What a tangled mess—someone could make a political thriller out of this.
How Marine Le Pen got Russian millions.
What interests me most in this story is the role of old Babachello—a recurring character in our investigations.
In Russia, he is officially the poorest deputy in the State Duma, reporting no income at all. In Ukraine, he quite openly appears on lists of the richest people and owns all sorts of assets, from energy companies to hotels. Babakov is also listed among the biggest buyers of Ukrainian state assets.
We found and proved that Babakov owns an estate in France and an apartment in Paris. That is only what we managed to uncover; I have no doubt there is much more. These facts fit perfectly with the theory of a “French connection”—Babakov’s interests in France are obvious.
It is also well known that Babakov has business interests in the Czech Republic and set up companies there. Personally, I believe—and this is only an opinion, there is no proof yet—that Babakov may also be behind the Czech-Russian bank that issued loans to Le Pen’s party.
If that is the case, the whole scheme looks exquisite: the secret oligarch Babakov makes money in Ukraine, invests those earnings in France, bankrolls the French far right, and the French far right repays him with adoration for Putin and efforts to secure international recognition for the “DNR” (the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic).
If this is really true, then the famous phrase “Putin outplayed everyone” is entirely appropriate here. Using Ukrainian money to attack Ukraine and bribe European politicians. Elegant.
And the fact that these schemes are allegedly being facilitated by Babakov, who is on the European sanctions lists, makes the situation especially piquant.
I have already written that the “Babakov case” is one of the most inexplicable things to me in present-day Ukraine.
Power is in the hands of the people now, after all. This is hardly rocket science: send the “competent authorities” to the organizations known to belong to Babakov and make them disclose the ultimate beneficial owner. Do it within the law, politely, and without raids or masked theatrics.
And then, if the information is confirmed, work with European authorities on possible money laundering and possible bribes to European politicians. And enforce the sanctions as well.
This is very much in the interests of Russian citizens too—if this sleazy little deputy really is running a secret business abroad, we should know about it.
Yet in Ukraine, no investigations into Babakov are taking place. I do not want to write provocative lines like, “perhaps Babakov is bribing not only French politicians,” but you have to admit, it looks strange.
A reminder: we are very interested in any information about Babakov and his schemes. You can send it to us here completely anonymously.
P.S. A separate question: what exactly do the European right see in Putin at all? He is against a visa regime and wants to flood everything with Central Asian migrants. He supports expanding the role of the state. And, let’s put it this way, he does not exactly live a conservative lifestyle. Etc., etc.
P.P.S. In the Beautiful Russia of the Future, civil servants and deputies will go to prison for running secret businesses; that is why we are voting for a law that punishes illicit enrichment.