Vladimir Putin 'corruption': Five things we learned about the Russian President's secret wealth [View all]

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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/vladimir-putin-corruption-five-things-we-learned-about-the-russian-presidents-secret-wealth-a6834171.html

Vladimir Putin 'corruption': Five things we learned about the Russian President's secret wealth
A BBC investigation speaks to exiled former Kremlin insiders, who allege widescale corruption under Putin's regime
Adam Withnall @adamwithnall
Tuesday 26 January 2016 08:47 GMT



Vladimir Putin has a vast personal fortune and may be one of the richest men in the world, according to a number of former Kremlin insiders.

From their exiles around the world, they spoke to the BBC for a Panorama investigation into the alleged corruption of the most powerful man in the world. Here's what we learned.



Sergei Kolesnikov told the programme he worked for the Kremlin to collect money from the super-rich, which they believed was to be spent on healthcare, but which was ultimately used “to help build a $1 billion palace for Mr Putin on the Black Sea coast”.

The BBC said it had seen documents from one of the offshore companies that diverted millions of dollars to the palace, which was constructed during Mr Putin’s first term as president.