Russian Oligarch’s Secret Sponsorship of German Journalist Hubert Seipel Exposed
A recent leak has revealed that renowned German journalist and author Hubert Seipel received a $700,000 “sponsorship” from a shell company linked to Russian oligarch Viktor Mordashov over the past five years. The agreement was for writing a book about Russia’s political environment.
Independence in Question
Seipel, who has written two books on Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been hailed as one of Germany’s leading analysts of Russia. However, the leaked document raises questions about his independence and objectivity in his reporting on Russia.
Details of the Sponsorship Deal
The “sponsorship” was agreed upon through Cypcodirect and PwC Cyprus, with a handwritten note stating that it was for writing a book on Russia’s political environment. Another note referred to an earlier agreement for a Putin biography.
Denials and Defenses
Seipel has vehemently denied being on the Kremlin’s payroll, saying in a 2021 radio interview that he was not receiving any funding from Moscow. However, when questioned about Mordashov’s support for his books, Seipel defended his work as unbiased and stated that no specific factual errors were found in his books.
Broader Implications
The exposure of Seipel’s secret sponsorship deal is just the latest revelation in a series of investigations into Russia’s influence peddling abroad. The Cyprus Confidential documents have already exposed a lawyer involved in selling spyware to brutal regimes, a former European politician working for a sanctioned Russian oligarch, and a sanctioned Russian oligarch who secretly financed a Holocaust movie.
Concerns about Propaganda
The findings have sparked concerns about the breadth and sophistication of Russia’s propaganda machine, which has managed to infiltrate Western media and institutions. Seipel’s case serves as a striking example of how Russia’s influence can permeate even the most respected corners of the journalistic community.
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Contributors
The investigation was conducted by a team of journalists from various organizations. The contributors include:
- Spencer Woodman
- Matei Rosca
- David Kenner
- Dean Starkman
- Tanya Kozyreva
- David Rowell
- Whitney Joiner
- Fergus Shiel
- Delphine Reuter
- Karrie Kehoe
- Jelena Cosic
- Jesús Escudero
- Agustin Armendariz
- Miguel Fiandor
- Denise Ajiri
- Emilia Diaz-Struck
- Scilla Alecci
- Brenda Medina
- Eve Sampson
- Richard H. P. Sia
- Kathleen Cahill
- Angie Wu
- Tom Stites
- Hamish Boland-Rudder
- Joanna Robin
- Carmen Molina Acosta
- Hans Koberstein (ZDF)
- Bastian Obermayer
- Frederik Obermaier
- Sophia Baumann
- Timo Schober (Paper Trail Media/Der Spiegel)
- Kira Zalan (OCCRP)
- Luc Caregari (Reporter.lu)