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Russia's Putin says Panama Papers are authentic, but show no wrongdoing Russia's Putin says Panama Papers are authentic but show no wrongdoing
(35 minutes later)
MOSCOW —Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged Thursday the authenticity of recent disclosures about offshore companies owned by prominent Russians, including one of his oldest friends, but said it was not proof of any wrongdoing. MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday acknowledged the authenticity of recent disclosures about offshore companies owned by prominent Russians, including one of his oldest friends, but he said they were not proof of any wrongdoing.
But Putin — during a nearly four-hour question-and-answer session — also took aim at the international team of journalists that produced the Panama Papers report detailing shell companies, tax havens and financial dealings by political figures and others around the world. But Putin, during a nearly four-hour question-and-answer session, also took aim at the international team of journalists that produced the Panama Papers report detailing shell companies, tax havens and financial dealings by political figures and others around the world.
[Russian theories abound over Panama Papers][Russian theories abound over Panama Papers]
He claimed reports on the trove of leaked documents from the law firm Mossack Fonseca was an attempt to “muddy the waters” at the behest of the U.S. government and New York-based investment bank Goldman Sachs — without giving details to back up the claims. He claimed that reports on the trove of leaked documents, from the law firm Mossack Fonseca, was an attempt to “muddy the waters” at the behest of the U.S. government and New York-based investment bank Goldman Sachs — without giving details to back up the claims.
“First of all, however strange it may seem, the information is accurate,” he said, referring to the leak. “First of all, however strange it may seem, the information is accurate,” he said, referring to what was in the leak.
Putin then went on to suggest it was part of a campaign to smear his reputation by disclosing business deals by his boyhood friend, Sergei Roldguin, a well-known cellist. Putin suggested it was part of a campaign to smear his reputation by disclosing business deals of his boyhood friend, Sergei Pavlovich Roldugin, a well-known cellist.
“They are just trying to muddy the waters, that one of my friends is involved in some kind of business,” Putin said in the nationally television remarks. “The question is whether or not money from these offshores reach officials, including the president.”“They are just trying to muddy the waters, that one of my friends is involved in some kind of business,” Putin said in the nationally television remarks. “The question is whether or not money from these offshores reach officials, including the president.”
Putin said that it did not.Putin said that it did not.
[Where has the Russian riches gone?] [Where have the Russian riches gone?]
The release of the papers sent shock waves through world capitals, prompting the resignation of the prime minister of Iceland and protests against British Prime Minister David Cameron.The release of the papers sent shock waves through world capitals, prompting the resignation of the prime minister of Iceland and protests against British Prime Minister David Cameron.
In Ukraine, the documents showed that President Petro Poroshenko had moved assets into offshore accounts at the same time as army troops were engaged in heavy fighting with Russian-backed separatists in 2014. In Ukraine, the documents showed that President Petro Poroshenko had moved assets into offshore accounts at the same time as troops were engaged in heavy fighting with Russian-backed separatists, in 2014.
In Russia, the documents showed that Roldugin — godfather to Putin’s eldest daughter, Maria — nominally owned companies registered in the British Virgin Islands through which hundreds of millions of dollars had passed. Putin’s name did not appear in the documents and the authors of the report did not say the documents proved any criminal acts. In Russia, the documents showed that Roldugin — godfather to Putin’s oldest daughter, Maria — nominally owned companies registered in the British Virgin Islands, through which hundreds of millions of dollars had passed. Putin’s name did not appear in the documents, and the authors of the report did not say the documents proved any criminal acts.
The reports have prompted a muted public reaction in Russia,where senior officials have brushed off the documents as either inconclusive or politically motivated.The reports have prompted a muted public reaction in Russia,where senior officials have brushed off the documents as either inconclusive or politically motivated.
Nonetheless, Russian state television aired a prime-time interview with Roldugin who explained the flows of cash by saying that he had received gifts from Russian businessmen in order to buy expensive instruments from abroad, including a Steinway piano and Stradivarius violin. Nonetheless, Russian state television aired a prime-time interview with Roldugin, who explained the flows of cash by saying that he had received gifts from Russian businessmen to buy expensive instruments from abroad, including a Steinway piano and a Stradivarius violin.
[Putin keeps distance from disclosures][Putin keeps distance from disclosures]
Early in the marathon show, which was outfitted with a call center, a question sent by text message briefly appeared behind Putin: “Not a word about the offshore [accounts]. Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are?”Early in the marathon show, which was outfitted with a call center, a question sent by text message briefly appeared behind Putin: “Not a word about the offshore [accounts]. Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are?”
When he did address the question, Putin took special care to defend Roldugin, who also introduced Putin to his former wife Lyudmilla. Putin said Roldugin had spent so much money acquiring musical instruments abroad that he had gone into debt. When he addressed the question, Putin took special care to defend Roldugin, who also introduced Putin to his former wife, Lyudmila. Putin said Roldugin spent so much money acquiring musical instruments abroad that he went into debt.
“One may imagine greyhound puppies being accepted as a bribe in Russia, but I have never heard about violin or cello bribes," Putin said, adding that Roldugin had bought two violins and two cellos, one of which “costs about $12 million. “Sergei Pavlovich has nothing left. He spent more money than he had on buying these instruments.” “One may imagine greyhound puppies being accepted as a bribe in Russia, but I have never heard about violin or cello bribes,” Putin said, adding that Roldugin bought two violins and two cellos, one of which “costs about $12 million. Sergei Pavlovich has nothing left. He spent more money than he had on buying these instruments.”
The report was motivated by the United States government agencies, Putin said without elaborating, adding that “the closer the elections are, the more leaks of the sort will be happening.” The report was motivated by U.S. government agencies, Putin said, without elaborating, adding that “the closer the elections are, the more leaks of the sort will be happening.”
He also claimed that Suddeutsche Zeitung, the Munich-based newspaper that first published the leaks, was part of a media holding owned by Goldman Sachs, implying that the bank had paid for the articles. He also claimed that Süddeutsche Zeitung, the Munich-based newspaper that first published the leaks, was part of a media holding owned by Goldman Sachs, implying that the bank paid for the articles.
In an article published by Suddeutsche Zeitung on Thursday, managing director Stefan Hilscher said the company had no ties to Goldman Sachs. In an article published by Süddeutsche Zeitung on Thursday, managing director Stefan Hilscher said the company had no ties to Goldman Sachs.
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