An ongoing investigation in three countries has led to the arrest of a Ukrainian entrepreneur suspected of laundering illicit funds through real estate in France and Monaco. French, Ukrainian and Monegasque authorities are working together to uncover a large scale money laundering scheme involving profits from the illegal sale of arms and of shares in a defence company. EUR 57 million of illicit profits were frozen in France and are intended to be returned to Ukraine.

The suspect is the son of a prominent entrepreneur in Ukraine, who owned a defence company. Following the Russian invasion, profits began to decline, and the owners are suspected of having illegally sold their majority stake to representatives of a foreign state.

To hide the illegal profits gained from the sale, the owner’s son bought properties, in several countries including France and Monaco. He is believed to have subsequently laundered hundreds of millions of euros in profits.

In France alone, he is suspected of having laundered over EUR 57 million between 2010 and 2023. He also laundered profits from illegal arms sales by his father, the owner of the defence company. Soon after opening a money laundering investigation, the French authorities froze the suspects’ assets worth EUR 57 million with the intention of returning them to Ukraine.

Investigations continued in the framework of a joint investigation team (JIT) set up at Eurojust, facilitating the judicial cooperation between the three countries. French, Ukrainian and Monegasque authorities worked together with support from Eurojust to establish a judicial strategy and exchange information on the illegal activities.

Their collaboration resulted in the arrest of the son in Monaco on 28 April. The French, Ukrainian and Monegasque authorities are currently questioning him as part of the JIT. During the operation, several documents of value to the investigation were discovered in Monaco. The owner of the defence company is already on trial in Ukraine for crimes against national security and is now suspected of money laundering as well.

The following authorities carried out the operations:

• France: JUNALCO (National Jurisdiction against Organised Crime); Public Prosecution Office Paris; ONAF (National Office against Fraud)
• Ukraine: Prosecutor General’s Office; Security Service of Ukraine
• Monaco: Prosecutor General’s Office of Monaco; Directorate of Public Safety

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Martin Scorsese, the legendary director known for his probing explorations of faith and humanity, is turning his lens toward an unprecedented subject: the late Pope Francis. The new documentary, Aldeas – A New Story, will feature what is believed to be the pontiff’s final in-depth on-camera interview, recorded just months before his death at age 88. The film is set to chronicle not only the Pope’s reflections but also the global educational movement he championed, Scholas Occurrentes, and its unique fusion of cinema, youth, and cultural dialogue.

A Meeting of Minds: Scorsese and the Pope

Filmed in Vatican City in December 2024, the interview between Scorsese and Pope Francis forms the emotional and intellectual backbone of the documentary. Their conversations, described as intimate and wide-ranging, touch on faith, art, poverty, technology, and the challenges facing youth in a fractured world. Scorsese, whose own career has often wrestled with spiritual themes, stated, “Now, more than ever, we need to engage with one another and listen across cultures. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by sharing our personal stories and experiences”.

For Pope Francis, cinema was not just entertainment but a vehicle for what he called the “culture of encounter”-a means for people to engage in respectful exchanges of ideas while maintaining their cultural identities. Before his passing, Francis described the Aldeas initiative as “an extremely poetic and very constructive project because it goes to the roots of what human life is, human sociability, human conflicts… the essence of a life’s journey”.

The Scholas Occurrentes and Aldeas Initiative

Founded by Pope Francis in 2013, Scholas Occurrentes is an international educational movement designed to bridge divides among young people through creativity, dialogue, and community engagement. The Aldeas cinema initiative, at the heart of the documentary, invites youth from countries such as Indonesia, The Gambia, and Italy to create scripted short films that reflect their unique identities, histories, and values. These films, developed through workshops and collaborative storytelling, are intended to foster empathy and cultural understanding-core tenets of Francis’s papacy.

The documentary will follow the journeys of these young filmmakers, capturing the behind-the-scenes process of their creative work and the impact of the Aldeas initiative on their lives. The completed short films will eventually be screened in newly established local cinemas, envisioned as lasting centers for cultural expression and education.

A Testament to Creativity and Hope

Aldeas – A New Story is being produced by Aldeas Scholas Film in collaboration with Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions and Massive Owl Productions. The project is independently funded, with all profits pledged to further expand the Aldeas initiative around the world. The film’s creative team includes directors Clare Tavernor and Johnny Shipley, and producer Amy Foster, among others.

Scorsese’s involvement is both personal and professional. Having met Pope Francis several times since 2016, the director has often sought the pontiff’s perspective on faith and storytelling. Upon Francis’s death, Scorsese reflected, “He possessed an unwavering dedication to goodness. He understood deeply that ignorance was a significant affliction for humanity. Thus, he continually pursued knowledge and enlightenment”.

Anticipation and Legacy

No official release date has been announced, but the anticipation surrounding Aldeas – A New Story is considerable. The film stands as both a portrait of Pope Francis in his final months and a global reflection on the power of creativity to unite people across divides. In the words of its creators, the documentary is “a testament to the enduring belief that creativity is not only a means of expression but a path to hope and transformation”.

As the world awaits the film’s debut, Aldeas – A New Story promises to be not just a cinematic event, but a lasting document of dialogue, empathy, and the transformative power of storytelling.

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