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

OCCRP explains its 2024 “Person of the Year” selection, detailing a judge-led process informed by public nominations and investigative research, and names Bashar al-Assad as the recipient due to his role in corruption, organized criminal networks, and severe human rights abuses. The statement clarifies that while figures like Jokowi were heavily nominated, OCCRP has no evidence of his personal financial corruption, though civil society criticized institutional weakening under his leadership. Emphasizing transparency and the award’s purpose to highlight systems enabling corruption, OCCRP commits to refining its process and continuing reporting that exposes threats to democracy and accountability.