But even in such a corrupt climate, Burisma seems to stand out. Biden and Archer were joining one of the most corrupt firms in a very corrupt country. One year after Hunter Biden joined the firm to offer help on compliance and legal matters, experienced industry observers warned investors that Burisma was still a company to be avoided. "Anyone considering investing in Ukrainian gas or this influential player [Burisma] should understand that the next stop [for their money] will be Switzerland," declared one industry publication. It went on: "Burisma- registered in Cyprus in 2006- fails to pass the most basic due diligence check. Its registration documents are impossible to run down. It publishes no asset information or financial records nor does it release any audited financial statements. The complete lack of transparency means that anyone interested- including potential investors- must rely solely on press releases about Burisma's future plans and intentions." It was hardly what you would call a ringing endorsement.
- from page 64, Secret Empires