Russian Dirty Money Undermining UK Security?

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Partnering with Washington, Britain is Russia's mortal enemy, officials in both countries not "partners" or "colleagues" as Kremlin officials claim.

There's plenty of dirty money from the US, UK, and its rogue allies undermining world security, largely by endless wars of aggression - none from Russia pursuing this aim, no evidence suggesting otherwise.

Lots of evidence shows relentless US-led NATO hostility toward Moscow - notably by Washington and Britain, partners in supporting regime change, wanting fascist tyranny replacing Russia's sovereign independence.

London's Guardian is an imperial mouthpiece, much like its US counterparts.

It cited hardline Russophobic UK foreign affairs committee MPs, blasting the Kremlin in a report titled "Moscow's Gold: Russian Corruption in the UK." 

It claims "kleptocrats and human rights abusers…use the City of London to launder their ill-gotten funds to circumvent sanctions, (putting money) into the hands of (governments) that would harm the UK, its interests and its allies."

The report sounds like an appendix to the false flag Skripal poisoning incident, wrongfully accusing Moscow of a scheme cooked up by Washington and Britain to undermine relations with the Kremlin more than already.

The report continued Britain's Russophobic disinformation campaign, saying:

"Despite the strong rhetoric, President Putin and his allies have been able to continue 'business as usual' by hiding and laundering their corrupt assets in London," adding:

"These assets, on which the Kremlin can call at any time, both directly and indirectly support President Putin's campaign to subvert the international rules-based system, undermine our allies, and erode the mutually reinforcing international networks that support UK foreign policy."

Neocon Tory MP Tom Tugendhat was quoted, saying "(w)e can no longer allow 'business as usual'. The UK must be clear that the corruption stemming from the Kremlin is no longer welcome in our markets and we will act."

"The scale of damage that this 'dirty money' can do to UK foreign policy interests dwarfs the benefit of Russian transactions in the City." 

"There is no excuse for the UK to turn a blind eye as President Putin's kleptocrats and human rights abusers use money laundered through London to corrupt our friends, weaken our alliances, and erode faith in our institutions."

Instead of debunking the above rubbish, the Guardian went along by publishing what demands condemnation.

Here's some of the so-called evidence the report cited. Two days after Britain disgracefully expelled 23 Russian diplomats over the Skripal affair the Kremlin had nothing to do with, Moscow raised $4 billion in eurobond issuances, around half bought by UK investors.

There's nothing illegal or improper about raising money through bond issuances, a common practice employed by most countries.

Here's more: At the same time, Russian energy giant Gazprom raised around $900 million in a bond issuance, some bought by UK investors.

The report said the following: "The ease with which the Russian government was able to raise funds in London despite the strong measures that the government took in the wake of the Salisbury attack raises serious questions about the government's commitment to combating Russian state aggression."

Legitimate financing is "aggression?" The Guardian apparently supports the notion by failing to condemn the false accusation.

Here's more from Russophobe Tugendhat, an extremist view likely shared by most MPs: Britain must be "clear that the Kremlin is no longer welcome in our markets." 

"We must be united in our efforts to match rhetoric with action - in the city, through government policy and among allies in the US, G7 and EU."

"We call on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to set out a coherent strategy on Russia that clearly links together the diplomatic, military and financial tools that the UK can use to counter Russian state aggression."

Hardline Russophobic foreign affairs committee members want tougher sanctions imposed on Russia, its enterprises, other entities and individuals linked to its government.

Before the report's release, Kremlin ambassador to Britain Alexander Yakovenko warned UK-based Russian citizens "could go to the courts and put certain things in front of the courts. They are going to complain. Some of them are preparing these moves and the government should think twice."

Washington and Britain are rogue states, fantasy democracies, run by tyrannical regimes, at war on humanity at home and abroad, responsible for horrendous human rights abuses, sponsoring the scourge of terrorism they claim to oppose - wanting all sovereign independent governments replaced by pro-Western puppet regimes.

Russia is a prime target, its sovereign independence interfering with US/UK hegemonic aims.

East/West confrontation could happen by accident or design. Russia's super-weapons are a formidable deterrent against potential US-led aggression.

US proxy war using ISIS and other terrorists is another matter. According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov, terrorists fleeing Syria and Iraq are making northern Afghanistan a new stronghold - deployed there by Washington, Syromolotov didn't explain.

He believes they intend trying to establish a Central Asian quasi-state, threatening Russia and other regional countries.

Since US-led naked aggression raped and destroyed Libya, Washington waged proxy war on Syria and other regional countries, using ISIS and other terrorists as imperial foot soldiers, supported by Pentagon-led terror-bombing.

Russia is combating the scourge of terrorism in Syria, preferring war waged there than in its heartland. 

It may have to defend itself from this scourge at home if Washington intends deploying terrorist fighters there the way it sent them to Syria, Iraq, Yemen, the Philippines and elsewhere.

A Final Comment

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced UK accusations of Russian money laundering activities in the country, saying:

"We are witnessing Britain's rather unprecedented anti-Russian mania which is manifested in various ways," adding:

"I have no doubt that such actions won't go unnoticed by investors from other countries."

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My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html