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We have no mandate to investigate Corruption in Russia, indeed we don't even have very good diplomatic relations with Russia or a workable extradition treaty.
Apparently that's precisely what you are planning to do now - to investigate corruption, in Russia including.
"The criminal finances bill, published on Thursday, is designed to close a loophole which has left the authorities powerless to seize property from overseas criminals unless the individuals are first convicted in their country of origin."
See how this works? No criminal politicians/business people attached to them are going to "investigate" themselves ( I am talking about Russia first of all,) so voila, they are not criminals no matter WHAT they do, and hence their purchases of real estate in the UK ( or whatever that might be) are perfectly legal. And this, in turn, leads to "London’s reputation as a haven for dirty money." Simple.
Now when it comes specifically to Russian criminals, you might be interested in reading this particular section in the Wiki on "Russian Oligarchs" - "Oligarchs in London"
"A significant number of Russian oligarchs have bought homes in upscale sections of London in the United Kingdom, which has been dubbed[by whom?] "Moscow on Thames".[16] Some, like Len Blavatnik, Eugene Shvidler, Alexander Knaster, Konstantin Kagalovsky and Abram Reznikov, are expatriates, having taken permanent residency in London. This community has led to journalists calling the city "Londongrad". Most own homes in both countries as well as property and have acquired controlling interests in major European companies. They commute on a regular basis between the EU and Russia; in many cases their families reside in London, with their children attending school there. In 2007 Abram Reznikov bought one of Spain's mega recycling companies, Alamak Espana Trade SL, while Roman Abramovich bought the English football club, Chelsea F.C., in 2003, and has spent record amounts on players' salaries.[17]
In 2013 expatriate oligarch Leonard Blavatnik's refurbished home was possibly the most expensive house in London (per sq ft.)[18]
The billionaire Moscow oligarch Mikhail Fridman (Russia's second richest man as of 2016) is currently restoring Athlone House in London, to be one of his primary residences.[19] The house will be worth £130 million when restored.[20]"
And see, since this is dubbed as "Moscow on Thames" and "Londongrad," that means that Russian population is not limited there just to a few oligarchs; it's full of less important and more *financially limited starlets,* but that doesn't mean that these *starlets* don't steal from Russia and that they don't invest in the UK property and what's not. They still do - just in more modest figures and their names are not as flashy as of Abramovitch, the owner of Chelsea.
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^^^
I am aware that there are a number of Wealthy Russian Oligarchs in London and also Russian Organised Crime Gangs, however the police are limited in what they can do with Criminal activity in Russia itself. It's up to the Russian Authorities to let us know what has gone on and provide us with intelligence, however due to the current political climate it's unlikely that there is that much cooperation.
Putin is still smarting over Scotland Yards request to deport Andrey Lugovoy for the murder ten years ago of Alexander Litvinenko who was a former officer of the Russian FSB secret service who specialised in tackling organised crime, Litvineko was famously poisoned with a Polonium-210 radiation in London, Police believe the poison was slipped in to his tea.
Whilst Boris Berezovsky and enemy of Putin was found dead at his home in Berkshire in 2013 and Alexander Perepilichnyy, who collapsed and died outside his home in Surrey in 2012, was due to give evidence in a case which implicated Russian tax officials. Whilat German Gorbuntsov a Russian businessman and banker was shot at Canary Wharf in London in 2012, but managed to survive.
Questions also remain over the death of Berezovsky’s business partner, Badri Patarkatsishvili, who died in February 2008, while last year “Putin’s banker” Sergei Pugachev revealed how he had fled from London to France because someone was trying to murder him. Whilst the murder of Scot Young and four other men in the UK who once reguarly dined together including Berezovsky, is believed to have links to Russian Organised Crime.
I am aware that there are a number of Wealthy Russian Oligarchs in London and also Russian Organised Crime Gangs, however the police are limited in what they can do with Criminal activity in Russia itself. It's up to the Russian Authorities to let us know what has gone on and provide us with intelligence, however due to the current political climate it's unlikely that there is that much cooperation.
What "Russian authorities let us know?"
It is said in your last article (quite clearly I'd think) that Russian authorities ARE the source of corruption, so what do you expect "Russian authorities" to tell *you* - that they have to be investigated ahead of anyone else as the prime suspects?
As for the rest - I am quite honestly surprised that Luke Harding still writes the kind of articles he usually writes. About the "freedom-loving" ( or sorry -"liberalization-loving") "formal friends" of monstrous Putin with whom they keep on *falling out* because of their -err.. "love of freedom" and - yeah, "liberalization" - that one. Amazing how they never saw those *features* of Putin while wheeling and dealing with him/under him and his buddies. Truth to be told - Russian mafia created in the 90ies ( with the help of American economic advisers) is alive and well in Russia; it's just now these people look more "respectful" and more "legit," but the idea is still the same - shady deals, off-shore accounts, lavish investments in London's property and lack of any accountability in front of their own population. The fact that Russian mafia ( as any mafia) doesn't consist of one, but two families - of Yeltsin's and Putin's times, doesn't change much, other than that the first group ( where the latter Berezovsky belonged,) was exceptionally friendly to the West, being ready to sell anything and everything in Russia in exchange for belonging to the "club" ( i.e. the circles of "rich and famous" in Europe,) while the second group of oligarchs, ( and people of more modest means - i.e. millionaires) pledged their allegiance to Putin. Another difference worthy of noticing is that while Russian general population tolerates the second group, it hates the first group with passion.
