Chancellor Schröder's Kremlin Connection Unveiled
Gerhard Schröder, the 79-year-old former German chancellor, previously under suspicion of serving personal and Russian interests over the German State, is now facing questions about the extent of Moscow's influence on him during his time in power.
The Mysterious Offer
What comes as a shocking revelation is that Gazprom, the massive Russian corporation, offered Schröder the opportunity to produce a special documentary, starring himself and Russian president Vladimir Putin, while Schröder was still in office.
Unbelievable - During His Chancellorship?
Yes, you read it correctly. The Kremlin-controlled company made this offer during Schröder's tenure as the head of the German government, a country and NATO member considered one of Europe's most influential powers.
Was the German Chancellor on Moscow's Payroll?
The offer raises the question of whether Moscow already had some kind of influence over Schröder during his time in office. Could the sitting German chancellor have had connections to a foreign power's state-owned corporation?
ARD's Contradictory Decisions
ARD and its Russia experts initially rejected the Gazprom proposal for the documentary. Surprisingly, the television network later accepted the project, to the dismay of their Moscow experts.
Seipel's Deceitful Dealings
Upon WDR's rejection of the offer, ARD star filmmaker Hubert Seipel (73) entered the picture. He presented a similar offer to produce a documentary about Gazprom, featuring Putin and Schröder, showing undeniable similarities to the earlier rejected one.
Seipel's Financing by the Kremlin
Investigations revealed that Seipel received substantial financial support from the Kremlin, totaling hundreds of thousands of euros from 2018 alone. All funds came from Putin's inner circle.
A Boost for Seipel's Career
ARD started filming Seipel's Gazprom documentary in 2006, immediately after "Studio Moscow" was dropped. It was completed in 2008, and without much criticism, it aired on ARD's main program in 2009, epitomizing Seipel's success.
Seipel's Propagandistic Tactics
Seipel reproduced exclusive access to Putin and Gazprom, as well as Schröder, providing unfiltered praise for both. Unfortunately, this very same approach would later be employed to manipulate public opinion in favor of Russia's interests.
The WDR's Response
WDR acknowledged there had been an exchange with NDR regarding the matter but chose to remain quiet, citing ongoing discussions with NDR regarding the ongoing Seipel scandal investigations.
Putin, Schröder and the Billion-Dollar Boys
Despite the rising dust and suspicion, Putin, Schröder, and Gazprom continued their business ventures without interruption. Years later, their ties to one another remained unbroken.
Understanding the Timeline
At the end of 1998, Schröder was under the watchful eye of Hanns-Walter Schütz, the head of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), who informed Steinmeier, then head of the Federal Chancellery and Schröder's intimate, about Moscow's intentions to recruit Schröder. Moscow offered luxurious indulgences, ego stroking, and family ties among other means to recruit Schröder.
The Birth of a Friendship
Putin and Schröder quickly began forging a close personal bond, involving horse-drawn sleigh rides, sauna sessions, meals, and alcohol. As time passed, the Schröder family also adopted two children from Putin's native St. Petersburg in 2004 and 2006.
Seipel's Propagandistic Career
Seipel, the Kremlin propagandist, was given an uncritical Putin documentary for NDR, conducted a soft Putin interview, and granted a strangely exclusive propaganda interview with Edward Snowden, a traitor and ex-NSA agent.
Seipel's Unfair Criticism
Seipel's unfavorable attitude towards Ukraine was already evident in 2009, just as the Russian war against Ukraine was brewing. He repeatedly relativized the Russian war against Ukraine and the massacre of civilian victims ordered by Putin.
The Ukraine Controversy
In Seipel's 2009 documentary, he inadvertently or deliberately revealed the true purpose of the Schröder-Putin pipeline, "Nord Stream": to bypass the bothersome transit country Ukraine.
Note: ARD, WDR, and Seipel produced the documentary
Enrichment Data
During Schröder's tenure as German chancellor from 1998 to 2005, his relationship with Moscow and Russian president Vladimir Putin has been a subject of controversy. Here are the key points regarding Moscow's influence on Schröder and his involvement in Russo-German business deals:
- Business Ties: Schröder has maintained a long-term friendship with Vladimir Putin, which has resulted in significant business ties between Germany and Russia. After leaving office, he continued to work closely with Russian energy companies, including Gazprom and Rosneft. Critics have questioned his influence and potential conflicts of interest.
- Gazprom Nomination: In 2022, Gazprom proposed Schröder for a supervisory board position. Despite initial interest, he later declined, stating that he was not interested in the position.
- Nord Stream 2: Schröder has been closely associated with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, a major point of contention between Germany and other European countries. The pipeline, which was temporarily halted due to Russian invasion of Ukraine, has been a symbol of the complex and often contentious relationship between Germany and Russia.
- Avoidance of Inquiry: Schröder has faced criticism for his ties to Russia, particularly regarding his role in promoting the Nord Stream 2 project. He has been accused of evading inquiries into his activities, including a hospitalization for burnout in response to ongoing investigations.
- Documentary Proposal: There is no direct evidence of Gazprom offering to film a documentary featuring Putin and Schröder during Schröder's time in office. However, other instances of Schröder's close ties to Putin, as well as his involvement in Russo-German business deals, have raised concerns about his potential influence, conflicts of interest, and political independence.
In summary, while there is no direct evidence of Gazprom offering to film a documentary featuring Putin and Schröder during Schröder's chancellorship, Schröder's close ties to Putin and his involvement in Russo-German business deals, particularly with Gazprom and the Nord Stream 2 project, have been significant points of contention and scrutiny.
