Difference between revisions of "Pandora Papers"

From Wikispooks
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(since it is on the front page)
 
Line 4: Line 4:
 
|image=Pandora Papers.jpg
 
|image=Pandora Papers.jpg
 
|image_width=440px
 
|image_width=440px
|image_caption=The homepage of [[BBC News]] on 3 October 2021
+
|image_caption=The homepage of [[BBC News]] on 3 October 2021. Curiously, despite Vladimir Putin not being mentioned once in the papers, the BBC still his picture there.
 
|constitutes=Leak, Limited Hangout
 
|constitutes=Leak, Limited Hangout
 
|start=2 October 2021
 
|start=2 October 2021
Line 10: Line 10:
 
|perpetrators=ICIJ
 
|perpetrators=ICIJ
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
Similar to [[Paradise Papers]] or [[Panama Papers]].
 
Similar to [[Paradise Papers]] or [[Panama Papers]].
  
 +
==Official narrative==
 
Details of the '''Pandora Papers''' were released by the [[International Consortium of Investigative Journalists]] (ICIJ) on 3 October 2021.<ref>''[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-58780465 "Pandora Papers: Secret wealth and dealings of world leaders exposed"]''</ref> Based upon the most expansive leak of [[tax haven]] files in history, the [[ICIJ]] investigation of the Pandora Papers reveals the secret deals and hidden assets of more than 330 politicians and high-level public officials in more than 90 countries and territories, including 35 country leaders, ambassadors, mayors and ministers, presidential advisers, generals and a central bank governor appear in the files.
 
Details of the '''Pandora Papers''' were released by the [[International Consortium of Investigative Journalists]] (ICIJ) on 3 October 2021.<ref>''[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-58780465 "Pandora Papers: Secret wealth and dealings of world leaders exposed"]''</ref> Based upon the most expansive leak of [[tax haven]] files in history, the [[ICIJ]] investigation of the Pandora Papers reveals the secret deals and hidden assets of more than 330 politicians and high-level public officials in more than 90 countries and territories, including 35 country leaders, ambassadors, mayors and ministers, presidential advisers, generals and a central bank governor appear in the files.
  
The [[ICIJ]], a nonprofit newsroom and network of journalists centered in [[Washington D.C.]], obtained more than 11.9 million financial records, containing 2.94 terabytes of confidential information from 14 offshore service providers, enterprises that set up and manage shell companies and trusts in [[tax havens]] around the globe.
+
The [[ICIJ]], a [[nonprofit]] newsroom and network of journalists centered in [[Washington D.C.]], obtained more than 11.9 million financial records, containing 2.94 terabytes of confidential information from 14 offshore service providers, enterprises that set up and manage shell companies and trusts in [[tax havens]] around the globe.
  
The files reveal secret offshore holdings of more than 130 billionaires from 45 countries including 46 Russian oligarchs. In 2021, according to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes Forbes,] 100 of the billionaires had a collective fortune of more than $600 billion. Other clients include bankers, big political donors,  arms dealers, international criminals, pop stars, spy chiefs and sporting giants.
+
The files reveal secret offshore holdings of more than 130 billionaires from 45 countries including 46 Russian [[oligarchs]]. In 2021, according to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes Forbes,] 100 of the billionaires had a collective fortune of more than $600 billion. Other clients include bankers, big political donors,  arms dealers, international criminals, pop stars, spy chiefs and sporting giants.
  
 
[[ICIJ]] shared the files with 150 media partners, launching the broadest collaboration in journalism history.<ref>''[https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/about-pandora-papers-investigation/ "About the Pandora Papers"]''</ref>
 
[[ICIJ]] shared the files with 150 media partners, launching the broadest collaboration in journalism history.<ref>''[https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/about-pandora-papers-investigation/ "About the Pandora Papers"]''</ref>
 +
 +
==Conspicuously missing==
 +
One way to steer the [[narrative]] is to pillory those who take advantage of the generous offer, but to leave out criticism of the states and associations of states that promote the supply of shell companies, such as the [[USA]], [[Great Britain]], and the [[European Union]]. Azerbaijani's president [[Ilham Aliyev]] is otherwise powerfully denounced as authoritarian and corrupt — but that Britain enabled him to buy 27 properties with the help of shell companies — no criticism.<ref name=Rugemer/>
 +
 +
Missing are the financial havens that are central to corporations, banks and today’s leading investors: Right up front is the U.S. state of [[Delaware]]: and the states of [[Ireland]], [[Luxembourg]] and the [[Netherlands]]. In addition, the [[Cayman Islands]] (British overseas territory), [[Singapore]] and the [[British Channel Islands]] of Jersey and Guernsey are the most important. The owners of the shell companies that are under the protection of the giant capital mangager [[BlackRock]] with 9 trillion in assets, and others such as [[Vanguard]], [[State Street]], [[Blackstone]], [[KKR & Co]], are also totally shielded.<ref name=Rugemer>https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2021/10/11/whos-missing-from-pandora-papers-main-offenders-and-accomplices/</ref>
 +
 +
==Missing but still became the main picture==
 +
The name “[[Vladimir Putin]]” never appears in the Pandora Papers even once. That doesn't stop [[corporate media]] from giving the impression that he is central in the leaks, giving his picture prime spot in its graphic presentations.
 +
 +
When [[the Guardian]] promoted the leaks in the article ''The Pandora papers reveal hidden riches of Putin’s inner circle,''<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/03/pandora-papers-reveal-hidden-wealth-vladimir-putin-inner-circle</ref> it mentioned Putin's name 50 times. The alleged “inner circle” consists of just two people, and no evidence is provided to connect Putin to those persons’ financial dealings.
 +
 +
The nature of the alleged connection is that in 2003, a wealthy Russian woman named [[Svetlana Krivonogikh]] purchased a luxury flat in [[Monaco]] via a complex network of offshore companies. The Russian media outlet [[Proekt]] has alleged that in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Krivonogikh was Putin’s lover and gave birth to his daughter, allegations that have never been substantiated.<ref name=Robinson>https://www.rt.com/russia/536626-pandora-papers-us-russia-putin/</ref>
 +
 +
The other Putin “link” revealed in the papers is that Krivonogikh’s apartment purchase was supposedly set up by a British accountancy and tax firm whose other clients include a long-standing friend of the Russian president – [[Gennady Timchenko]].<ref name=Robinson/>
 +
 +
==Who pays the piper==
 +
Nominally independent, the [[ICIJ]] is heavily financed by the usual Western government cutouts, including [[Open Society Foundations]], [[USAID]] and the [[Ford Foundation]], plus a host of similar foundations from minor [[NATO]]-countries, like the [[Adessium Foundation]].
 +
 +
The US government funding could also explain why none of those exposed are Americans.
  
