London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Apr 02, 2025

Top German journalist received €600,000 from Putin ally, leak reveals

Hubert Seipel, a prominent German journalist and author known for his expertise on Russia, received at least €600,000 from companies linked to Alexei Mordashov, a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin. This payment was made in undisclosed offshore transactions.
Seipel, an award-winning filmmaker, received these payments in installments, supposedly to support his work on two books that portray Putin's rise to power.

These portrayals have been described as sympathetic to the Russian president.

This situation is notable as it links a Western journalist to substantial payments potentially aimed at securing favorable media coverage for pro-Putin actors.

The disclosure of these payments is particularly significant in Germany, where there has been intense debate about the role of political and business elites in supporting Putin, especially since the Ukraine invasion.

This debate is fueled by Germany's reliance on Russian oil and gas.

Seipel, who has met Putin nearly 100 times, admitted to receiving funds from accounts linked to Mordashov but emphasized that the support was exclusively for his book projects and maintained that he had remained impartial.

The leaked documents, however, indicate that the payments were specifically for his work on two books: "Putin: Inner Views of Power" (2015) and "Putin's Power: Why Europe Needs Russia" (2021).

Seipel's publisher, Hoffmann und Campe, claimed to have had no prior knowledge of these payments and reserved the right to take further action.

The information about these transactions emerged from the Cyprus Confidential project, a leak of 3.6 million offshore records to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and other media partners.

Mordashov, a significant figure in Russia's business elite, has been sanctioned by the EU for his close ties to the Kremlin.

He was present at a meeting of business leaders at the Kremlin on the day of the Ukraine invasion.

The payments to Seipel were made through complex offshore structures and included a "Deed of Sponsorship" for a book project.

Seipel has defended himself against accusations of bias, asserting that his work has always been impartial and that no factual errors were found in his books.

However, his close access to Putin and the positive reception of his works in Russia have led to criticism and accusations of pro-Russian bias.

German broadcaster NDR has blocked access to Seipel's films pending further investigation and emphasized the importance of disclosing potential conflicts of interest.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Europe Pursues Digital Autonomy Amidst Transatlantic Strains
OpenAI Lands Unprecedented $40 Billion Funding.
Charity Chairwoman Accuses Prince Harry of Bullying and Harassment
DOGE revealed that USAID provided $84 million to the Clinton Foundation. Of this amount, $3 million was spent on Chelsea Clinton's wedding, and $10 million was used to acquire a lavish mansion.
The State Department has announced the formal closure of USAID.
Apple's Innovation Deficit: Falling Behind in AI and Foldable Technology as Chinese Developments Progress
President Trump Proposes Military Intervention to Obtain Greenland
Passenger Taken into Custody After Engaging in Masturbation on SWISS Air Flight
Barcelona player Dani Alves found not guilty of rape accusations.
PUTIN'S LIMOUSINE DETONATES—SECURITY CHAOS ENSUES
French Foreign Ministry Denounces U.S. Interference in Corporate Diversity Initiatives
Copyright Issues Emerge as AI-Generated Studio Ghibli Images Gain Popularity
This is what we refer to as CREATIVITY.
Removing the Political Opponent Means Dismissing the Remnants of Turkey's Economy.
Malaysia Strengthens Semiconductor Regulations in Response to U.S. Pressure to Restrict AI NVIDIA Chip Exports to China.
OpenAI Launches New Image Generation Tool for ChatGPT
Ex-FIFA President and French Football Icon Acquitted of Corruption Allegations
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz Under Investigation After Journalist Added to Secret Military Chat
Ex-Business Partner of Hunter Biden Discusses Possible Pardon from President Trump
U.S. Attorney General Announces Task Force to Prosecute Government Fraud
American Brands Face Consumer Boycott in Europe Amid Escalating Trade and Political Tensions
White House Investigates Security Breach After Journalist Accidentally Added to Secret Yemen Strike Chat
Samsung Executive Han Jong-hee Dies Suddenly Amid Ongoing Corporate Challenges
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has just signed off on a national debt hike to fast-track Germany’s militarization
Heathrow Airport Restarts Services as Investigation into Power Outage Commences
Pope Francis Released from Hospital Following Pneumonia Treatment
Pope Francis Appears in Public for the First Time in Five Weeks After His Hospital Stay
Usha Vance to Head U.S. Delegation During Greenland Visit Amid Discussions on Annexation
Trump suggests US could join British Commonwealth if offered by King Charles
Elon Musk Files Lawsuit Against Jamaal Bowman for Defamatory Remarks
European Countries to Boost Defense Expenditures in Response to Changes in U.S. Assistance
Iconic Boxer George Foreman Dies at 76
European Airline Shares Fall Following Disruption from Heathrow Power Outage
Pope Francis Set to Leave Hospital Following Recovery from Pneumonia
Thousands Take to the Streets in Amsterdam to Protest Racism and Fascism
Revealing the Electromagnetic Characteristics of the Great Pyramid of Giza
President Trump Cancels Security Clearances for Notable Political Figures.
The Development of China's Automotive Sector
Netanyahu Dismisses Shin Bet Chief Amid 'Loss of Trust' and 'Qatargate' Corruption Investigations Involving Netanyahu's Advisors
UK Conservatives Remain Optimistic Despite Polling Challenges
Labour MPs Unveil Initiative to Combat Harmful Influencers and Advocate for Healthy Masculinity
Miami Beach Mayor Cancels Plan to Expel Cinema Following Documentary Showing
Thousands of Drones Illuminate the Sky in Honor of Trump.
Leaders of the US and Ukraine Participate in Constructive Call During Ongoing Conflict
Elon Musk's X Experiences Valuation Recovery to $44 billion.
UK Government Set to Implement Major Budget Cuts in Spring Statement
US Federal Reserve Downgrades Economic Growth Outlook Due to Tariff Uncertainty
EU Claims US Tech Giants Have Violated Digital Regulations
Canada Denounces the Execution of Its Citizens in China Amid Rising Tensions
European Union Moves Toward Joint Debt for Military Spending
×