Moscow rejects ‘fake’ story on election meddling
The Embassy of Russia yesterday afternoon said that allegations that Russia had in some way been involved in the Egrant story are “unfounded and untrue.”
In a statement, the Embassy of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Malta said it “categorically rejects the recent allegations against our country as absolutely unfounded and untrue”.
“Russia has never interfered into Malta’s domestic affairs and has no intention to do so in the future.
“All questions regarding these allegations should be addressed to the so-called ‘security services of allied countries’ that spread this fake information.”
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday said, in response to a press question, that he was informed by security service agencies from allied countries that the Egrant whistleblower story was invented by the Russians as payback for Malta’s decision to refuse entry to a Russian naval refuelling tanker taking part in the Syrian conflict. Dr Muscat had said that the Maltese government did not have any proof of this.
The allegation that the Panamanian company Egrant belongs to Michelle Muscat was made by a whistleblower who worked at Pilatus Bank. A magisterial inquiry has been launched, and the Russian woman approached the courts with her evidence. The whistleblower has repeated her claims in an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday and later on INDEPTH.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat reiterated the possibility of a Russian connection with the Egrant saga, saying however that the magisterial inquiry will find no shred of evidence and no shred of truth.
Replying to questions, Dr Muscat repeated what he said on Wednesday that information he had received from allied secret services was that Russia could be behind an attempt to destabilise the government. He did not confirm that the information was received six months ago, as reported in The Times yesterday, but later added that he has long known about it.
Asked whether he believes this connection, Dr Muscat said that all he believes is that he was alerted to the situation. It’s not a situation that should lead to jokes or speculation, he added. He would not be drawn into saying, yes or no, whether he believes the Russian connection to be true.
Dr Muscat said that what is sure is that the magisterial inquiry will not find any evidence and much less an element of truth in what is being alleged.
The PM said that Simon Busuttil had taken ownership of the Egrant story, and challenged him to say he will resign if the Egrant inquiry will find no connection with the PM or his wife.
Asked about the timeline of events - with the Russian whistleblower allegedly copying documents long before Russia took offence that Malta did not allow a Russian ship to refuel in Malta - Muscat avoided the question completely, preferring to repeat what he had already said about receiving information.
Dr Muscat had said on Wednesday that the Egrant saga was in retribution to the tanker incident and to Malta’s EU presidency pushing for a visa waiver programme for Ukraine, with both happening after the whistleblower copied documents related to the Egrant company.
A meeting with the National Security Committee has still not been called by the Prime Minister.
On Wednesday, Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil, who said the Russia claims were “ridiculous,“said the committee had not yet met to discuss the issue. Dr Busuttil is a member of the Committee.