Putin’s biography: “Intelligence is very corrupt” – Journalists’ Association expels Hubert Seipel

2024-07-20 14:50:29

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“The work is very damaged” – The press team does not include Hubert Seipel

Deadline: 20.07.2024 | Reading time: 2 minutes

Too close? Vladimir Putin and Hubert Seipel

Source: photo alliance/dpa/Alexei Nikolsky/Ria Novosti/Kremlin

Award-winning television journalist Hubert Seipel has recently been widely criticized for his closeness to the Kremlin. Because he “violated the basic rules of independent journalism,” he has now been removed from the Journalists’ Association Research Network.

DThe investigative network of journalists has removed the journalist and Putin biographer Hubert Seipel from his ranks. President Daniel Drepper said: “With his behavior, Hubert Seipel broke the basic rules of independent journalism and severely damaged the credibility of our work. Seipel was therefore unanimously withdrawn from the general meeting on Friday, the Research network announced on Saturday.

In November 2023 it became known that the award-winning television journalist and author had received 600,000 euros from Russian businessman Alexei Mordashov, according to the journalists’ association. They say they are committed to supporting book projects. Mordashov is considered a Russian oligarch. He has been a major shareholder of Tui for many years. The EU added Mordashov to its sanctions list in late February 2022.

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“The payments received by Hubert Seipel are in violation of all rules of accounting integrity and professionalism. With his actions, he has caused serious damage to investigative journalism and the reputation of our profession in the eyes of the public,” the Research Network said in its justification for the dismissal.

More sales of Seipel’s books continued

After the allegations became public, Hamburg publisher Hoffmann and Campe stopped selling Seipel’s books about Russian President Vladimir Putin in November. He has published two non-fiction books about Putin in recent years.

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According to their own statements, the board of Netzwerk Recherche asked Seipel for an explanation on the allegations and suggested that he leave the group immediately. “Hubert Seipel did not leave the team as a result.”