On Monday, three years ago I stood on the Maidan, among the tents and barricades erected by protesters. The most persistent protesters still in the square. They refused to leave until the government is completely clear of corruption. Around with trays of sold toilet paper, on which was depicted the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The atmosphere felt uneasy.
On this square there was the Ukrainian revolution that overthrew in February 2014 President Viktor Yanukovych. Just two months later, in early spring, Pro-Russian separatists have seized several government buildings in Eastern Ukraine. By July, between them and the Ukrainian army fights broke. On the Maidan there were rumors about the war in the East of the country. And then came the news about the fallen plane.
Details first almost was not, but soon it became known that it was the liner Malaysia Airlines, carrying out flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, and that he was shot down. Killed all who were on Board — 283 passengers and 15 crew members.
The political consequences of the incident were enormous. To this end, Ukraine killed in mainly Russian-and Ukrainian military. Now the conflict has killed more than 200 civilians from the European Union and not only.
David Cameron, the then British Prime Minister, spoke unequivocally. “This is a terrible tragedy puts President Putin before a clear choice. I hope he seizes the moment to exit from this threat and continues to worsen the crisis by supporting separatists”, — he said in his address to the House of Commons.
However, despite the menacing words, Cameron did little. This is the problem. When MH17 was shot down, was created by the international investigation team, which was to find out exactly what happened. Last year it concluded that from Russia to the rebel-controlled East of Ukraine arrived anti-aircraft missile complex “Buk” that shot down the Malaysian plane and on the same day returned. The guilt of Moscow was never in doubt.
After three years, one not only prosecuted, but were not even arrested. Meanwhile, relatives of the 298 victims continue to grieve over the victims and see no justice.
The tragedy of MH17 shows two things: first, an increasingly aggressive Russia eventually produces more, not less problems. While the world turns away from the Ukrainian conflict, it continues to run amok. Second, we — that is, the West, and especially Britain, is also involved in what is happening.
It is in the city of London Russia is laundering his dirty money. Writes Ben Judah (Ben Judah), author of “the Curse of kleptocracy” (“The Kleptocracy Curse”): “In London there are two powerful trends: the rise of the offshore financial system and the rise of globalized authoritarianism”.
Putin and his surrounding elites embody this globalized authoritarianism. According to Judah, the financial system of London is the capital of the Russian money laundering. The financial Supervisory authority before its dissolution was estimated that the share of money laundering have a 3.6% of UK GDP. As I told Jude, offshore company in London launder dirty money in the first place through the property. Now anonymous offshore company owns more than 37,000 objects of real estate capital, occupying more than 2.25 square miles. The national Agency for the fight against crime warns that the scale of money laundering in London is a “strategic threat to the economy and reputation of Britain”.
The members of the Kremlin elite own our houses. Their children go to our best schools. They buy our artwork and our football clubs. They pay for our lawyers. Russian influence in Britain is now larger than it ever was during the cold war. And if the formal condemnation of its actions in Ukraine, Moscow is ready to endure, then decisive measures of the question: “Our people control a hefty portion of your equity and related institutions, so you better get with us not to communicate”.
This situation is unacceptable. Britain needs to fight back — and, speaking of the honor, she now makes in this respect, more than many other European countries. However, these efforts are still not enough. The situation needs to be changed. First, we must reaffirm our commitment to European unity — even in the era of Breccia. Only a unified Europe can deal with the Kremlin. Second, we need to reconsider the regulatory regime. In this area the right policy offered by the labour party.
We should immediately start a national program for the development of the strategy, aimed at combating tax evasion and kleptocracy.
You cannot afford to conduct business or own assets in Britain any anonymous company. The government should create a public registry of all trusts with an indication of the assets and beneficiaries. In all cases, the main goal should be to increase transparency. Of course, it won’t cure London from rampant corruption. But we need to start somewhere.
At the time we had helped to contain Soviet military power. Now we have to just help to cope with the Russian financial power. Until that happens, not work to pay for justice for the death of 298 people who died on that tragic day three years ago.
