A prominent German journalist reportedly accepted money from Russia

The renowned German journalist and author, Hwbert Seipel, who interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin and wrote two books about him, has accepted 600,000 euros from Russian oligarch companies Alexei Mordov, in a joint investigation.

Mordov is linked to Putin and is on the West's list of sanctions.

Seipel is known in Yemen for an exclusive interview with Putin in 2014 and has implemented a documentary on it.

In research conducted by German broadcaster ZDF, Der Spiegel magazine and researcher mediums Paper Trailer Media, it is said that Seipel, a journalist who has won awards, has accepted money through a Cyprus-based company linked to Mordov, for the two books described by some as favourable portraits for Putin.

According to Cyprus-based confidential financial services files provided by German journalists, Seipel, in 2018, has signed an agreement of 600,000 euros for sponsorship, writing and promoting a book for “political climates in Russia” an extremely high fee for publishing houses in Germany.

The book was published in 2021 under the title “Putin's Fuqia: Why does Europe need Russia? Inside power”.

In documents provided by research, there is a document, a manuscript that shows signs that Seipel may have accepted money even in 2013 for preparing Putin's biography.

Seipel, who has said he met Putin “prepare 100 times” and was one of the few Western journalists who had direct contact with the Russian leader, has not warned readers or the publishing house of eventual opportunities for conflict of interest.

Seipel confirmed that he accepted “financial support through Mordashov”, but has claimed that “this did not affect the contents of his books in any way, citing a contract point specifying that author <x4 does not have a duty to sponsors concerning the project of the book”.

The TV company NDR has said in the search team's requested response that there has been no knowledge of Russian financing and has said it is looking into the indictment against him.

Mordov, the Russian tycoons, who have been under sanctions from the United States, the European Union and Great Britain since last year, has owned a German travel company, TAI.

He is one of the richest people in Russia, with a fortune amounting to $21 billion, says Forbes magazine. / REL