Foreign media: The leak of official secret documents of the United States refers to Putin's close friend Rotenberg suspected of money laundering

Source: The Paper

According to documents leaked by the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Agency (fincen), a close friend of Mr. Putin's and Russian billionaire businessman Arkady Rotenberg may have used Barclays Bank in London to launder money to evade sanctions.

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported on the 21st, billionaire Rotenberg has known Putin since he was a child. In 2014, the United States and the European Union imposed financial restrictions on Rotenberg, meaning Western banks could face serious consequences if they transacted with him.

Barclays said it had fulfilled all of its legal and regulatory responsibilities. However, a confidential document, named fincen, reveals how a company controlled by Rotenberg opened secret accounts at Barclays.

In 2008, Barclays opened an account for a company called the Advantage Alliance. Confidential documents show that the company transferred 60 million pounds (about 526 million yuan) between 2012 and 2016. Many of the deals came after Rotenberg was sanctioned by the United States and the European Union.

In July, the U.S. Senate launched an investigation accusing Rothenberg-controlled "Alliance of Advantage" of secretly buying expensive art to evade sanctions. U.S. investigators cite strong evidence that Rotenberg is the owner of the "Alliance of Advantages" and that the company has used its account at Bareck Bank to buy millions of dollars in art.

The report notes that "confidentiality, anonymity and lack of regulation have created a mature environment for how to launder money and evade sanctions". Auction houses in the US and UK "failed to ask buyers of the artwork fundamental questions".

In April 2016, Barclays began an internal investigation into multiple accounts suspected of being linked to Rotenberg. Six months later, Bareck Closed the Advantage Alliance account out of concern that it would be used to transfer suspicious funds.

Rotenberg declined to comment on the incident.