Russian cellist says funds revealed in Panama Papers came from donations

The Russian cellist, joined by Panama documents to a trail of money billions has spoken for the first time since the story broke.

The musician Sergei Roldugin was identified as an old friend of Vladimir Putin, joined by the flight documents a number of offshore companies with cash flows of up to $2 billion.

A week later, in a 20-minute segment broadcast on Russian State television, Roldugin dismissed the idea that he was immensely rich or safeguarding money and assets for Putin.

Without directly responding to accusations that he personally controls a series of assets by at least $100 million, he insisted that his Roldugin (wealth) is limited to a series of donations from wealthy businessmen in order to acquire expensive musical instruments to young Russians.

Of course, I went around the world that I could and asked for donations, said Roldugin, who heads the House of a music of St. Petersburg.

I am pleased that this fell upon me. There is nothing to catch me out of here; everything is open. In any case, I am made rich; I am rich with talent from Russia, he added.

Roldugin, whose brother was subjected to the formation of the KGB under Putin, the Russian President introduced his wife and became the godfather of his eldest daughter.

A large number of old acquaintances of Saint Petersburg of Putin have become very rich in recent years, but until the week last Roldugin had kept a low profile outside of the world of music.

On Thursday, Putin addressed the allegations for the first time and said Roldugin: almost all the money that earned in the acquisition of musical instruments from abroad and brings them to Russia.

The program met the star of the culture, such as the director of the Museum of the Hermitage, Mikhail Piotrovsky and Valery Gergiev, director of the Mariinsky Theater, to speak on behalf of Roldugin.

Pavel Miliutin, a violinist who was instrumental in 1701 included Guarneri program said that it was a value of several million dollars and that had been provided by the Foundation of Roldugin.

Russian State-run media have portrayed the leak papers Panama as a plot to discredit Russia, despite a large number of political figures from around the world have been implicated.

Putin has suggested that the United States Government is behind the leaks, and his spokesman Dmitry Peskov charged the allegations were based on (Putinophobia).

On Sunday, State television referred to an apparent plan of the CIA since 2008, I said, U.S. intelligence agencies had been trying to buy the entire cable from Russia and to a plan hatched by the security services FSB to prevent this from happening, that it involved a number of businessmen who transferred a total of $ 1.5bn in a foreign account.

The program gave to understand clearly that accounts abroad belonging to Roldugin offering in Panama documents were actually a facade for this plan.

We do not know that you counts on the outside of what can be used in the interests of the country with the help of the business of the State, said the anchor of the program. Next time make it a surprise for the CIA. This time, they have not worked well and have come to the wrong people.

Roldugin not personally discussed the operation supposed FSB during the segment; on the other hand, was described by an anonymous (FSB operating) that sat on his back to the camera.

When faced with the allegations prior to the publication of materials based on documents Panama, Roldugin said: guys, I'm not willing to give comments now. These are sensitive issues.