Russian Meddling in Catalonia: A Playbook In Destabilization
11/10/23 • 40 min
A mysterious Russian offers Catalonia’s president $500 billion and 10,000 armed soldiers to make the break from Spain and create a cryptocurrency haven. This in the days running up to an historic vote to declare independence from Spain.
In this episode, Nick Wallis talks with journalists Antonio Baquero, Marc Marginedas and Lorenzo Bagnoli on how they tracked down the man pro-independence leaders called “Putin’s envoy” across Spain, Italy, and Russia — unveiling his past as a Russian diplomat with a history of representing the Kremlin.
We also hear from Institute for Statecraft senior fellow Nico de Pedro on how Russia used Catalonia’s independence movement in an attempt to destabilize Spain, as well as how ordinary Catalans felt when interference from the Kremlin was revealed.
Dirty Deeds is a Little Gem production for OCCRP. The host is Nick Wallis. The producers were Lindsay Riley and Ollie Peart, with research from Phoebe Adler-Ryan and Riham Moussa, at Rethink Audio.
Read the investigation:
This week’s guests
- Antonio Baquero - @antoniobaqueroi
- Marc Marginedas - @marcmarginedas
- Lorenzo Bagnoli - @Lorenzo_Bagnoli
- Nico de Pedro - @nicolasdepedro
Transcript
- Read the transcript on the OCCRP website.
More Information on OCCRP
- Keep up with the latest in global organized crime and corruption with our weekly newsletter.
- Donate.
[00:00] Introduction
[03:40] Antonio Baquera and Marc Marginedas explain how they began investigating Russian interest in Catalonia
[05:26] A profile of Victor Terredellas, key figure in the story
[08:38] How “Putin’s envoy” Nikolai Sadovnikov came to reporters’ attention
[11:52] Why are there ties between Catalonian independence leaders and the Russian government?
[15:36] Lorenzo Bagnoli explains Sadovnikov’s past as a diplomat in Italy
[20:41] A profile of Jordi Sardà Bonvehí, who accompanied Sadovnikov during his meeting with Catalonia’s separatist leader Carles Puigdemont
[23:42] How the reporters managed to interview Sadovnikov
[26:30] The effect of the story on the Catalonian independence movement, Italian mafia and Carlos Puigdemont
[31:23] Nico de Pedro explains why he and others are against Catalonian independence
[34:02] How the Catalonian independence movement is used by the Russian government to destabilize Spain
[36:56] How do ordinary Catalans feel about Russian interference in Catalonian independence?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A mysterious Russian offers Catalonia’s president $500 billion and 10,000 armed soldiers to make the break from Spain and create a cryptocurrency haven. This in the days running up to an historic vote to declare independence from Spain.
In this episode, Nick Wallis talks with journalists Antonio Baquero, Marc Marginedas and Lorenzo Bagnoli on how they tracked down the man pro-independence leaders called “Putin’s envoy” across Spain, Italy, and Russia — unveiling his past as a Russian diplomat with a history of representing the Kremlin.
We also hear from Institute for Statecraft senior fellow Nico de Pedro on how Russia used Catalonia’s independence movement in an attempt to destabilize Spain, as well as how ordinary Catalans felt when interference from the Kremlin was revealed.
Dirty Deeds is a Little Gem production for OCCRP. The host is Nick Wallis. The producers were Lindsay Riley and Ollie Peart, with research from Phoebe Adler-Ryan and Riham Moussa, at Rethink Audio.
Read the investigation:
This week’s guests
- Antonio Baquero - @antoniobaqueroi
- Marc Marginedas - @marcmarginedas
- Lorenzo Bagnoli - @Lorenzo_Bagnoli
- Nico de Pedro - @nicolasdepedro
Transcript
- Read the transcript on the OCCRP website.
More Information on OCCRP
- Keep up with the latest in global organized crime and corruption with our weekly newsletter.
- Donate.
[00:00] Introduction
[03:40] Antonio Baquera and Marc Marginedas explain how they began investigating Russian interest in Catalonia
[05:26] A profile of Victor Terredellas, key figure in the story
[08:38] How “Putin’s envoy” Nikolai Sadovnikov came to reporters’ attention
[11:52] Why are there ties between Catalonian independence leaders and the Russian government?
[15:36] Lorenzo Bagnoli explains Sadovnikov’s past as a diplomat in Italy
[20:41] A profile of Jordi Sardà Bonvehí, who accompanied Sadovnikov during his meeting with Catalonia’s separatist leader Carles Puigdemont
[23:42] How the reporters managed to interview Sadovnikov
[26:30] The effect of the story on the Catalonian independence movement, Italian mafia and Carlos Puigdemont
[31:23] Nico de Pedro explains why he and others are against Catalonian independence
[34:02] How the Catalonian independence movement is used by the Russian government to destabilize Spain
[36:56] How do ordinary Catalans feel about Russian interference in Catalonian independence?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
Exposing a Former Czech PM’s Offshore Finances
Pavla Holcová was greeted with an avalanche of threats when she woke up one morning. Her country’s former prime minister had publicly accused her of being a paid agent to undermine his re-election campaign.
