Money laundering

From TORI
Jump to: navigation, search
The Russian Laundromat, [2][3]
Money laundering by Marian Kamensky. [4]

Money laundering (отмывание денег) is general name for any procedures of multiple transfer of money aimed hiding its source, performed with goal to pretend that it is earned in a legal way.

There are many publication about money laundry by the soviet veterans, who used to rob money from the USSR and post-soveit Russia, hiding them in civilized countries.

in beginning of century 21, it is gradually recognized, that the laundry of money of the Russian mafia is not good for the people of a country that allows this; it is not import of capital, but import of corruption. Some links are collected in the Sci-fiction article Nine angry women in the pool, but some most relevant are also copypasted below.

Of order of \(3\!\cdot\! 10^{10}\) US dollar were exported from the USSR to support the dynasty of Cuban dictators. Formally, the money were declared as a credit for development of the Cuban industry. Practically, the money were spent for the luxury of the family Castro and the diplomats arranged the treat. For year 2013, the Russian–Cuban corruptioners are successful in laundry of 90% of that money [5][6].

It is believed, that the world-wide biggest money laundry affair is organised by Vladimir Putin and his friends [7].

Terror

The money laundering of the leaders of various kinds of dictatorships appears as a fuel, as an engine for various kinds of terror: For the political repressions inside the totalitaristic countries, for the sparse terroristic acts in foreign countries and also for the massive invasion to neighbour countries with military troops. Also, the money laundering seems to be the dominant source for the budget of the election frauds, that provide conditions for the invasions and other kinds of terrorism.

2016.05.24, Vladimir Kara-Murza indicates, that stopping of the money laundering of the Russian mafia on civilised countries is very important; with such kind of help, he hopes, the Russian people can stop the terror of the Russian administration and establish the democracy [8][9]:
.. Of our friends in the West we ask only one thing. Stay true to your values. We are not asking for your support. It is our task to change Russia, and we will to it ourselves. The only thing we ask from you is that you stop supporting Mr.Putin by treating him as respectable and worthy partner on the world stage. And above all, by allowing his cronies to use your countries as havens for their looted wealth. And please stop falling for the lie that Russians are somehow uniquely unsuited, incapable, not ready for democracy. We are suited. We are capable. We are ready. And we will get there, just like you. ..

The ideas by Kara-Murza seems to be understood by the administration of Western countries.

2016.07.28. the NYTimes indicate, that the USA administration begins tracking the secret buyers of luxury [10]

2016.10.13, Juliette Garside (The Guardian) indicates that the properties of corruptioners (including that of the Russian KGB agents) can be arrested and expropriated upon the new regulation about "dirty money" [11].

2016.12.06, Margaret Hodge (The Times) indicates, that Britain must not be a safe haven for money launderers [12].

2017.03.20, The Guardian indicate, that Britain’s high street banks processed nearly dollaR740m from a vast money-laundering operation run by Russian criminals with links to the Russian government and the KGB. [13]

Resistance

Certain efforts of the Western administration are reported to stop the Money laundering, or, at least, to reduce the scale of this phenomenon. [14][15]

2018,01.28, the USA Congress publishes the list of 210 rich Russians, believed to be criminals and to hide their treasures in America. Theu are reported to belong the Butin's mafia; any business with these persons is supposed to be, softly speaking, dangerous. [16]

2018.02.03, Francis Elliott indicates that Russians in Britain told to reveal their riches [17]