That's about it, to sum it all up.
So don't accept money from either one of these families - either Gambino, or Corleone. It's that simple.
The Russians will thank you, and there will be less threat from the "Russian bear" to talk about.
Of course Luke Harding won't be able to feed British public with the kind of stories that British public is used to have with its morning cup of coffee ( or tea - whatever British public drinks in the morning,) but this can be easily substituted with croissants I think.
They've been doing that everywhere not just UK. Dubai, Monaco, even in small Bulgaria the coastline is about 80% russian property. Usually I am all for sales of land to foreigners but there gotta be limitations when the sellers aren't too smart to conduct proper deal or in the case when they're too corrupt.
Yes of course, but that's already a smaller fish to fry)))
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erasure
What "Russian authorities let us know?"
It is said in your last article (quite clearly I'd think) that Russian authorities ARE the source of corruption, so what do you expect "Russian authorities" to tell *you* - that they have to be investigated ahead of anyone else as the prime suspects?
As for the rest - I am quite honestly surprised that Luke Harding still writes the kind of articles he usually writes. About the "freedom-loving" ( or sorry -"liberalization-loving") "formal friends" of monstrous Putin with whom they keep on *falling out* because of their -err.. "love of freedom" and - yeah, "liberalization" - that one. Amazing how they never saw those *features* of Putin while wheeling and dealing with him/under him and his buddies. Truth to be told - Russian mafia created in the 90ies ( with the help of American economic advisers) is alive and well in Russia; it's just now these people look more "respectful" and more "legit," but the idea is still the same - shady deals, off-shore accounts, lavish investments in London's property and lack of any accountability in front of their own population. The fact that Russian mafia ( as any mafia) doesn't consist of one, but two families - of Yeltsin's and Putin's times, doesn't change much, other than that the first group ( where the latter Berezovsky belonged,) was exceptionally friendly to the West, being ready to sell anything and everything in Russia in exchange for belonging to the "club" ( i.e. the circles of "rich and famous" in Europe,) while the second group of oligarchs, ( and people of more modest means - i.e. millionaires) pledged their allegiance to Putin. Another difference worthy of noticing is that while Russian general population tolerates the second group, it hates the first group with passion.
That's about it, to sum it all up.
So don't accept money from either one of these families - either Gambino, or Corleone. It's that simple.
The Russians will thank you, and there will be less threat from the "Russian bear" to talk about.
Of course Luke Harding won't be able to feed British public with the kind of stories that British public is used to have with its morning cup of coffee ( or tea - whatever British public drinks in the morning,) but this can be easily substituted with croissants I think.
The Russian Authorities are indeed part of the problem, and we do recognise the need to stop money laundering however proving the legitimise of every investment. There is however going to be an inquiry in to foreign ownership of property in the UK and the UK Authorities do work with organisations such as Interpol and Europol in order to identify and gather information and intelligence on international organised crime gangs.
The Russian Authorities are indeed part of the problem, and we do recognise the need to stop money laundering however proving the legitimise of every investment. There is however going to be an inquiry in to foreign ownership of property in the UK and the UK Authorities do work with organisations such as Interpol and Europol in order to identify and gather information and intelligence on international organised crime gangs.
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Originally Posted by erasure
Well I am afraid it's too little, too late.
It's more than Russia and most countries do, if you want to look at a corupt country then look no further than Putin's Russia.
As I hace already stated we can't investigate corruption in Russia and nor do we know if every investment made by Russians and other forirgn nations is legitimate. Unless we receive intelligence from other countries regarding organised crime and corruption then there is little we can do.
The fact that we are examing the housing market in relation to Foreign Nationals who often don't live in the properties they buy and use them as a source of investment is a welcome move, however it's not going to stop Foreign Money from various activities being used to invest in London.
The ratings agency Moody's estimates that there is $31 billion of Russian money in Cypriot banks. This money comes from oligarchs and the Russian mafia.
The problem is that corruption in Russia is endemic, from sports to business, it's everywhere. But erasure thinks that we are to blame, not Putin and his corrupt cronies. To think that Russia would allow police officers from the UK to investigate corruption on their soil is ridiculous.
It's more than Russia and most countries do, if you want to look at a corupt country then look no further than Putin's Russia.
As I hace already stated we can't investigate corruption in Russia and nor do we know if every investment made by Russians and other forirgn nations is legitimate. Unless we receive intelligence from other countries regarding organised crime and corruption then there is little we can do.
The fact that we are examing the housing market in relation to Foreign Nationals who often don't live in the properties they buy and use them as a source of investment is a welcome move, however it's not going to stop Foreign Money from various activities being used to invest in London.
See, this particular kind of corruption did not start with Putin - corruption started with Yeltsin and first "new Russians" arriving with their looted money to European shores ( London comes to mind,) BEFORE Putin came to power. Think Berezovsky, think Khodorkovsky, Abramovich Usmanov, Potanin,
just to name a few - these are well-known figures, but I'm sure there are many more less visible figures owning property in London; all these people gained their money BEFORE Putin became head of the state.
So corruption ( and lavish investments of looted money abroad) started not with Putin, but with Yeltsin. However Yeltsin is touted as the "biggest democrat ever" by the West, where Putin ( who didn't start it all, but rather left the pattern established earlier in place) is a "corrupt politician," and so is the country ruled by him.
So why the corruption was overlooked ( and actually encouraged) at the first place, where it's condemned in the latter case, inquiring minds want to know)))
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