We use graph visualization and Neo4j to explore the Offshore Leaks from the ICIJ.

1. Bringing graph technologies to data
analysis : the case of Azerbaijan in
the Offshore Leaks
SAS founded in 2013 in Paris | http://linkurio.us | @linkurious

2. WHAT IS A GRAPH?
Father Of
Father Of
Siblings
This is a graph

3. WHAT IS A GRAPH : NODES AND RELATIONSHIPS
Father Of
Father Of
Siblings
A graph is a set of nodes linked by
relationships
This is a node
This is a
relationship

4. People, objects, movies,
restaurants, music
Antennas, servers, phones,
people
Supplier, roads, warehouses,
products
Graphs can be used to model many domains
DIFFERENT DOMAINS WHERE GRAPHS ARE IMPORTANT
Supply chains Social networks Communications

5. But why can graphs help data analysts?
GRAPHS AND DATA ANALYSIS

6. Working with complex, highly connected data?
Looking for hidden connections in large
datasets?
Constantly jumping from document to document
and feeling lost?
PAIN POINTS OF DATA ANALYSIS

7. THE OFFSHORE LEAKS
The Offshore Leaks shine a light never seen
before on the offshore banking system
Records of financial institutions made public in 2012 by the ICIJ. Potential evidence for money
laundering, tax evasion, corruption. The dataset contains information about the secret assets and
relationships of banks, government officials in China or Russia and some of the wealthiest persons in the
world .
Country of origin of the offshore accounts found in the ICIJ dataset

8. A VERY COMPLEX DATASET
250k nodes, 500k edges and 1.2 million
properties. Imagine trying to make sense of it...

9. How the Cook Islands help
criminals keep their money
safe. Read more
The President
family’s wealth
Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham
Aliyev suspicious ties link to
corruption. Read more
How Chinese elite hides its
wealth in offshore centers
around the world. Read more
Some of the Offshore Leaks stories already
made public
INTERESTING STORIES BURIED IN THE DATA
The Chinese
elite’s secrets
Sea, sun and
secrecy

10. Graphs can help make sense of complex and
highly connected data
GRAPH TECHNOLOGIES ARE PERFECT TO ANALYSE THE OFFSHORE LEAKS

11. We are going to focus on Azerbaijan and use
Neo4j + Linkurious to investigate the President’s
foreign assets
DIVING IN THE AZERBAIJANI WORLD

12. DATA MODEL FOR THE OFFSHORE LEAKS DATASET
What data* are we dealing with?
Person
Oleg
Company
Treasure ltd.
Company
Good Advice Inc
Address
Bahamas
Person
John
Family
Person
Sam
Uses_address
Uses_address
Is_linked_to
Director
Is_linked_to
Shareholder
Is_linked_to
Shareholder
Address
Dubai
Is_linked_to
Master client
Is_linked_to
Recors & Register
Is_linked_to
Director
Uses_address Uses_address
Uses_address
Address
Russia
Company
Hide & Seek
*Information about the family ties are not in the ICIJ dataset but are public for the Azerbaijani President

13. FIRST QUESTION : OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS OF PRESIDENT ALIEYEV
Does President Aliyev have an offshore account?
President Aliyev Offshore accounts

14. FIRST QUESTION : OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS OF PRESIDENT ALIEYEV
A simple Cypher query for Neo4j
MATCH (president)-[r]->(offshoreaccount:Company)
WHERE president.first_name = 'Ilham'
RETURN offshoreaccount.name as company, offshoreaccount.form as form,
offshoreaccount.incorporation as incorporation, offshoreaccount.status as status, r.date as
date, r.role as role

15. FIRST QUESTION : OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS OF PRESIDENT ALIEYEV
Ilham Alieyev has one inactive offshore account
company form incorporation status date role
Rosamund
International Ltd
Standard
International
Company
08/11/2002 Inactive 14/01/2003 Shareholder
Rosamund
International Ltd
Standard
International
Company
08/11/2002 Inactive 14/01/2003 Director

16. SECOND QUESTION : OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS OF PRESIDENT ALIEYEV’S FAMILY
Does President Aliyev’s family have offshore
accounts?
President Aliyev Offshore accountsThe President’s family

17. SECOND QUESTION : OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS OF PRESIDENT ALIEYEV’S FAMILY
One * and we search all potential connections
MATCH (president)-[r*]->(offshoreaccount:Company)
WHERE president.first_name = 'Ilham'
RETURN offshoreaccount.name as company, offshoreaccount.form as form,
offshoreaccount.incorporation as incorporation, offshoreaccount.status as status

18. Ilham Alieyev’s family have 4 active accounts
SECOND QUESTION : OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS OF PRESIDENT ALIEYEV’S FAMILY
company form incorporation status
Harvard Management
Limited
Standard International
Company
07/11/2008 Active
LaBelleza Holdings Limited Business Company Limited
by Shares
07/11/2008 Active
Arbor Investments Limited Business Company Limited
by Shares
07/11/2008 Active
Crovelent Holdings LTD. Business Company Limited
by Shares
29/03/2007 Active
Rosamund International
Ltd
Standard International
Company
08/11/2002 Inactive

19. What is happening here?
WHAT IS HAPPENING

20. Ilham Alieyev controls through his family a set of
offshore companies
IS ILHAM ALIEYEV BUILDING A FINANCIAL NETWORK TO HIDE HIS ASSETS?

21. Abdolbari Gozal and his brother Hassan have been awarded more than $4.5bn in constructions contracts in Azerbaijan.
According to the ICIJ journalists, these accounts
could be used to collect funds from two
successful businessmen
FROM OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS TO AZERBAIJANI CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS

22. THIRD QUESTION : WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PRESIDENT ALIEYEV AND THE GOZAL BROTHERS
Are President Aliyev and Abdolbari Gozal
connected?
President Aliyev Abdolbari Gozal

23. MATCH (Ilham:Person {first_name:'Ilham'}),(Abdolbari:Person {first_name:'Abdolbari'}), p =
shortestPath((Ilham)-[*]-(Abdolbari))
RETURN p
THIRD QUESTION : WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PRESIDENT ALIEYEV AND THE GOZAL BROTHERS
Graph database make it trivial to find the
shortest path between two items

24. President Ilham Alieyev and Abdolbari Gozal are
linked through Arbor Investments Limited
THIRD QUESTION : WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PRESIDENT ALIEYEV AND THE GOZAL BROTHERS

25. Linkurious is compatible with
Neo4j. It’s the best solution
to query intelligently graph
data.
The Linkurious interface
allows a simple et visual
search experience. No need
to be a graph expert to
understand a graph.
Communicate and share the
results of your investigation.
Securely.
Find the information hidden in your graph
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF LINKURIOUS
The power of
Neo4j
Visual
exploration
Work on graphs
as a team

26. DEMO
Go to linkurio.us to try it!

27. TECHNOLOGY
Cloud ready and open-source based

28. CONCLUSION
Contact us to discuss your projects
at contact@linkurio.us

29. Article on Azerbaijan
- the article : http://linkurio.us/analysing-the-offshore-leaks-with-graphs/
- the dataset : https://www.dropbox.com/s/d9ceb427xzrcpza/Azerbaijan%20Offshore%
20Leaks.zip
Other resources
- original article on the Alieyev case : http://www.icij.org/offshore/offshore-companies-
provide-link-between-corporate-mogul-and-azerbaijans-president
- graph gist on Neo4j and the Offshore Leaks : http://gist.neo4j.org/?8724726
SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO CONSIDER