时间:2025-04-26 17:28:15 来源:网络整理编辑:知識
Teflon Putin, as the Russian president has been called for his ability to let accusations roll right
Teflon Putin, as the Russian president has been called for his ability to let accusations roll right off of him, was in pristine form on Thursday.
It's been five days since the Panama Papers, which some are calling the biggest leak in the history of journalism, uncovered evidence showing his close friends laundered money through elaborate offshore financial schemes, likely for his benefit.
SEE ALSO:#PanamaPapers breaks the Internet with revelations of global corruptionSpeaking for the first time since the revelations, which came with the leak of millions of confidential documents from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, Putin casually dismissed them, denying "any element of corruption."
Then he repeated a line pushed by Russian state media, as well as Wikileaks, that the papers are merely a U.S.-orchestrated disinformation campaign waged against Russia to weaken its government and force regime change.
"WikiLeaks has shown us that official people and official U.S. organs are behind this," Putin said.
Tweet may have been deleted
Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, earlier this week said the papers "found out little new" and blamed "Putinphobia" for Western media's focus on the president.
Putin himself was not named in the Panama Papers, something he brought up. "Your humble servant was not there, but they don't talk about that," he said, referring to Western media.
The Kremlin has posted a transcript of the event with Putin's comments.
But the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) found the names of some of the Russian president's closest friends involved in offshore financial schemes.
One of them was Sergei Roldugin, a renowned Russian cellist and decades long friend of Putin's. Their friendship dates back to the 1970s, even before Putin's KGB days, when the two men used to cruise Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), get into street fights and play football together. Roldugin is also the godfather to Putin's daughter Maria.
SEE ALSO:Russian cellist named in Panama Papers is at the heart of a $2 billion scandalPutin said his longtime comrade, who was found in the Panama Papers to be the owner of $2 billion in offshore assets, has done nothing wrong.
"He is a minority shareholder in one of our companies and it makes some money, but it is certainly not billions of dollars. That's nonsense," the president said.
Putin said he was proud of Roldugin, adding that the musician spent his personal money to buy expensive musical instruments from abroad and bring them to Russia in order to advance the country's cultural projects.
"We always welcome when someone does something like this, but it goes even further," Putin said. "I am proud that I have such friends."
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
Watch MTV's Video Music Awards 2016 livestream2025-04-26 17:24
4 times Girl Scouts fought to make the world a better place2025-04-26 17:11
What Katy Perry's recent failures tell us about being a 2017 pop star2025-04-26 17:04
Wow, look at this inspiring image of two students supporting each other during finals week2025-04-26 16:58
'The Flying Bum' aircraft crashes during second test flight2025-04-26 16:48
Gin recalled for containing too much alcohol2025-04-26 16:20
Harry Styles hasn't quite mastered the stage dive yet, but his solo music sparkles live2025-04-26 15:58
What Katy Perry's recent failures tell us about being a 2017 pop star2025-04-26 15:05
Dog elected for third term as mayor of Minnesota town2025-04-26 15:02
Here's how to remove Facebook from your life and never miss a beat2025-04-26 14:43
This company is hiring someone just to drink all day2025-04-26 17:24
Stephen Colbert told a dumb joke. The campaign to get him fired is even dumber.2025-04-26 16:56
The NBA's most fearsome player says he's a new dad in heart2025-04-26 16:47
Watch: Heath Ledger's sister 'screamed and cried' watching new documentary2025-04-26 16:37
Ivanka Trump's unpaid interns share cringeworthy financial advice2025-04-26 16:16
'Irreplaceable' plant specimens destroyed by customs officials with no chill2025-04-26 15:49
People think Brad Pitt's photoshoot is super similar to the Harry Styles one2025-04-26 15:45
Obama's White House photographer trolls Trump after FBI director gets fired2025-04-26 15:36
Researchers create temporary tattoos you can use to control your devices2025-04-26 15:34
Experts poke holes in claims that fidget spinners can treat ADHD2025-04-26 15:29