AnewZ has premiered The Oligarch’s Design, a long-form investigative documentary that marks the launch of AnewZ Investigations, the channel’s new cross-border journalism initiative.
The documentary examines how power and influence can be constructed outside formal political systems, focusing on the role of financial networks, philanthropy and carefully shaped public narratives. It forms the first instalment in a new investigative documentary series produced by AnewZ.
At the centre of the film is the story of Ruben Vardanyan, tracing his journey from Moscow’s financial elite to his political role within an unrecognised separatist regime in 2022. The investigation draws on open-source material and builds on earlier international reporting, including revelations linked to the so-called Troika Laundromat — a complex offshore scheme used to move billions of dollars through global financial systems.
Filmed across Italy, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, the United States, Armenia, Israel, Ukraine and Azerbaijan, the documentary brings together analysis from a wide range of experts, offering multiple perspectives on the mechanisms of influence explored in the film.
Rufat Hamzayev, Executive Director of AnewZ, said the project was the result of an extensive collaborative effort.
“Overall, nearly 100 people were involved in the preparation of the project, including journalists, producers, and those who provided us with legal support,” he said. “It was a very large team, and our objective was clear from the very first day. From the outset, our goal was to ensure that this would not be a one-sided interpretation. We sought to create a documentary that embodies AnewZ’s core mission — neutral, balanced, and inclusive of all sides, or at least both perspectives.”
AnewZ Editor-in-Chief Guy Shone said editorial restraint was a deliberate and defining choice in the production.
“Another key editorial choice that the team were very focused on was restraint,” he said. “The film presents evidence and context, but it avoids conclusions delivered by narration. We deliberately leave space for the audience to assess. This approach reflects the standards we expect for investigative work at AnewZ.”
The Oligarch’s Design marks the official debut of the AnewZ Investigations documentary series. The next film in the series, The Shadow Trade, is set to premiere soon.
AnewZ has premiered The Oligarch’s Design, a long-form investigative documentary that marks the launch of AnewZ Investigations, the channel’s new ...
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AnewZ has premiered The Oligarch’s Design, a long-form investigative documentary marking the launch of AnewZ Investigations, the channel’s new editorial endeavour dedicated to cross-border investigative journalism.
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