Aliyev had previously been convicted of the bankers’ kidnapping in Kazakhstan, and since 2005 faced money-laundering investigations in several European countries including Germany, Austria and Malta.



However, this is the first time that the links between Aliyev and London properties have been revealed. The London property transactions went through at the same time as Aliyev’s business interests were being investigated by EU authorities and Interpol. Aliyev died before he could face trial for the crimes of which he was accused.

Increasingly, London’s high-end property market is one of the go-to destinations to give questionable funds a veneer of respectability. This kind of access to the financial system entrenches the corruption that keeps citizens in poor countries poor and threatens global stability.

It is far too easy for the criminal and corrupt to launder money through luxury property, hiding the real owners behind anonymous companies, often registered in secrecy jurisdictions like the BVI and hidden behind “nominee” directors.

At least £122bn worth of property in England and Wales is now owned by companies registered offshore, and 75% of properties whose owners are under investigation for corruption made use of this kind of secrecy.

Global Witness is calling for all companies that own UK property to be required to tell the Land Registry who their beneficial owners are, and for the UK to convince the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to create their own public registers of beneficial ownership. Global Witness is calling for an investigation into these companies, the properties they own, and real person behind them. Systemic changes are also needed, following the UK's recent commitment to creating a public registry of the real owners of UK companies.