Influential German broadcaster and writer Hubert Seipel, who interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin and wrote two books about him, acquired 600,000 euros ($646,000) from corporations related to oligarch Aleksei Mordashov, who’s near Putin and is on the Western sanctions listing, a joint journalistic investigation has discovered.
Seipel is thought in Germany for an unique 2014 interview with Putin and has additionally produced a documentary about him.
The investigation, carried out by German broadcaster ZDF, Der Spiegel journal, and the German investigative outlet Paper Trailer Media, mentioned Seipel, an award-winning journalist, acquired the cash in instalments by way of a Cyprus-based firm linked to Mordashov for 2 books described by many as favorable portraits of Putin.
In accordance with confidential information from Cyprus-based monetary providers companies obtained by the German journalists, in 2018 Seipel, famend in Germany as one of many prime unbiased consultants on Russia, signed a 600,000-euro sponsorship settlement to put in writing and promote a e book in regards to the ”political local weather in Russia” — an unusually excessive payment in Germany’s publishing enterprise.
The e book was printed in 2021 below the title Putin’s Energy: Why Europe Wants Russia, following a earlier Putin biography printed in 2015 and titled Putin: Interior Views Of Energy.
Within the paperwork obtained by the investigation, there’s a handwritten observe indicating that Seipel could have already acquired cash in 2013 for making ready Putin’s biography.
Seipel, who has mentioned that he met Putin ”almost 100 instances” and was one of many only a few Western journalists to have direct entry to the Russian chief, didn’t warn his readers or the writer a couple of attainable battle of curiosity.
Seipel confirmed to ZDF that he had acquired ”monetary assist via Mordashov,” however claimed that this ”didn’t affect the content material of his books in any manner,” pointing to a contractual clause stating that the writer ”has no obligation to the sponsor in relation to the e book undertaking.”
The NDR tv firm mentioned in response to a request from the investigative group that it didn’t learn about Seipel’s Russian financing and mentioned it was contemplating submitting a lawsuit in opposition to him.
ARD and the Russian aspect, together with the Kremlin’s press service, declined to remark.
Mordashov, a metal and banking magnate who was positioned below U.S, EU, and British sanctions final 12 months for his shut ties to the Kremlin, owns a majority stake within the German journey firm TUI.
He’s one in every of Russia’s richest folks, with a internet price estimated by Forbes at almost $21 billion.
After being included within the sanctions listing, Mordashov’s representatives claimed that he had withdrawn his shares in Rossia Financial institution, owned by shut Putin affiliate Yury Kovalchuk.
Nevertheless, in September, the European Court docket discovered that the alleged switch of shares was not supported by paperwork.