The journalists participating in the international Project for the investigation of organized crime and corruption (OCCRP), argue that one of the once largest Russian private investment Bank “Troika Dialog” participated in a scheme through which was “laundered” about $ 9 billion

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Among those mentioned in the investigation and allegedly used the services of “Laundromat”, was a cellist Sergei Roldugin

The press service of the President of Russia

The journalists participating in the international Project for the investigation of organized crime and corruption (OCCRP), argue that one of the once largest Russian private investment Bank “Troika Dialog” participated in a scheme through which was “laundered” about $ 9 billion. Moreover, the scheme has been used, for example, the musician Sergei Roldugin, who is called “purse” of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Published on Monday, the investigation said that this scheme, which journalists call a “triple-Laundry” that allow people associated with organized crime, and corrupt officials to avoid taxes and to hide their foreign assets. Among those mentioned in the investigation and allegedly used the services of “Laundromat”, was a cellist Sergei Roldugin.

The investigation was made possible thanks to a major leak of Bank documents. The investigation was also attended by the Lithuanian website 15min.lt.

“Troika Dialog”, as stated in the investigation, in the middle of 2000-ies has created a network of more than 75 offshore companies that have opened accounts, in particular, in Lithuanian Ukio Bankas, which was closed in 2013. Money from Russia were laundered through accounts at the Bank, transfers radio “Freedom”.

Transaction, as stated, for the most part was a fake – the money was transferred for the supply of non-existent goods and services. From the Lithuanian Bank they were displayed on major accounts in Western banks: Citigroup Inc., Raiffeisen, Deutsche Bank. These funds purchased property in the UK, Spain, Montenegro, as well as luxury yachts, works of art. Part of the money went to pay for education of children of corrupt officials in Western educational institutions, and Church donations.

According to accounts related by Raldugina thus derived was $ 69 million. A fraudulent scheme is also used, working on the basis of Sheremetyevo airport. They inflated in 2003-2008 fuel prices. The result has been overstated and the ticket prices, and lost 40 million dollars in taxes.

“Three-Laundromat service to our” was used including the withdrawal of Russian money, which had investigated who died in a Moscow prison in 2009, Sergei Magnitsky. The scheme allowed the representatives of the Russian political and business circles secretly to buy shares in state companies and property abroad, says the investigation.

The main shareholder of “Troika Dialogue” was an investment banker of Armenian origin Ruben Vardanyan, who had a reputation as a philanthropist, a supporter of rapprochement with the West and Russia’s innovative development. In 2012, “Troika Dialog” was sold to Sberbank. Further, the structure has carried out activities under the signboard of Sberbank CIB.

According to Vardanyan, in the period from 2006 to 2010, the revenues of the Bank “Troika Dialog” has exceeded 2 trillion rubles (63-85 billion dollars). The banker said that if there was any misconduct, it was forced to do it.

“Understand, I’m not an angel. In Russia you have three options: to be a revolutionary, to leave the country or become a conformist. So, I’m a conformist” – said Vardanyan. However, the banker claims that he had certain principles. Vardanyan, according to him, was never involved in tax auctions, never had contact with the crime, and did not engage in political parties.

“Therefore, even in 90-e years, I traveled without protection”, he added.

According to OCCRP, 3.2 million dollars, scrolled through the “Laundry” “Troika Dialog”, settled in the accounts Vardanyan and his family. Of these funds, in particular, was paid for with British education of three children of a banker.

We will add that earlier OCCRP mentioned the names Roldugin and Putin in connection with a major embezzlement of budget funds, which was revealed by the lawyer of company Hermitage Capital Management Sergei Magnitsky. Hermitage Capital Management Briton William Browder from 1995 to 2006 was one of the largest foreign investment funds in the Russian stock market.

However, in 2007 the Prosecutor’s office suspected the subsidiaries of the Fund in tax evasion. After searches in the company of the lawyer of Fund Sergey Magnitsky accused officials of MIA and Prosecutor’s office to use acquired in the investigation of these documents to steal from the state more than $ 230 million. Criminal financial operation was disguised as a VAT refund.

In response, prosecutors accused Magnitsky of tax evasion. He was arrested and died in SIZO “Matrosskaya Tishina” in November 2009 at the age of 37 years. Before his death, Magnitsky was deprived of medical care and, in fact, tortured.

In 2012, the U.S. passed the Magnitsky act, which was first extended to those involved in the death of lawyer judges and security forces, and other persons responsible for gross violations of human rights. Similar laws were passed in the UK, Canada and EU countries.

After the release of “the Panama document” in 2016, OCCRP published evidence that stolen money from the budget mentioned by Magnitsky, settled in the accounts of Putin’s friend the cellist Sergey Roldugin, who is called “purse” of the Russian President.