Journalists' association expels Putin-biographer Seipel
Hubert Seipel was a celebrated journalist with excellent connections to the Kremlin. But these were probably too good. So he received hundreds of thousands of Euros from Moscow. This goes against all rules of journalistic integrity, explains the investigative journalism network Netzwerk Recherche and takes action.
The investigative journalism network Netzwerk Recherche has expelled journalist and Putin biographer Hubert Seipel from its ranks. "Hubert Seipel has broken the fundamental rules of independent journalism with his behavior and severely damaged the credibility of our profession", said the chairman Daniel Drepper. Seipel was therefore unanimously expelled from the members' meeting on Friday, according to the network Recherche.
It became known in November 2023 that the award-winning television journalist and author received 600,000 Euros from Russian entrepreneur Alexei Mordashov, according to the journalists' union. They were supposedly intended for the support of book projects. Mordashov is a long-time TUI shareholder. He has been on the EU's sanctions list since the end of February 2022.
"The payments made by Hubert Seipel go against all rules of journalistic integrity and professionalism. With his actions, he has caused significant damage to investigative journalism and the reputation of our profession in public", read the justification of Netzwerk Recherche for the expulsion.
After the allegations became known, the Hamburg publisher Hoffmann and Campe stopped the sale of Seipel's books about President Vladimir Putin in November. In recent years, two non-fiction books about Putin by him have been published. The Netzwerk Recherche board had asked Seipel for a statement on the allegations and recommended an immediate exit from the association. "Hubert Seipel did not leave the association."
- Despite the expulsion from Netzwerk Recherche, Vladimir Putin's biographer Hubert Seipel's controversial actions continue to impact the political landscape, as Germany and other nations grapple with the implications of his receipt of funds from Russian entrepreneur Alexei Mordashov, who has been on EU sanctions list following Russia's attack on Ukraine.
- The corruption scandal involving Vladimir Putin's biographer Hubert Seipel and his ties to Russia is not just a blow to investigative journalism but also hinders the efforts of Germany and other nations in navigating the complex web of Wars and Conflicts, particularly in the context of Europe's relationship with Russia.
- In the midst of the political climate marked by Wars and Conflicts, the European Union and Germany find themselves at a crossroads, with the corruption scandal involving journalist Hubert Seipel and Russia's Vladimir Putin placing trust and transparency at the fore of the conversation, necessitating stricter regulations and vigilance in politics and journalism.
