M. LE PEN'S SCANDALOUS STATEMENT ON CRIMEA AND WHAT'S BEHIND IT
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| I see no grounds to question the referendum in Crimea |
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has sent a request to the Foreign Ministry with demand to ban entry to Ukraine for Marine Le Pen, a participant of the presidential race in France, for her statement that the annexation of Crimea "was not illegal."
This was reported by the head of SBU chief staff Oleksandr Tkachuk.
"On January 3, we sent a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to agree on our position regarding the ban on entry into the territory of Ukraine for Marine Le Pen. It is a standard procedure, especially when it comes to the politicians of a foreign state. That is, we will definitely take into account the foreign policy aspects. We always respect the position of our colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," mr Tkachuk said.
To be honest, the prohibition to enter Ukraine likely will cause some sharp changes in mrs Le Pen's life. However, this decision suggests that it is necessary to prohibit entry to Ukraine for each Kremlin-backed politican or public activist, who promote Russian invasion to our country in every sphere from military and political to informational, economical and cultural.
Another key point is that there could be a financial background behind such steps towards Moscow, the National Front has been demonstrating in last years. Back in 2014, the political party has received a loan of 9 million EUR in the First Czech-Russian Bank (the FCRB) owned by the Russian oligarch Roman Popov. Then Jean-Luc Schaffhauser, a National Front Member of the European Parliament, offered to take money from the Russians, using personal connections. Clearly, it was not difficult for him to agree with Moscow on this, since he was among those "observers" on the so-called "referendum," arranged by terrorists in the Donbass. And then his political party received a specified amount through the FCRB, which owner (Roman Popov) is directly related to Gennady Timchenko, a big Russian oligarch and a personal friend of the Russian President.
Last summer, the Russian Central Bank revoked the license of the First Czech-Russian Bank. And recently the Russian deposit insurance agency appealed to the court to collect the debt on the loan, issued by the bank to Marine Le Pen. After the bank was deprived of licenses, the loan claims were inherited by a third party, but the agency intends to contest it.
Mrs. Le Pen is literally driven into a corner. The Kremlin's media seems to savor the details of her financial problems. The National Front's budget lacks six million euros for the presidential race; and the party leader admitted during an interview for the BFM-TV that she intends to ask for money on the side. "I have addressed a number of European, American, Russian banks," - said M. Le Pen. At the same time, she didn't specified which banks it refers to. However, it is clear that the funds will come from Russian oligarchs again.
As for the present situation, Marine Le Pen either has already received a signal from Moscow on readiness to grant a new (Crimean) loan and to restructure the previous one, or she decided to take a step ahead of the curve and recognize the annexation legal. An interesting question is how the political party, that a priori cannot be engaged in business, is planning to repay the debt. Obviously, the NF leadership expects that it will be written off. The transaction is made under the guise of a loan, since French law permits campaign donations, but only on the part of individuals.
Kremlin media try to interpret the information in a way to convince the intelligent audience inside the country, that Putin can influence the elections results in the West, the US and the EU. For example, after the US presidential elections Russia's inner propaganda machine had been trying to convince Russians that it was Putin who let Trump enter the Oval office. And now we are witnessing the second part this campaign, tentatively called "Putin and presidential elections in France."
For the years of oil and gas prosperity the Kremlin rulers have learned not only rob the country, transfering billions of dollars to their accounts in foreign banks, but also to deprave the European elites. It is worth recalling how Russian politicians had behaved in the spring of 2014. They were sure that Europe will blind eye to the invasion to Ukraine, being tempted by Russian money (as it happened with Georgia in 2008). After all, for the Kremlin strategists the amount of 6-9 million EURO is a "small price," they can easily pay for necessary services.
Another key point is that there could be a financial background behind such steps towards Moscow, the National Front has been demonstrating in last years. Back in 2014, the political party has received a loan of 9 million EUR in the First Czech-Russian Bank (the FCRB) owned by the Russian oligarch Roman Popov. Then Jean-Luc Schaffhauser, a National Front Member of the European Parliament, offered to take money from the Russians, using personal connections. Clearly, it was not difficult for him to agree with Moscow on this, since he was among those "observers" on the so-called "referendum," arranged by terrorists in the Donbass. And then his political party received a specified amount through the FCRB, which owner (Roman Popov) is directly related to Gennady Timchenko, a big Russian oligarch and a personal friend of the Russian President.
Last summer, the Russian Central Bank revoked the license of the First Czech-Russian Bank. And recently the Russian deposit insurance agency appealed to the court to collect the debt on the loan, issued by the bank to Marine Le Pen. After the bank was deprived of licenses, the loan claims were inherited by a third party, but the agency intends to contest it.
Mrs. Le Pen is literally driven into a corner. The Kremlin's media seems to savor the details of her financial problems. The National Front's budget lacks six million euros for the presidential race; and the party leader admitted during an interview for the BFM-TV that she intends to ask for money on the side. "I have addressed a number of European, American, Russian banks," - said M. Le Pen. At the same time, she didn't specified which banks it refers to. However, it is clear that the funds will come from Russian oligarchs again.
As for the present situation, Marine Le Pen either has already received a signal from Moscow on readiness to grant a new (Crimean) loan and to restructure the previous one, or she decided to take a step ahead of the curve and recognize the annexation legal. An interesting question is how the political party, that a priori cannot be engaged in business, is planning to repay the debt. Obviously, the NF leadership expects that it will be written off. The transaction is made under the guise of a loan, since French law permits campaign donations, but only on the part of individuals.
Kremlin media try to interpret the information in a way to convince the intelligent audience inside the country, that Putin can influence the elections results in the West, the US and the EU. For example, after the US presidential elections Russia's inner propaganda machine had been trying to convince Russians that it was Putin who let Trump enter the Oval office. And now we are witnessing the second part this campaign, tentatively called "Putin and presidential elections in France."
For the years of oil and gas prosperity the Kremlin rulers have learned not only rob the country, transfering billions of dollars to their accounts in foreign banks, but also to deprave the European elites. It is worth recalling how Russian politicians had behaved in the spring of 2014. They were sure that Europe will blind eye to the invasion to Ukraine, being tempted by Russian money (as it happened with Georgia in 2008). After all, for the Kremlin strategists the amount of 6-9 million EURO is a "small price," they can easily pay for necessary services.
original by Serhiy STELMACH
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