The Tories and Russian cash

[RileyOBlimey]

A thread for shining a light on Tory corruption and Russian money.

To kick off…

Revealed: The lobbyist who helps Russian elites get access to Boris Johnson

Former Russian politician Sergey Pechinin tells his clients: ‘We open closed doors’

www.opendemocracy.net

An elite Russian lobbyist who offers his clients “exclusive access” to UK government ministers has been pictured with Boris Johnson at numerous Conservative Party events, openDemocracy can reveal.

Former politician Sergey Pechinin boasted on LinkedIn that his company, Realia Capital, “can introduce you to executives in UK government [sic] and help to build and maintain relations”.

 

[quiet guy]

Thought that was David Mellor at first glance

 

[stavros]

Former Putin minister's wife paid £160k to play tennis against Johnson.

 

[not a trot]

I doubt if any real Tories will give a shit.

 

[Dystopiary]

A long read on Chatham House -

The UK's kleptocracy problem - How servicing the post-Soviet elite weakens the rule of law

The UK’s kleptocracy problem

The growth of London as a centre for financial and professional services coincided with the collapse of the USSR and the rise of post-Soviet kleptocracies in the 1990s. These states and their elites have since become a major source of clients for UK-based services firms and of investors in UK assets.

In keeping with global standards, the UK has officially adopted a risk-based approach to anti-money laundering. However, failures of enforcement and implementation of the law – plus the exploitation of loopholes by professional enablers – have meant that little has been done in practice to prevent kleptocratic wealth and political agendas from entering Britain.

​

 

[Ming]

A long read on Chatham House -

The UK's kleptocracy problem - How servicing the post-Soviet elite weakens the rule of law

The UK’s kleptocracy problem

The growth of London as a centre for financial and professional services coincided with the collapse of the USSR and the rise of post-Soviet kleptocracies in the 1990s. These states and their elites have since become a major source of clients for UK-based services firms and of investors in UK assets.

In keeping with global standards, the UK has officially adopted a risk-based approach to anti-money laundering. However, failures of enforcement and implementation of the law – plus the exploitation of loopholes by professional enablers – have meant that little has been done in practice to prevent kleptocratic wealth and political agendas from entering Britain.

​

It’s a bit of a head fuck when you realize that The City of London is maybe the biggest money laundering centre in the world.

 

[SpookyFrank]

A long read on Chatham House -

The UK's kleptocracy problem - How servicing the post-Soviet elite weakens the rule of law

The UK’s kleptocracy problem

The growth of London as a centre for financial and professional services coincided with the collapse of the USSR and the rise of post-Soviet kleptocracies in the 1990s. These states and their elites have since become a major source of clients for UK-based services firms and of investors in UK assets.

In keeping with global standards, the UK has officially adopted a risk-based approach to anti-money laundering. However, failures of enforcement and implementation of the law – plus the exploitation of loopholes by professional enablers – have meant that little has been done in practice to prevent kleptocratic wealth and political agendas from entering Britain.

​

'Professional enablers' is a key phrase here. Accesories after the fact would be another good one.

 

[brogdale]

I doubt if any real Tories will give a shit.

True, but potentially very myopic. As the electorate increasingly perceive Russia as an aggressor, rogue state enemy, any association with that entity might well be damaging.

In the short-term the conflict may be a useful cover/distraction for Johnson’s beleaguered administration, but the Russian links may well start to look even worse and gain wider traction.

 

[rubbershoes]

True, but potentially very myopic. As the electorate increasingly perceive Russia as an aggressor, rogue state enemy, any association with that entity might well be damaging.

In the short-term the conflict may be a useful cover/distraction for Johnson’s beleaguered administration, but the Russian links may well start to look even worse and gain wider traction.

I can't see the Mail, Express, Sun etc making it much of an issue

 

[brogdale]

I can't see the Mail, Express, Sun etc making it much of an issue

probably not, but then again some of the billionaire press/MSM reaction to the parties stuff was interesting when the proprietors/editors realised where public opinion was going.

 

[bluescreen]

I can't see the Mail, Express, Sun etc making it much of an issue

I went to the Fail to see if there was anything, because they've been unpredictable of late. There's a fighting article by Martin Samuel in the Sport section attacking Abramovic for his weaselly 'stepping back' self-preservation and failure to declare whose side he's on, but nothing else yet.

 

[rubbershoes]

probably not, but then again some of the billionaire press/MSM reaction to the parties stuff was interesting when the proprietors/editors realised where public opinion was going.

With the parties, the Tory press was turning anti Johnson but not anti Tory.

I'm sure if the Russian cash story becomes a bigger issue, the party treasurer or someone peripheral like that will be sacrificed to "draw a line under it"

 

[Dystopiary]

It’s a bit of a head fuck when you realize that The City of London is maybe the biggest money laundering centre in the world.

Yep.

 

[discokermit]

lots of the big banks have been doone for money laundering and this has been known about for years. if its a shock it is down to previous wilful ignorance.

 

[two sheds]

try to open a bank account and you have to supply your mother's birth certificate and all sorts of other proof. Try to launder millions and it's an open door clearly. You have to wonder why these people aren't in prison, then you remember why they're not in prison.

 

[brogdale]

With the parties, the Tory press was turning anti Johnson but not anti Tory.

I'm sure if the Russian cash story becomes a bigger issue, the party treasurer or someone peripheral like that will be sacrificed to "draw a line under it"

Fair points; i suppose the only thing is if the russian connection also offers the opportunity to undermine the Johnson administration?

 

[stavros]

The Tory defence seems to be, "But look at Barry Gardiner and China", and that everyone who donated is a British citizen. How they got that citizenship isn't mentioned.

I went to the Fail to see if there was anything, because they've been unpredictable of late.

The DM was vaguely normal for a bit, whilst Geordie Greig was editor, pursuing the anti-Dacre line. He was chucked last November.

Whilst I don't know if he's donated to the Tories, Evegeny "Lord" Lebedev is very close to Johnson.

 

[quiet guy]

It's all nice little earners for everyone who handles the billions that are invested on behalf of Russians. The likes of you and I putting some money away or opening a new account doesn't even rate on their radar.

 

[ska invita]

Bump
I'm interested in the anglo-russian shared/compromised politics and what if anything has changed since the Ukraine invasion.
Has anyone come across anything on this subject recently?

 

[The39thStep]

Bump
I'm interested in the anglo-russian shared/compromised politics and what if anything has changed since the Ukraine invasion.
Has anyone come across anything on this subject recently?

Latest trade figures ?

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/664482b2b7249a4c6e9d34ba/russia-trade-and-investment-factsheet-2024-05-17.pdf