A Televised Hide and Seek

Investigation

Moldova’s Publika TV station specifies on its website that it is part of the Romanian media group Realitatea-Catavencu: "Publika TV is an investment of the Realitatea-Catavencu media group, the biggest investment ever made by a Romanian media company outside the country." The Realitatea group and the Realitatea TV station in Romania are, in fact, majority owned by the same firm, Bluelink Communicazione (Cyprus) Limited. Bluelink used to be the majority shareholder of Stiri Media Grup, the company that runs Publika TV in Moldova.

Related Articles

Luxury London Properties Linked to Family of Azerbaijan's President Are Hidden Behind an Offshore Trust
The family and associates of Azerbaijani strongman Ilham Aliyev acquired U.K. real estate worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Are they still holding onto their property empire? Despite new transparency reforms, there’s no way for the public to know — because of the special treatment afforded to offshore trusts.
Top Australian Criminal Target Zhao Thrived in Fiji Despite High-Level Warnings
Fiji’s former prime minister and police chief publicly associated with Zhao Fugang, a China-born businessman and Communist Party representative, even after police warned them that Zhao was suspected of ties to organized crime. Zhao has not been charged with any crime.
‘Tell Me What You Need’: Wiretaps Caught Alleged Toronto Mafia Boss Speaking With Property Developers
Court files indicate that Angelo Figliomeni, alleged boss of the Toronto wing of Italy’s ‘Ndrangheta mafia, was in contact with multiple Toronto-area real estate developers. Police have linked Figliomeni to a sprawling property empire.
Luxury London Properties Linked to Family of Azerbaijan's President Are Hidden Behind an Offshore Trust
The family and associates of Azerbaijani strongman Ilham Aliyev acquired U.K. real estate worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Are they still holding onto their property empire? Despite new transparency reforms, there’s no way for the public to know — because of the special treatment afforded to offshore trusts.
Top Australian Criminal Target Zhao Thrived in Fiji Despite High-Level Warnings
Fiji’s former prime minister and police chief publicly associated with Zhao Fugang, a China-born businessman and Communist Party representative, even after police warned them that Zhao was suspected of ties to organized crime. Zhao has not been charged with any crime.
‘Tell Me What You Need’: Wiretaps Caught Alleged Toronto Mafia Boss Speaking With Property Developers
Court files indicate that Angelo Figliomeni, alleged boss of the Toronto wing of Italy’s ‘Ndrangheta mafia, was in contact with multiple Toronto-area real estate developers. Police have linked Figliomeni to a sprawling property empire.
July 15, 2012

In  May 2011, Ioana Vintu, daughter of Romanian oligarch, Sorin Ovidiu Vintu, announced in a press conference that: "Myself and my brother sold all the shares we had in the Realitatea media group. The new owner is Elan Schwartzenberg and from now on my father, Sorin Ovidiu Vintu, is no longer associated with this business. However, Cyprus company records show that the current majority shareholders of Bluelink Communicazione (Cyprus) Limited are Ioana Vintu and Ionut-Codrin Vintu. Records OCCRP has checked show that Vintu's children became majority shareholders in April 2012.

That change is largely unknown to the Romanian public and to the National Audiovisual Council that as of June 2012 listed Schwartzenberg and Dobanda as beneficiary owners of Bluelink.

Reported and Written by Ion Preasca, Mihai Munteanu and Matt Sarnecki

Read other articles tagged with:

Human Trafficking Show more
Elan Schwartzenberg Ioana Vintu Ion Preasca Ionut Codrin Vintu Matt Sarnecki Mihai Munteanu Sorin Ovidiu Vintu Vintu Show more
Bluelink Bluelink Communicazione [Cyprus] Limited Dobanda National Audiovisual Council Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Realitatea Schwartzenberg Show more

Related Reporting