Russian cellist says funds revealed in Panama Papers came from donations
Sergei Roldugin, a friend of Vladimir Putin, does not directly answer allegations but says ‘there’s nothing to catch me out’
Sergei Roldugin introduced Vladimir Putin to his wife and became godfather to his eldest daughter.
The Russian cellist linked by the Panama Papers to a money trail of billions has spoken out for the first time since the story broke.
In a story published by the Guardian last Sunday, the musician Sergei Roldugin was identified as an old friend of Vladimir Putin linked by documents from the leak to a number of offshore companies with cash flows of up to $2bn (£1.4bn).
A week later, in a 20-minute segment aired on Russian state television, Roldugin dismissed the idea that he was fabulously wealthy or was safeguarding money and assets for Putin.
Without directly answering the allegations that he personally controls a series of assets worth at least $100m, Roldugin insisted his “wealth” was merely a series of donations from rich businessmen in order to purchase expensive musical instruments for young Russians.
“Of course I went around to everyone I could and asked for donations,” said Roldugin, who runs the House of Music in St Petersburg.
“I’m pleased that this landed on me. There’s nothing to catch me out on here; everything is open. In any case I am indeed rich; I am rich with the talent of Russia,” he added.
Roldugin, whose brother underwent KGB training with Putin, introduced the Russian president to his wife and became godfather to his eldest daughter.
A large number of Putin’s old acquaintances from St Petersburg have become hugely wealthy in recent years, but until last week Roldugin had kept a low profile outside the music world.
On Thursday Putin addressed the allegations for the first time, and said of Roldugin: “Almost all the money he earned on acquiring musical instruments from abroad and bringing them to Russia.”
The programme gathered cultural luminaries such as the Hermitage Museum director Mikhail Piotrovsky and Valery Gergiev, director of the Mariinsky Theatre, to speak out on Roldugin’s behalf.
It featured Pavel Milyutin, a violinist who showed off a 1701 Guarneri instrument that the programme said was worth several million dollars and had been provided by Roldugin’s foundation.
Russian state media has portrayed the Panama Papers leak as a plot aimed at discrediting Russia, despite the large number of political figures from across the world who have been implicated.
Putin has suggested the US government is behind the leaks, and his spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed the allegations were based on “Putinophobia”.
On Sunday, state television alluded to an apparent CIA plot from 2008 in which, it was claimed, US intelligence agencies had been attempting to purchase the entire Russian cable television network, and to a plan hatched by the FSB security services to prevent this from happening, which involved a number of businessmen transferring a total of $1.5bn into an offshore account.
The programme strongly hinted that the offshore accounts belonging to Roldugin featuring in the Panama Papers were in fact a front for this plan.
“We don’t know who else’s offshore accounts might be used in the interests of the country with the help of state business,” said the programme’s anchor. “Next time let it be a surprise for the CIA. This time they haven’t worked well and have got the wrong people.”
Roldugin did not speak personally about the supposed FSB operation during the segment; instead it was described by an unnamed “FSB operative” who sat with his back to the camera.
When confronted with the allegations prior to the publication of material based on the Panama Papers, Roldugin said: “Guys, I am not ready to give comments now. These are delicate issues.”
