-tales-of-global-crime-and-corruption-407641/exposing-a-former-czech-pms-offshore-finances-56973281"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to exposing a former czech pm’s offshore finances on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy