"German 'Putin Connoisseur' Exposed: Secret Book Deal with Russian Oligarch"

German journalist Hubert Seipel, known for his coverage of Russian President Vladimir Putin, secretly agreed to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars from a shell company linked to Russian oligarch Alexey Mordashov to write a book about the Kremlin. Leaked financial records reveal that Seipel received approximately $700,000 as a "sponsorship" for his books, raising questions about his independence and potential conflicts of interest. The revelations highlight the extent of Russia's propaganda machine abroad and the complicity of operators in helping Russian elites hide assets from sanctions. Cyprus, a key financial hub for Putin's cronies, is implicated in the investigation. Seipel denies being a "Putin agent" and defends the legitimacy of his work, while his publisher and broadcaster express concern and state that they were unaware of the sponsorship agreement.