This panel explores how Russian-aligned oligarchic systems entrench power through oil wealth — and how European actors, especially Dutch companies, are entangled in these networks. While the public image of Russian oligarchs often centers on yachts and luxury, the conversation turns serious when that wealth crosses into political corruption and geopolitical destabilization. Where does the money really come from, and how does it transform into influence, repression, and war — including Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine? Investigative journalists Matei Rosca (ICIJ) and Carola Houtekamer (NRC) will uncover how major Western oil companies like Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and Italy’s Eni S.p.A. participated in deals that enabled the Kremlin to maintain control over the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) — a 1,500 km pipeline transporting over a million barrels of oil daily through Russia. The panel will also examine the Netherlands’ corporate footprint in Kazakhstan’s oil industry, raising urgent questions about ethical business practices, environmental harm, and complicity in authoritarianism. Join us for an interactive discussion, featuring behind-the-scenes insights and never-before-seen material from both journalists’ investigations.