In this episode you’ll hear about the dangers OCCRP’s investigative journalists face when trying to get to the truth, the horrific abuse they face and how the OCCRP helps to protect them and their sources.
Host Nick Wallis talks with Pavla and fellow OCCRP editor Pete Jones about how an investigation exposing ex-Czech PM Andrej Babiš’ undeclared overseas property deals led to a very public attack by the politician and media mogul. Pavla recounts her encounters with Babiš — and what kept her going in the face of horrific abuse from his supporters.
We also hear from Prague-based journalist Will Nattrass on why Babiš is seen as a threat to press freedom, corruption in the Czech Republic, and where the country’s politics could head in the future.
Dirty Deeds is a Little Gem production for OCCRP. The host is Nick Wallis. The producer is Lindsay Riley at Rethink Audio, with research from Phoebe Adler-Ryan and Riham Moussa.
Read the investigation:
This week’s guests:
- Pavla Holcová - @pafak
- Pete Jones - @PSJones01
- Will Nattrass
Transcript:
- Read the transcript on the OCCRP website here
More information on OCCRP:
- Keep up with the latest in global organized crime and corruption with our weekly newsletter
- Donate
[00:00] Introduction
[02:23] Pavla Holcová and Pete Jones explain how their investigation into Andrej Babiš began
[06:45] Pavla describes a public confrontation with Babiš
[08:03] Pavla describes how Babiš targeted her on social media and what consequences she suffered
[15:18] What kept Pavla going despite abuse from Babiš and his supporters
[18:03] Pete explains what makes OCCRP distinct as a news organization
[23:51] How OCCRP journalists prepare for and respond to threats
[26:08] The consequence of the article for Babiš
[27:11] Will Nattrass on Babiš, corruption and the direction of Czech politics
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
Sanctioning an Oligarch is Not an Easy Task: Searching for Usmanov’s Millions
As Russian forces escalated their war of aggression against Ukraine in 2022, Western governments scrambled to sanction oligarchs connected to Putin’s war machine. Yet the task is far from simple when Kremlin-connected tycoons hide their billions in offshore trusts and Swiss bank accounts — and even behind the names of their family members.
In this episode, Nick Wallis talks with OCCRP editing duo Miranda Patrucic and Ilya Lozovsky, discussing how billionaire Alisher Usmanov concealed his fortune via secretive companies, business associates and family members — including Swiss bank accounts in his sister’s name despite her seemingly modest trade as a gynecologist.
We also hear from British Member of Parliament Kevin Hollinrake on how Russia’s invasion sparked a campaign to clamp down on dirty money washed through the U.K., as well as how effective Western sanctions have been in choking off the lifelines to Putin’s military campaign.
Dirty Deeds is a Little Gem production for OCCRP. The host is Nick Wallis. The producer is Lindsay Riley at Rethink Audio, with research from Phoebe Adler-Ryan and Riham Moussa.
Read the investigations:
- Sanctioning an Oligarch Is Not So Easy: Why the Money Trail of Alisher Usmanov, One of Russia’s Wealthiest Men, Is Difficult to Follow
- OCCRP Russian Asset Tracker
This week’s guests:
- Miranda Patrucic
- Ilya Lozovsky
- Kevin Hollinrake
Transcript:
- Read the transcript on the OCCRP website.
More information OCCRP:
- Keep up with the latest in global organized crime and corruption with our weekly newsletter
- Donate
[00:00] Introduction
[02:04] Miranda Patrucic explains why she is interested in investigating oligarchs — and Alisher Usmanov in particular
[03:50] How did the investigation into Usmanov come about?
[06:16] What are the FinCEN Files — and what did they reveal about Usmanov?
[07:55] An explainer of suspicious activity reports and how they’re supposed to stop financial crime
[10:36] How Usmanov’s family is connected to the story
[13:04] Ilya Lozovsky explains how OCCRP told the story via the Russian Asset Tracker
[15:36] Did Western sanctions against Usmanov work against him — and Vladimir Putin’s war effort in Ukraine?
[19:00] Why have there been so many large-scale data leaks in recent years?
[22:07] Kevin Hollinrake on whether tackling money laundering in the U.K. would harm the nation’s economy
[25:45] Updates on how the U.K. is tackling flows of dirty money
[27:33] What needs to be done to clamp down on dirty money in the U.K.?
[33:55] Kevin Hollinrake on whether Western sanctions have been effective against the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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