A monthly newsletter for scholars, policy-makers, and civil society members | | Big Almaty Lake, Tien Shan Mountains, Kazakhstan. AdobeStock. | | In this edition, we share two new reports from our team, which look at 1) cases of alleged enforced disappearances at the hands of ICE in the US and 2) the three-decade impact of oil and gas extraction at Kokzhide, Kazakhstan. We also bring you a new blog entry by Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu on threats to the EU's energy security connected to the phase-out of Russian gas. | | Join us in uncovering narratives, promoting transparency, and advocating for environmental and human rights of people and communities, especially those who are marginalized by extractive, corporate, and authoritarian actions. | | This year, the call for climate justice has never been greater. If our mission resonates with you, please consider supporting us to ensure that our vital work can continue in these fraught and fragile times. | | U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Tia Dufour (Released).1 | |
In a new report published on 18 March, Homeland Insecurity: How ICE Implements the Trump Regime’s Remigration* Policy Through Enforced Disappearance, Torture, and Mass Deportation, Crude Accountability investigates human rights violations in the US by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
With a budget on par with Canada’s and Türkiye’s militaries, ICE has terrorized American communities by seemingly forcibly disappearing migrants. There are also claims of torture and unsanitary conditions at detention centers.
Our team looked at instances of alleged enforced disappearances by ICE in 2025 across 21 states, examining local jail publications, social media posts, news articles, PayPal, and interviews with immigration lawyers.
One year into Trump’s second term as president, this report highlights the administration’s apparent gross negligence with regard to domestic and international law.
| | New Report: Oil Production Drives Water Scarcity at Kokzhide, Kazakhstan | |
| Water tank in Kokzhide, Kazakhstan. Just Journalism, Oil or Water. | |
In a new report also published in March, The Case of Kokzhide: How to Damage the Environment, Health, and Livelihoods of Local Residents in Three Decades of Oil Production, Crude Accountability documents the story of environmental exploitation by oil and gas extraction in Kokzhide.
Located in Western Kazakhstan, Kokzhide consists of sands and a unique fresh water aquifer that has been polluted by the hazardous process of enhanced oil recovery, threatening the environment and health of nearby communities.
In 2022, the government of Kazakhstan agreed to decommission the wells by 2031, but the process is behind schedule and lacks transparency.
This report complements and is part of our campaign tracking methane emissions in Kazakhstan. Working with partners inside and outside the country, Crude Accountability has been using satellite data, policy analysis, and ground-truthing to paint a realistic picture of the fossil fuel industry’s impact in the country.
| | New Blog Post: The EU’s Phase-Out of Russian Gas | |
| General view of the 12th Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council Ministerial meeting and the 4th Green Energy Advisory Council Ministerial meeting © European Union, 2026, licensed under CC BY 4.0. | |
In a new blog entry, “The EU’s Phase-Out of Russian Gas: Progress, Risks, and Security Implications,” Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu analyzes the vulnerabilities in the EU’s energy strategy to diversify its gas imports.
The latest progressive policy, Regulation (EU) 2026/261, establishes a Union-wide, legally binding framework to eliminate Russian gas and prevents circumvention in the blending and relabeling of Russian gas imports via third countries, like Azerbaijan.
However, the EU’s dependence on gas imports from alternative suppliers continues to threaten its energy security.
Dr. Ibadoghlu, who has been under house arrest since April 2024, following nine harrowing months in pre-trial detention, has been detained by the Azerbaijani government on trumped-up charges, and denied access to a fair trial, critically needed medical care, and contact with his family.
Crude Accountability continues to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Ibadoghlu.
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On March 13, our colleague, human rights activist Tolekan Ismailova, was taken in for questioning by officers from the Bishkek City Main Internal Affairs Directorate.
The Civic Solidarity Platform issued a statement, condemning the intimidation tactic by authorities, and calling for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in accordance with international standards.
The statement is also available to read in Russian.
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In a recent blog entry, "Kleptocracy has Gone Global – Our Laws Haven’t," our colleague John Heathershaw looks at the rise of kleptocracy with the emergence of financial globalization and deregulation.
This is evident with the most recent example of the people in Epstein's network brought together by an array of illicit activities.
This blog is based on a larger report, The Kleptocratic Enterprise, co-authored with Maria Nizzero and Tom Mayne, published in January.
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Our Board Member, Neil Tangri, published a new blog, "The Ill Winds of War Deliver Demand Destruction," exploring the possible turning point for the world to finally wean off fossil fuels and transition to sustainable energy alternatives in the wake of the Iran war.
| | If you like this newsletter, then please consider supporting us with a monthly or one-time donation. You may also write a check to Crude Accountability, P.O. Box 423, Linden, VA, 22642. | | Images in this newsletter are either licensed for editorial use or belong to Crude Accountability. | | |
1 From left to right: ICE officers at the ICE facility in Chicago to observe enforcement operations, Oct. 3, 2025; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Los Angeles, California, June 12, 2025; ICE officers at the ICE facility in Chicago to observe enforcement operations, Oct. 3, 2025; ICE officers at the ICE facility in Chicago to observe enforcement operations, Oct. 3, 2025; Federal law enforcement and their partners assisting with immigration enforcement efforts in New York City, New York, Jan. 28, 2025; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Phoenix, Arizona.
DHS. “Remigrate.” X (formerly Twitter), October 14, 2025. https://x.com/DHSgov/status/1978175527329358094.
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