Stephen Abbott Pugh
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stephenabbottpugh.bsky.social
Stephen Abbott Pugh
@stephenabbottpugh.bsky.social
Beneficial ownership transparency, data and standardisation expert. Offering technical guidance and consultancy support https://www.beneficialownership.co.uk/

Talk to me about the Beneficial Ownership Data Standard https://standard.openownership.org/
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received millions of pounds from a Kazakh oligarch using funds from a firm implicated in criminal corruption, a BBC investigation has found www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Andrew was paid millions by oligarch with funds from firm linked to bribery scheme - BBC News
Firm which part-funded Sunninghill Park purchase received "allegedly corrupt" payments, court documents say.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 8, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Reposted by Stephen Abbott Pugh
Sanctions tightened and Russia adapted. Windward tracking shows EU-owned tankers regained share of Russian oil shipments in December as prices fell below the cap and new trading structures emerged. windward.ai/blog/eu-owne...
January 8, 2026 at 8:34 AM
Regional report from GIABA on money laundering and terrorist financing in West Africa linked to misuse of legal persons and legal arrangements offers a comprehensive assessment of beneficial ownership transparency risks

www.giaba.org/publications...

#beneficialownership #FATF
January 8, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Reposted by Stephen Abbott Pugh
Are transparency reforms really curbing financial secrecy?

Join us at @pse.bsky.social to explore how global tax reforms & transparency tools are reshaping offshore tax evasion & financial secrecy.

Featuring academic sessions, policy panel & keynote address.

👉 www.eventbrite.com/e/from-secre...
January 8, 2026 at 10:54 AM
Reposted by Stephen Abbott Pugh
Great to see FCDO commitment in the UK Anti-Corruption Strategy 2025 to "work more closely with international partners to support wider access to beneficial ownership data ... and wider uptake of the Beneficial Ownership Data Standard"
www.gov.uk/government/p...

#beneficialownership #openstandards
UK Anti-Corruption Strategy 2025 (accessible)
www.gov.uk
January 5, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Should the Beneficial Ownership Data Standard be extended to represent assets and capture beneficial ownership relationships with those assets? 🔍💰🏘️

github.com/openownershi...

linkedin.com/posts/stephe...

#beneficialownership #assetrecovery #AML #UBO #openstandards
January 8, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Reposted by Stephen Abbott Pugh
🚨BREAKING: Trump today cast fresh doubt on NATO’s reliability, saying he was not convinced the alliance would come to Washington’s aid in a crisis, as tensions rose over the White House's renewed push to acquire Greenland.

Full story:
Trump hammers NATO allies while Greenland crisis deepens
“I DOUBT NATO WOULD BE THERE FOR US IF WE REALLY NEEDED THEM,” says American president.
www.politico.eu
January 7, 2026 at 5:34 PM
US fines for dirty money drop 61% as Trump retreats from enforcement www.ft.com/content/4682... (via @financialtimes.com)
US fines for dirty money drop 61% as Trump retreats from enforcement
Total penalties imposed by financial watchdogs fell to $1.7bn in the year to December 19
www.ft.com
January 7, 2026 at 11:36 AM
Reposted by Stephen Abbott Pugh
We’re proud to announce a new partnership with TRM Labs to expand our investigative capabilities into cryptocurrency and digital asset flows tied to illicit networks.

Read more 👇
C4ADS Announces New Partnership With TRM Labs
C4ADS is proud to partner with blockchain intelligence leader TRM Labs to investigate cryptocurrency flows linked to sanctions evasion, organized crime, and other illicit networks.
buff.ly
January 6, 2026 at 4:15 PM
58 submissions to @ec.europa.eu's consultation on formats for the submission of beneficial ownership information to central registers from the Wolfsberg Group, Data & Technology for Compliance Alliance, Open Ownership, GLEIF, Transparency International and more

ec.europa.eu/info/law/bet...
European Commission - Have your say
European Commission - Have your say
ec.europa.eu
January 7, 2026 at 10:06 AM
How are anti-corruption authorities using big data? knowledgehub.transparency.org/helpdesk/the...

New U4 paper by @ivaparvanova.bsky.social for @anticorruption.bsky.social focuses on the importance of data quality + interoperability to help authorities unlock value
www.linkedin.com/posts/stephe...
January 6, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Last few days to submit responses to the Netherlands' consultation on providing access to ultimate beneficial ownership registers for people and entities with a legitimate interest

www.internetconsultatie.nl/wijzigingsbe...

