The Albanian Supreme Court of charges that he attempted to improperly influence an economy minister over the sale of a hydropower plant.  A former Mafioso told a South African paper that .  And Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov denied allegations that Prime Minister Boyko Borisov Konstantin Tsiganov, who is sought by Interpol.

Montenegro Parliamentarian to Investigate Corrupt Telekom Privatization

Andrija Mandic, chairman of his parliament’s committee for monitoring privatization has been asking US and German officials for help determining what went wrong when Montenegro sold its state telecommunications agency to companies in Hungary and Germany.

Mandic held a meeting with parliamentarians and stakeholders in the capital city Podgorica Friday to learn more after two companies, Hungarian Magyar Telekom and its parent company Deutsche Telekom paid US$95 million to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Dec. 29, in a settlement acknowledging that they engaged in corrupt practices in Montenegro and another former Yugoslav country, Macedonia.

Because Magyar Telekom is traded on the US stock market, American authorities prosecuted  under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Mandic is critical of Montenegrin courts:  “The work of the domestic judiciary is catastrophic and it is questionable whether [any charges will be filed] in Montenegro,” . “No one from the ruling structure has said anything since this scandal emerged.”

A Russian journalist who spent his career uncovering corruption was murdered on Thursday, a day devoted to honoring the country’s slain reporters.  He was shot 14 times late in the night as he was leaving his office.

Hadzhimurad Kamalov founded Chernovik, a newspaper in the restive Russian province of Dagestan in the north Caucasus that was known for its independent coverage of government affairs, including corruption rampant in the region.

Kamalov also served as executive director for Svoboda Slova, a foundation advocating for independent press.

Human rights groups have linked his murder to his work

“This disgusting crime was committed exactly at the end of the Memorial Day, when journalist organizations all over Russia gave tribute to colleagues who perished due to their work in the last 20 years,” said Galina Sidorova, chair of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism in Russia and vice-chair of the executive board of the International Press Institute (IPI).

She stressed that the situation for journalists committed to exposing corruption is dangerous.

VALERIE HOPKINSFollowing a , intention to seek the return of convicted arms smuggler Viktor Bout to his motherland.

It’s not likely Bout will be sent home, but many Russians think he will be in a good company if he were.  The perception of organized crime and corruption’s involvement in daily life continues to rise.  Indeed, it may be a major factor in the projected , double last year’s rate, because investors are uncertain not only about the unstable economy but about losing out to graft.  The estimated flight is worth five percent of Russia’s GDP.

But the announcement this week that Russia is after a compromise with Georgia may be good news for corruption fighters.  Sergei Guriev, head of the New Economic School in Moscow, told the Economist that “it would at least expose corruption and increase competition, deeply alien to Russia’s ruling bureaucracy. …  It will be a sign that Russia is moving towards the civilized world,” he says, “not away from it.”

Earlier we reported Russian businesses are the other governments and companies in exchange for lucrative contracts, according to a Transparency International.

Because Invitations Don’t Always Come With Disclaimers

Stars have long depended on coteries of advisers to tell them how to act, what to wear, and where to eat.  But a new consulting service can help prevent the gaffes they endure after being seen in the presence of international political and military despots, tyrants and business tycoons with murky ties.  Actors Jean Claude Van Damme and had to apologize last week after pictures surfaced of them at the opulent .  Swank was allegedly remunerated in the six figures for her attendance, while Van Damme is reported to have professed his love for the Chechen leader: “I love you, Mr. Kadyrov.”

Many of Kadyrov’s constituents don’t share those amorous sentiments, as the 35-year-old leader of the impoverished republic has reportedly amassed fortunes through his ties to organized crime.

Now, has announced, stars can submit invitations from potentially corrupt politicians or organized crime figures to a free service that will advise them on whether allegations of egregious human rights violations should make them think twice about attending an event.

The consulting service is provided by long-time celebrity adviser Global Philanthropy Group in partnership with Human Rights Watch. It could prevent the scandals that arose when it came out that diva musicians Beyonce and Mariah Carey, hip hop artists Jay-Z and Usher, and even American singer Lionel Ritchie were paid over $1 million each to perform at parties for relatives of Libya’s former leader Muamer Gaddafi.  Afterwards, the performers scrambled to donate the proceeds to approved philanthropic causes.

Are you a star who has trouble doing a google search on a potential party thrower?  Email .   Maybe Elton John should check out his Ukrainian friends more closely.

Russia: Five Years Since Anna Politkovskaya’s Murder

Exactly five years after Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya was murdered in her apartment building, a convicted criminal has been indicted as her slayer.   According to prosecutors, the man is , a native of Chechnya currently serving a term in jail for an unrelated murder case.According to the Guardian, the court will also announce new charges against the suspected hitman, Rustam Makhmudov, and several others involved in the killing as well.

Analysts have often noted that Politkovskaya was assassinated on then-president Vladimir Putin’s birthday.  While human rights groups welcome the announcement that someone will be held responsible for the journalist’s death, revelers across Russia have been been .

Since Putin became president in 2000, 19 journalists have been slain in Russia, and until today, no one has been legally punished for any of the crimes.  Since 1992, a total of 76 journalists have been killed in Russia, according to the country’s Committee to Protect Journalists.

Maybe they should arrest the people who ordered the murders on Politkovskaya’s birthday. But in likelihood they will never be brought to justice.