Keywords

Corruption, Russia, Nine angry women in the pool, Terror

References

  1. http://mirror581.graniru.info/Politics/World/m.250394.html Экс-президент Аргентины Кристина Фернандес обвинена в отмывании денег. 10.04.2016.
  2. https://www.reportingproject.net/therussianlaundromat/ OCCRP PRESENTS: The Russian Laundromat. Call it the Laundromat. It’s a complex system for laundering more than dollaR20 billion in Russian money stolen from the government by corrupt politicians or earned through organized crime activity. It was designed to not only move money from Russian shell companies into EU banks through Latvia, it had the added feature of getting corrupt or uncaring judges in Moldova to legitimize the funds. The state-of-the-art system provided exceptionally clean money backed by a court ruling at a fraction of the cost of regular laundering schemes. It made up for the low costs by laundering huge volumes. The system used just one bank in Latvia and one bank in Moldova but 19 banks in Russia, some of them controlled by rich and powerful figures including the cousin of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
  3. https://www.reportingproject.net/therussianlaundromat/russian-laundromat.php OCCRP. The Russian Laundromat. August 22, 2014.
  4. https://rufabula.com/news/2016/04/27/panama-papers Международный консорциум журналистов-расследователей (ICIJ) 9 мая опубликует интерактивную базу данных с информацией из «Панамского архива» о 200 тысячах офшорных компаний. База появится по адресу offshoreleaks.icij.org в 21:00 по Москве.
  5. http://rt.com/business/russia-cuba-debt-jets-270/ Ekaterina Shtukina. Russia writes off Soviet-era Cuban debt. February 22, 2013 14:04. Russia will partially write off Cuba’s \(30 billion Soviet-era debt and lease eight jets worth dollaR650 million. The new agreements were signed during Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Cuba’s capital, Havana.
  6. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/09/us-cuba-russia-debt-idUSBRE9B813P20131209 MARC FRANK, Editing by David Adams and Jim Lone. Russia signs deal to forgive dollaR29 billion of Cuba's Soviet-era debt - diplomats. Dec 9, 2013 3:55pm EST
  7. http://online.wsj.com/articles/u-s-money-laundering-probe-touches-putins-inner-circle-1415234261 CHRISTOPHER M. MATTHEWS and ANDREW GROSSMAN. U.S. Money-Laundering Probe Touches Putin’s Inner Circle. Nov. 5, 2014 8:11 p.m. ET
  8. https://oslofreedomforum.com/talks/russians-are-ready-for-democracy Russians Are Ready for Democracy. Vladimir Kara-Murza. 2016 Oslo Freedom Forum May 24, 2016. The Russian government doesn’t love activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, but he loves Russia. That’s why he is devoting his life to the fight for democracy in Russia, even though it might get him killed. Hear him deliver a powerful call for change from the stage at the 2016 Oslo Freedom Forum. .. .. Of our friends in the West we ask only one thing. Stay true to your values. We are not asking for your support. It is our task to change Russia, and we will to it ourselves. The only thing we ask from you is that you stop supporting Mr.Putin by treating him as respectable and worthy partner on the world stage. And above all, by allowing his cronies to use your countries as havens for their looted wealth. And please stop falling for the lie that Russians are somehow uniquely unsuited, incapable, not ready for democracy. We are suited. We are capable. We are ready. And we will get there, just like you. ..
  9. 2016.05.28. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPpY7TUjm3E VLADIMIR KARA MURZA | RUSSIANS ARE READY FOR DEMOCRACY | 2016. May 28, 2016. Vladimir Kara-Murza's talk at the 2016 Oslo Freedom Forum. .. Of our friends in the West we ask only one thing. Stay true to your values. We are not asking for your support. It is our task to change Russia, and we will to it ourselves. The only thing we ask from you is that you stop supporting Mr.Putin by treating him as respectable and worthy partner on the world stage. And above all, by allowing his cronies to use your countries as havens for their looted wealth. And please stop falling for the lie that Russians are somehow uniquely unsuited, incapable, not ready for democracy. We are suited. We are capable. We are ready. And we will get there, just like you. ..
  10. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/28/us/us-expands-program-to-track-secret-buyers-of-luxury-real-estate.html?_r=2 LOUISE STORY. U.S. to Expand Tracking of Home Purchases by Shell Companies. JULY 27, 2016. More than a quarter of the all-cash luxury home purchases made using shell companies in Manhattan and Miami were flagged as suspicious in a new effort to unearth money laundering in real estate, the Treasury Department said Wednesday. As a result, officials said they would expand the program to other areas across the country.
  11. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/oct/13/properties-seized-assets-corrupt-cash-crackdown-criminal-finances-bill-tax-haven Juliette Garside. Hundreds of properties could be seized in UK corruption crackdown. Thursday 13 October 2016 17.46 BST
  12. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/britain-must-not-be-a-safe-haven-for-money-launderers-8pjxjq7gr Margaret Hodge. Britain must not be a safe haven for money launderers. December 6 2016, 12:01am, The Times. Only 10 per cent of the money laundered in the UK is frozen. .. Only 10 per cent of the money laundered in the UK is frozen after blowing the whistle on a dollaR million Russian government fraud. ..
  13. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/20/british-banks-handled-vast-sums-of-laundered-russian-money?CMP=share_btn_tw Luke Harding, Nick Hopkins and Caelainn Barr. British banks handled vast sums of laundered Russian money. Monday 20 March 2017 18.00 GMT, Last modified on Tuesday 21 March 2017 08.32 GMT. Britain’s high street banks processed nearly dollaR740m from a vast money-laundering operation run by Russian criminals with links to the Russian government and the KGB, the Guardian can reveal.
  14. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/action-plan-for-anti-money-laundering-and-counter-terrorist-finance Action plan for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist finance From: HM Treasury and Home Office Part of: Criminal Finances Bill, Counter-terrorism, and Anti-Corruption Summit: London 2016 First published: 21 April 2016 Last updated: 13 October 2016,
  15. https://www.state.gov/j/inl/c/crime/c44634.htm Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Terrorist Financing. 2017.03.21.
  16. http://prod-upp-image-read.ft.com/40911a30-057c-11e8-9650-9c0ad2d7c5b5 Report to Congress Pursuant to section 241 of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 2017 Regarding Senior Foreign Political Figures and Oligarchs in the Russian Federation and Russian Parastatal Entries. January 29, 2018.
  17. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/russians-in-britain-told-to-reveal-their-riches-6wxjrvqb0 Francis Elliott. Russians in Britain told to reveal their riches. McMafia-style crackdown on ‘corrupt’ oligarchs. February 3 2018, 12:01am.