 
==Leaders named==
 
==Leaders named==

Latest revision as of 21:58, 4 November 2021

Event.png Pandora Papers (Leak,  Limited Hangout) Rdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
Pandora Papers.jpg
The homepage of BBC News on 3 October 2021. Curiously, despite Vladimir Putin not being mentioned once in the papers, the BBC still his picture there.
Date2 October 2021 - 3 October 2021
PerpetratorsICIJ
Interest ofAli Bongo Ondimba, Sebastián Piñera
DescriptionThe most expansive leak of tax haven files in history

Similar to Paradise Papers or Panama Papers.

Official narrative

Details of the Pandora Papers were released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) on 3 October 2021.[1] Based upon the most expansive leak of tax haven files in history, the ICIJ investigation of the Pandora Papers reveals the secret deals and hidden assets of more than 330 politicians and high-level public officials in more than 90 countries and territories, including 35 country leaders, ambassadors, mayors and ministers, presidential advisers, generals and a central bank governor appear in the files.

The ICIJ, a nonprofit newsroom and network of journalists centered in Washington D.C., obtained more than 11.9 million financial records, containing 2.94 terabytes of confidential information from 14 offshore service providers, enterprises that set up and manage shell companies and trusts in tax havens around the globe.

The files reveal secret offshore holdings of more than 130 billionaires from 45 countries including 46 Russian oligarchs. In 2021, according to Forbes, 100 of the billionaires had a collective fortune of more than $600 billion. Other clients include bankers, big political donors, arms dealers, international criminals, pop stars, spy chiefs and sporting giants.

ICIJ shared the files with 150 media partners, launching the broadest collaboration in journalism history.[2]

Conspicuously missing

One way to steer the narrative is to pillory those who take advantage of the generous offer, but to leave out criticism of the states and associations of states that promote the supply of shell companies, such as the USA, Great Britain, and the European Union. Azerbaijani's president Ilham Aliyev is otherwise powerfully denounced as authoritarian and corrupt — but that Britain enabled him to buy 27 properties with the help of shell companies — no criticism.[3]

Missing are the financial havens that are central to corporations, banks and today’s leading investors: Right up front is the U.S. state of Delaware: and the states of Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In addition, the Cayman Islands (British overseas territory), Singapore and the British Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey are the most important. The owners of the shell companies that are under the protection of the giant capital mangager BlackRock with 9 trillion in assets, and others such as Vanguard, State Street, Blackstone, KKR & Co, are also totally shielded.[3]

Missing but still became the main picture

The name “Vladimir Putin” never appears in the Pandora Papers even once. That doesn't stop corporate media from giving the impression that he is central in the leaks, giving his picture prime spot in its graphic presentations.

When the Guardian promoted the leaks in the article The Pandora papers reveal hidden riches of Putin’s inner circle,[4] it mentioned Putin's name 50 times. The alleged “inner circle” consists of just two people, and no evidence is provided to connect Putin to those persons’ financial dealings.

The nature of the alleged connection is that in 2003, a wealthy Russian woman named Svetlana Krivonogikh purchased a luxury flat in Monaco via a complex network of offshore companies. The Russian media outlet Proekt has alleged that in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Krivonogikh was Putin’s lover and gave birth to his daughter, allegations that have never been substantiated.[5]

The other Putin “link” revealed in the papers is that Krivonogikh’s apartment purchase was supposedly set up by a British accountancy and tax firm whose other clients include a long-standing friend of the Russian president – Gennady Timchenko.[5]

Who pays the piper

Nominally independent, the ICIJ is heavily financed by the usual Western government cutouts, including Open Society Foundations, USAID and the Ford Foundation, plus a host of similar foundations from minor NATO-countries, like the Adessium Foundation.

The US government funding could also explain why none of those exposed are Americans.

Leaders named


 

Related Document

TitleTypePublication dateAuthor(s)Description
Document:A bitter Middle East crisis at the heart of the Conservative PartyArticle6 August 2021Peter OborneThis crisis will not - thank goodness - claim lives as the Iraq War did. But it will damage Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has already found himself involved in a series of sleaze investigations, of which this is the most personally dangerous for him.
Many thanks to our Patrons who cover ~2/3 of our hosting bill. Please join them if you can.



References