Bank Sparkasse Hannover was to block the account of erstwhile German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder for any incoming payments. According to the "Bild" newspaper, the blockade concerns transfers that are likely to come from Schroeder's business relation with Russia.
Specifically, payments from Nord Stream 2 - a subsidiary of the Russian gas company Gazprom - are presently denied.
Schroeder has been the head of the Nord Stream 2 Supervisory Board for years, and according to "Bilda" he receives about EUR 200 000 all six months for his work. These payments were previously transferred to his Hannover account via Luxembourg. According to "Bilda", however, they have not affected since mid-2024.
In a letter to Schroeder, the bank expressed concerns that it could be affected by US sanctions if it continued to transfer funds to Schroeder's account - he informed "Bild", noting that Schroeder himself was not on any sanction list, and US sanctions against Nord Stream 2 have been in force since 2022.
The portal noted in this context that just a fewer weeks before the account was blocked in June 2024 the mayor of Hannover Belit Onay, a fierce critic of Schroeder, took up the position of chief of the supervisory board of Sparkasse Hannover.
The head of City Hall wanted to take Schroeder's honorary citizenship in 2022 due to the fact that the erstwhile Chancellor "is not ready to draw individual conclusions from the war in Ukraine". Schroeder then overtakes the city and himself renounces the title.
According to "Bilda", the erstwhile Chancellor has not yet taken any legal action against the bank. "However, due to his (Schroeder) large fortune, he will most likely be able to stay without the Nord Stream money for a while".
The portal recalled that since the end of the law firm in 2005, Schroeder has earned millions working for Russian state companies. In addition, there are fees for consultation, books and fees for contributions of up to €70,000 per person.
From Berlin Berenika Lemana (PAP)
