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PARIS (Reuters) – The Cypriot brokerage company TCR International Limited, concerned by an investigation by the Paris prosecutor’s office into “suspicious flows”, denied on Wednesday having ever established the slightest direct relationship with Yevgeni Prigojine, the late leader of the paramilitary group Russian Wagner.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed on Tuesday the opening of an investigation following a report from Tracfin, the financial intelligence service of the Ministry of the Economy, relating to transfers of several hundred million euros and dollars. involving TCR International Limited between 2019 and 2021, a period during which the Cypriot company had a branch of BNP Paribas, BNP Paribas Securities Services, as its banking partner.
According to Le Monde, which first reported on this investigation, it is the consequence of a request for assistance from the American authorities who are interested in the financial circuits used by Wagner and his former boss, Evgueni Prigojine, died last August in the crash of his plane in Russia, two months after a mutiny against Russian military leaders.
Questioned by Reuters, TCR International Limited categorically denied having processed any financial transfer on behalf of Evgeni Prigozhin or Wagner.
In a separate letter addressed to Le Monde, TCR says it has no trace allowing any of its past or present clients to be linked to Evgeni Prigojine, Wagner or any entity linked to them.
Lawyers representing TCR emphasize that the preliminary investigation consists of non-incriminating checks on the company.
TCR says it strictly respects the rules in force where it operates and condemns money laundering.
Questioned on Tuesday, BNP Paribas said it could not “comment in view of the obligations to which it is bound”. It added that it was “committed to meeting its regulatory obligations” and had adopted a global compliance system to comply with laws, rules and regulations.
A source close to the investigation said Tuesday that the investigations had not yet made it possible to establish a link between the suspicious transfers and Yevgeni Prigojine and Wagner.
Since the death of Yevgeni Prigozhin, the Kremlin has firmly taken control of Wagner. According to unconfirmed reports from Russia, the paramilitary group is now led by Anton Elizarov, also known by his nom de guerre “Lotus”. The latter did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by email.
(Written by Richard Lough, French version Bertrand Boucey, edited by Jean Terzian)
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