Publisher pulls plug on author after paper trail proves patronage by Putin proxy

The German publishing house Hoffmann and Campe is stopping the sale of books by journalist Hubert Seipel about Vladimir Putin after an investigation revealed that the books were funded by Russia, German news magazine Der Spiegel reported on Nov. 15.

The Hamburg-based publishing house Hoffmann und Campe supposedly knew nothing about the Russian "sponsorship deal" of author Hubert Seipel. The publisher is now suspending sales of books about the Russian president.

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On Nov. 14, an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and Paper Trail Media as part of the Cyprus Confidential project was released. It states that the famous German journalist, author of two bestselling books about the Russian leader, Hubert Seipel, received at least EUR 600,000 ($650,580) from offshore companies associated with oligarch Alexei Mordashov, a Russian oligarch close to Putin.

According to UK newspaper the Guardian, Seipel was one of the few foreign journalists who had direct contact with the Russian president. His books “Putin. The Inner Views of Power” and “Putin's Power. Why Europe needs Russia” became bestsellers.

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After the release of his documentary “I, Putin: A Portrait”, Seipel was awarded the German Television Award for Best On-The-Spot Report.

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