As the Labour government takes on a very explicit pro-Russian approach over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it is important that we are aware of the Labour Party’s connections to Russian money, especially the connections of Prime Minister Robert Abela himself. There may be no coincidence with the fact that Malta has refused to cooperate with the US and the European Union over sanction-busting and seizure of Russian assets, its “anti-war” position which is nothing more or less than a pro-Russian victory posture, and Robert Abela’s personal connections with Russian oligarchs.
The most blatant and clear case of sanction-busting in Malta is the case of Igor Yevgenyevich Levitin and his brother. Igor Levitin is a close associate of Vladimir Putin and was at one point in time the Minister for Transport and even an advisor to Putin himself. He has been sanctioned by the US government, but his brother and family, who control and hold Igor’s assets, had been granted Maltese passports. Igor Levitin may have also received Maltese citizenship because in 2020 he was elected President of the European Table Tennis Union.
The fact that Malta did not collected more than ย150,000 in Russian assets, means that the Labour government is not going after sanctioned Russian individuals and their assets, which are by far much more extensive. Malta is also home a large number of shell companies that are connected to other companies in Cyprus with their ultimate owner hidden from public view. There are no investigations ongoing about these companies and the Labour government doesn’t even want to know about them, because knowing would bring an obligation to take action.
When Leonid LEvitin applied for a Maltese passport, his application sped through and was listed as a non-PEP, contrary to reality and prescribed due diligence methods. Leonid Levitin’s application for Maltese citizenship was also marred with very irregular and incomplete entries on his source of wealth – this didn’t bother Identity Malta who refused to make its proper due diligence. Clearly, someone from the government wanted to give Leonid Levitin Maltese citizenship, com what may. This was not a case of incompetence. The Labour government knew who Leonid Levitin was, but they fast-tracked and processed his irregular application any way. Igor Levitin seems to have established himself in Malta as well without any problems.
Apart from Igor Levitin, and Evgeny Filobokov, another Russian oligarch that surely has a connection with the Labour Party is Konstantin Ishkanov, who has been sponsoring Russian cultural events in Malta despite Russia’s war on Ukraine. These three Russian oligarchs are so far, the most high-profile Russian oligarchs with a connection to the Labour Party. As for Leonid Levitin’s connection with Labour, we don’t know yet who was his Labour Party and government supporter (although I do have some leads), but the way his application was irregularly handled is clear evidence that he was speaking to someone in power (not a case of incompetence).
What’s also strange that following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a serious European state that is concerned about its security would not be so content with the fact that Putin’s allies and aides are using Maltese passports to move around the world while hiding their assets from the US and the European authorities. Already, we have a reputation with the Russians as sanctions-busters and Russian-friendly. What’s even more bizarre is that President of the Malta Table Tennis Association has been helping Russia get hundreds of Shahed missiles from Iran which are then fired on Ukrainian civilians and civilian targets.
There are many other Russian oligarchs who bought Maltese passports and today, these individuals pose a serious national security and reputational risk to our country. As the Labour government takes a clear pro-Russian stance on the war in Ukraine, we have to be cautious and wary of having our country bought out by these Russian oligarchs, who undoubtedly, have a lot of power in our small country given the Labour Party and Robert Abela are ready to sell us and our country at any moment and any time for their own criminal interests.
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