2013.07.08. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2013/07/08/Russian-police-uncover-11-billion-money-laundering-operation/UPI-15581373286012/ Russian police uncover \)1.1 billion money-laundering operation. July 8, 2013 at 8:20 AM. MOSCOW, July 8 (UPI) -- Russian police said Monday they uncovered a money-laundering scheme in which more than 400 people were involved in transferring $1.1 billion out of the country. // Several commercial banks and about 100 Russian and foreign companies -- some of which were so-called "one-day companies" -- were used to funnel the money abroad, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. The money was used for real estate purchases in Cyprus and the Baltic states. ..

2015.08.31. http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/russian-nuclear-energy-official-pleads-guilty-money-laundering-conspiracy-involving Russian Nuclear Energy Official Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy Involving Violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Monday, August 31, 2015. Vadim Mikerin, 56, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang of the District of Maryland. Sentencing is scheduled before Judge Chuang on Dec. 8, 2015. ..

2016.04.09. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-argentina-court-idUSKCN0X60SP Argentina's Fernandez faces money laundering probe. Sat Apr 9, 2016 9:47pm EDT. Cristina Fernandez, who stepped down as president of Argentina in December after eight years in office, has been officially accused by a prosecutor of money laundering, a court source said on Saturday.

2016.05.24. https://oslofreedomforum.com/talks/russians-are-ready-for-democracy Russians Are Ready for Democracy. Vladimir Kara-Murza. 2016 Oslo Freedom Forum May 24, 2016. The Russian government doesn’t love activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, but he loves Russia. That’s why he is devoting his life to the fight for democracy in Russia, even though it might get him killed. Hear him deliver a powerful call for change from the stage at the 2016 Oslo Freedom Forum. .. .. Of our friends in the West we ask only one thing. Stay true to your values. We are not asking for your support. It is our task to change Russia, and we will to it ourselves. The only thing we ask from you is that you stop supporting Mr.Putin by treating him as respectable and worthy partner on the world stage. And above all, by allowing his cronies to use your countries as havens for their looted wealth. And please stop falling for the lie that Russians are somehow uniquely unsuited, incapable, not ready for democracy. We are suited. We are capable. We are ready. And we will get there, just like you. .. 2016.05.28. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPpY7TUjm3E VLADIMIR KARA MURZA | RUSSIANS ARE READY FOR DEMOCRACY | 2016. May 28, 2016. Vladimir Kara-Murza's talk at the 2016 Oslo Freedom Forum. .. Of our friends in the West we ask only one thing. Stay true to your values. We are not asking for your support. It is our task to change Russia, and we will to it ourselves. The only thing we ask from you is that you stop supporting Mr.Putin by treating him as respectable and worthy partner on the world stage. And above all, by allowing his cronies to use your countries as havens for their looted wealth. ..

2017.01.28. http://www.dfs.ny.gov/about/press/pr1701301.htm Richard Loconte. DFS FINES DEUTSCHE BANK dollaR425 MILLION FOR RUSSIAN MIRROR-TRADING SCHEME. January 30, 2017. The Bank Allowed Traders to Engage in a Money-Laundering Scheme Using “Mirror Trades” That Improperly Shifted dollaR10 Billion Out of Russia

2017.03.03. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/two-trump-companies-discovered-in-cyprus-eus-russian_us_5856c248e4b0d5f48e1650ac Grant Stern, Contributor Grant Stern is a professional mortgage broker, radio broadcaster and columnist based in Miami, Florida. Two Trump Companies Discovered In Cyprus, EU’s Russian Off-Shore Banking Haven. 12/19/2016 02:04 pm ET | Updated 2017.03.03

2017.03.20. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/20/british-banks-handled-vast-sums-of-laundered-russian-money Luke Harding, Nick Hopkins and Caelainn Barr. British banks handled vast sums of laundered Russian money. Monday 20 March 2017 18.00 GMT Exclusive: Billions of dollars were moved out of Russia in ‘Global Laundromat’ operation, with anonymously owned UK companies playing major role.