German journalist's shocking allegations: 100 meetings with Putin and Kremlin money
A prominent German journalist stands accused of accepting money to write articles praising Vladimir Putin. Allegedly, he received 600,000 euros from a company with ties to the Kremlin. The journalist in question has openly admitted to having met Putin "almost a hundred times".
9:44 AM EST, December 1, 2023
Mika Beuster, the President of the German Journalists' Association (DJV), expressed his shock regarding allegations against the renowned German journalist, Hubert Seipel.
Reports indicate that Seipel, deemed an authoritative expert on Russia, is under scrutiny for purportedly receiving money to positively portray Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
Journalist's Direct Access to Putin
In the middle of November, Spiegel magazine and ZDF station disclosed that Seipel, a 73-year-old journalist, writer, and filmmaker known for his award-winning work at ARD, allegedly received at least $677,000 for his flattering portrayals of Putin. Seipel was among the rare journalists who had regular, personal access to Putin, meeting him almost a hundred times.
Beuster, in attendance at a London conference on the future of Ukraine, expressed his shock at these accusations.
"I'm personally stunned by what is being alleged here. Now, what we need is complete cooperation from all parties to thoroughly investigate and lay out the facts. Journalists are not for sale, and neither is journalism. Journalism must be and remain independent. Trust is our most vital asset. Journalists should avoid any actions that could jeopardize this trust as it poses a threat to every journalist and the public's trust in journalism," Beuster admitted.
The president of DJV emphasized the importance of probing this matter. "These allegations are extremely serious. I urge Mr. Seipel to cooperate fully and bring all the facts to light, so this issue can be investigated in the most thorough manner possible," he added.
Documents examined by "Der Spiegel" and ZDF, leaked to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and the German organization Paper Trail Media, suggest that Seipel received at least $677,000 from De Vere Worldwide Corporation, registered in the British Virgin Islands.
This corporation has connections to the Russian oligarch Alexei Mordashov, a titan in the steel and banking sectors, who is tightly linked with Putin and was sanctioned following Ukraine's invasion.
The payments received by Seipel, in installments, were said to fund his work on two books that describe Putin's ascend to power and are deemed favorable to the Russian president. Seipel confessed to receiving the payments but maintains that the money did not influence his book content.
