Cyprus Paper a Russian Link?
So if you guys aren't familiar I am referring to a series of articles based on about a thousand leaked Cyprus government documents that exposed various citizen-by-investment ex-pats that 'purchased' a Cypriot passport, some were criminals and sanctioned or politically exposed individuals. This has been very damaging to the country's image and will likely have a catastrophic impact on its economy. This makes me think that it may be an act of economic warfare.
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/cyprus-dirty-secrets-200826090745657.html
I think that Russia might have leaked the documents exposing these high-value individuals forcing them to move their money - or to repatriate their capital. Russia has been dealing with capital flight to Cyprus for close to a decade or more.
There are a few reasons I believe this:
- Timing - a few weeks before, Russia suddenly suspended its double taxation treaty with Cyprus, because of the issue with capital flight to the island nation. Both parties entered talks and settled on an increase from 5% to 15% on income as a result of capital gains.
- Political - Russia has warned Cyprus in the past not to 'flirt' with pro-Nato nations (even though it's in the EU and 21 of its 27 members are part of NATO too...). But as a result of the Turkish threats and almost ceaseless infringement on the island's exclusive economic zone - that include pretty significant NG deposits in the Med sea - Italy, France, Greece have all stepped up their military presence on the island. http://frontnews.eu/news/en/42418/Russia-threatens-Cyprus-with-consequences-in-case-of-deployment-of-US-soldiers
- Economic - Russia is one of the EUs largest LNG providers - the collaboration with Egypt, Israel, Greece, Italy and France for the extraction and export to Europe will likely put a dent in the amount of LNG Russia will sell to the EU.
- Political MO - Russia is well known for its subversive external politics that include manipulation of public opinion, election meddling, killing of political opponents abroad and of course funding or causing economic damage to sympathetic or combative countries. Much like China many of their aggressive or even defensive external politics are enacted in the shadows. To be fair every countries does, both the two aforementioned have gotten caught redhanded multiple times in recent history and memory.
They even have a history of interventionism in Cypriot politics when the assistant Attorney General "lost" a computer with information pertaining to pending cases against Russian nationals in Cyprus.
This might be a little small time for this subreddit but let me know what you folks think, and if this makes a compelling argument.
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source https://www.reddit.com/r/conspiracytheories/comments/ii2xdg/cyprus_paper_a_russian_link/
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