The brazen — and I would even say ostentatious — lies of chief press secretary Dmitry Peskov about his 37 million-ruble watch are deeply infuriating.
He continues to insist that it was a wedding gift from his wife, despite the fact that we have clearly established that he was seen wearing this watch at least three months before the wedding.
Moreover, there are serious doubts that Tatyana Navka, even though she was an Olympic champion, has enough income to afford gifts like that.
And not long ago — just a month earlier — Tatyana Navka herself said on television that she did not have enough money to pay her utility bills. Obviously, she was exaggerating somewhat, but still.
In short, I urge everyone — journalists above all — to keep pressing this issue. It is of fundamental importance to society. It is important to remember that the Polish minister who resigned over failing to declare a $5,500 watch did so not because he wanted to, but because the media forced the issue.
And to provide our journalists with additional arguments, the Anti-Corruption Foundation has compiled, from open sources, an incomplete collection of other watches owned by the state official Peskov.
There are another three or four pieces that we have not yet been able to identify.
But even what we have already identified is worth a total of $154,000, or 9.5 million rubles — more than Peskov’s annual salary.
Can you imagine Peskov neither eating nor drinking, and doing nothing but buying watches? Neither can I, which means we are once again dealing with illicit enrichment.
By the way, when you talk about Peskov’s annual income (9 million rubles), it is worth remembering that he is supposed to pay a third of it in child support to his ex-wife for their two minor children. And if he is not paying it, then let him explain that to the women on Navka’s favorite website, Tatler.ru, and they will tear the press secretary to shreds in outrage.
Can a state official possess a watch collection like this? Is it ethical for a Russian official, in a country where 23% of citizens are classified as “poor” and 17% are officially below the poverty line?
If these are gifts, then who is giving them, and in exchange for what services? Why is the rule banning gifts to state officials worth more than 3,000 rubles being violated?
Society deserves answers to all of these questions.
Journalists, help.
P.S. We would be very glad to have watch experts join the effort. If we have misidentified something or missed anything, write in the comments and we will correct it.