Behind the Decision: How OCCRP’s ‘Person of the Year’ Highlights the Fight Against Corruption

OCCRP clarifies its 2024 “Person of the Year” selection, detailing a judge-led process based on investigative expertise and public nominations that resulted in naming Bashar al-Assad for his role in enabling corruption and human rights abuses. The statement emphasizes that the award highlights systems enabling crime and corruption, acknowledges strong public engagement (including significant nominations for other figures), and reaffirms OCCRP’s commitment to transparency and continued reporting.