#beneficialownership #legitimateinterest #UBO #AML #AMLD6
Overheid.nl | Consultatie Wijzigingsbesluit toegang UBO-registers voor natuurlijke personen en rechtspersonen met een legitiem belang
www.internetconsultatie.nl
January 6, 2026 at 8:27 AM
Updated 2026 statutory guidance to help companies and partnerships report ownership or control information to the UK’s People with Significant Control register has been added to gov.uk but is not yet in force pending parliamentary approval

www.gov.uk/government/c...

#beneficialownership #UBO #AML
People with significant control requirements
Guidance on people with signifiant control (PSC) for companies, UK Societas, limited liability partnerships (LLPs) and eligible Scottish partnerships.
www.gov.uk
January 5, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Great to see FCDO commitment in the UK Anti-Corruption Strategy 2025 to "work more closely with international partners to support wider access to beneficial ownership data ... and wider uptake of the Beneficial Ownership Data Standard"
www.gov.uk/government/p...

#beneficialownership #openstandards
UK Anti-Corruption Strategy 2025 (accessible)
www.gov.uk
January 5, 2026 at 3:41 PM
China's central bank - The People's Bank of China - has released new 'Administrative Measures for the Identification of Beneficial Owners of Customers by Financial Institutions', laying out how to identify and verify beneficial owners

www.pbc.gov.cn/tiaofasi/144...

#beneficialownership
中国人民银行令〔2025〕第12号(金融机构客户受益所有人识别管理办法)
www.pbc.gov.cn
January 5, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Reposted by Stephen Abbott Pugh
The Isle of Man Government has launched a public consultation to update the island’s corporate laws in line with international AML and CFT standards consult.gov.im/economic-dev...

Submissions are due by 8th January 2026.

#beneficialownership #UBO #AML #Moneyval
November 28, 2025 at 11:18 AM
The Philippines has updated national policies on beneficial ownership transparency with new rules that came into force on 1st January 2026
www.linkedin.com/posts/stephe...

#beneficialownership #legitimateinterest #UBO #AML
January 5, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Reposted by Stephen Abbott Pugh
Representing Roman Abramovich - a sanctioned Russian oligarch - while serving as Conservative shadow Attorney-General risks a huge conflict of interest.

Kemi Badenoch needs to make a choice. Either Lord Wolfson continues as shadow AG or advises Abramovich.

He can’t do both.
December 31, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Learn about how the most influential news media orgs from countries across the EU are owned/controlled via @mediaownership.bsky.social’s new country reports and an interactive database created using the Beneficial Ownership Data Standard media-ownership.eu #beneficialownership #openstandards
December 29, 2025 at 8:39 PM
One address and 85,000 companies: Welcome to Shelton Street - @thetimes.com reports on the potential risks associated with illegitimate companies registered with Companies House at mass registration addresses alongside thousands of legitimate firms www.thetimes.com/article/7850...
One address and 85,000 companies: Welcome to Shelton Street
Registered addresses are nothing unusual in business. The number of firms linked to one address in Covent Garden, however, is giving fraud experts pause
www.thetimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Stephen Abbott Pugh
We strongly condemn the U.S. decision to impose travel restrictions on five European individuals, including former Commissioner Thierry Breton.

Link to full statement: link.europa.eu/NtMX4K
December 24, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Reposted by Stephen Abbott Pugh
The Trump administration is recalling nearly 30 ambassadors, all of whom are career diplomats. A union says there has never been such a mass recall in the history of the foreign service. Morale has been plummeting in the State Department all year. Story: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/u...
Trump Administration Orders Nearly 30 U.S. Ambassadors to Leave Their Posts
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Reposted by Stephen Abbott Pugh
SCOOP-1: The @nytimes.com has confirmed the following previously unreported donations/pledges to the WH ballroom:

▶️Miriam Adelson’s foundation: $25m
▶️Lockheed Martin: $10m
▶️Palantir: $10m
▶️Ripple: $5m
▶️Parsons: $2.5m
▶️Roblox CEO: $2.5

Here's a gift link.

There's more in the story 🧵…
Hundreds of Big Post-Election Donors Have Benefited From Trump’s Return to Office (Gift Article)
Well into his second term, the president and his allies have continued aggressively raising money. Many donors have interests before his administration, The Times found.
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:01 PM