FINROSFORUM

FINROSFORUM

FINROSFORUM  //  The Finnish-Russian Civic Forum strives to promote cooperation between the peoples of Finland and Russia by supporting civic initiatives for democracy, human rights, and freedom of speech.

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Jun 14 / 2:20pm

Putin Campaigning in Geneva

by Kerkko Paananen
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Vladimir Putin arrived in the Swiss city of Geneva on 13 June 2011 as a "quasi-presidential candidate," Nikita Robert reports in Tribune de Genève. Officially in Switzerland to attend the 100th Assembly of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Putin's visit is clearly part of his presidential strategy. "Expect lots of news; it will be interesting," said one Putin confidant, promising "surprises." The message was clear: Putin will occupy the front of the media scene, both in Russia and on the international scene.

During his private meetings in Geneva, Putin will discuss the role of Russian oil traders in Switzerland. Gunvor, controlled by Putin's old friend, Gennady Timchenko, has established itself as one of the world's biggest oil traders. Rosneft and Bashneft have opened offices in Geneva and Zurich, while TNK-BP could do the same. Whether this is just a reorganisation of the sales networks for Russia's "black gold" or a sign of conflict between Russia's oil majors, Putin, the grand conductor of Russia's energy policy, will have his say.

http://www.tdg.ch/print/node/347355

Filed under  //  Geneva   Gunvor   Kremlin   Putin   Russia   Tandem   Timchenko  
 
Apr 11 / 6:04pm

Monaco: Putin's Money Launderette

by Kerkko Paananen

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The Russian newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, launched a two-part investigative series on Russian money-laundering in Monaco and how it connects to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Robert Eringer, head of intelligence to Prince Albert II of Monaco in 2002-2007, is the primary source of the story. Below, selected excerpts from Eringer's blog:

Monaco scrupulously honours banking secrets and anonymity and does not tax individuals, which is why members of political and business elites from various countries can be spotted among the owners of luxury yachts berthed in Monaco harbour. If you spend a few hours watching the Monaco port, the chances are you will see more than a few prominent Russians.

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Filed under  //  Eringer   Gunvor   Mafia   Monaco   Putin   Russia   Tambov   Timchenko  
 
Mar 31 / 12:20pm

Putin.Corruption

by Kerkko Paananen

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Russia's opposition party, People's Freedom Party, has produced a report accusing Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of presiding over a boom in corruption and enriching his inner circle over the past decade. The report, titled "Putin.Corruption," was authored by former First Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, former State Duma Deputy Vladimir Ryzhkov, and former Deputy Energy Minister Vladimir Milov.

The report details how once relatively obscure businessmen used their ties to Russia's powerful prime minister to amass personal fortunes over the past decade. Nemtsov says the general public is largely unaware that people like Swiss-based oil trader Gennady Timchenko, Putin's former judo partner Arkady Rotenberg, and Bank of Russia boss Yuri Kovalchuk enriched themselves due to their ties to Putin.

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Filed under  //  Corruption   Kovalchuk   Milov   Nemtsov   Putin   Rotenberg   Russia   Ryzhkov   Timchenko  
 
Jan 25 / 12:10am

Russia's campaigner against corruption

by Kerkko Paananen
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Alexey Navalny already had a reputation as a rabble-rouser when he showed up at the annual general meeting for Rosneft, a Russian oil firm, in Moscow in June 2009. With a small stake in the company, Mr Navalny wanted to question Rosneft chairman Igor Sechin, a confidant of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, about management strategy and the lack of dividends for stockholders.

"I looked around and noticed a bunch of beefy-looking fellows sitting around me," Mr Navalny said in an interview in his sparsely furnished offices in Moscow. "I am well known in Rosneft, and they're not always happy to see me." Mr Navalny said he approached Mr Sechin afterwards and asked why he had been surrounded by guards. “He chuckled and said it was for my own safety,” Mr Navalny said.

It is, perhaps, no surprise that questions of personal safety arise wherever Mr Navalny goes. Cocksure and irrepressible, he has become Russia's most vocal and obnoxious minority shareholder, hounding the country’s largest companies with muckraking campaigns against corporate malfeasance and incompetence. Mr Navalny has a small stake in almost every major state-owned company in Russia.

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100125/FOREIGN/701249805/1135

Filed under  //  Business   Corruption   Energy   Gunvor   Navalny   Oil   Putin   Rosneft   Russia   Timchenko  
 
Jan 13 / 11:44am

Putin's Finnish friend owes millions in taxes

by FINROSFORUM

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Businesses established by the Russian-Finnish oil tycoon Gennady Timchenko owe the Finnish state more than EUR 14 million in unpaid VAT and surtaxes, Helsingin Sanomat reports. The Finnish-registered oil trading company IPP owes EUR 2.2 million in taxes, while the holding company Merropoint owes another EUR 12.1 million. The unpaid VAT relates to deals by Mr Timchenko's Finnish business flight carrier Airfix Aviation.

http://www.hs.fi/english/print/1135252081597

Filed under  //  Finland   Gunvor   Putin   Russia   Timchenko