UPDATE 8/3/2017 – Adding names to the web as news breaks has been.. challenging. We have decided the most feasible way of doing update this piece is to write an addendum at the bottom, building individual webs as names come out. Wilbur Ross, Roman Abramovich, and JD Gordon have now been added at the end of this piece.
This is merely a consolidation of other’s investigative work. All credit to @Khanoisseur, @20committee, @Funder, @LouiseMensch, @pwnallthethings, the infamous Jester, and James S Henry.
A matryoshka doll , also known as a Russian nesting doll, or Russian doll, is a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside another.
Six degrees of separation is the idea that all living things and everything else in the world is six or fewer steps away from each other so that a chain of “a friend of a friend” statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. It was originally set out by Frigyes Karinthy in 1929 and popularized in an eponymous 1990 play written by John Guare.
When attempting to navigate the web of Donald Trump’s business dealings and relationships with the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, and the Russian mafia, however, a cast of questionable players is never more than 2 degrees of separation away from him or the Trump Organization. As we’ve covered extensively in previous posts, there is no doubt that Trump is financially beholden to Russian influence, which makes allegations surrounding his potential treason against the United States even more worrisome. Considering all link analysis here has been done using news media sources, one might question just how deep the rabbit hole goes using classified sources the US Intelligence Community is investigating currently.
This write-up will display the entire matryoshka as it is known publicly, along with dossiers of each player or organization within the web. Visualizations of each entity will accompany each dossier along with its individual links, as to increment the web in such a way that the reader can understand the sum of its parts. Within these sub-visualizations, we will limit degrees of separation to one link each for the sake of readability. Be aware that further links past that degree exist and can be viewed in the top-level view (i.e. Paul Manafort’s tie to Dmytro Firtash, who ties to Simeon Mogilavech, is not seen on Trump’s visualization, but the relationships by proxy should not be discounted).
Moving forward, this will be considered a living write-up. As more leaks break to the media, it will be updated further with the dossiers of new players, their connections to Trump and/or the Kremlin, and analysis of the degrees of separation between the two. With that said, there are a few “loose ends” within the link analysis that have not yet been pursued (i.e. Yuri Milner overpaying Kushner $50M above asking price for a property, and Steve Bannon with seemingly no ties to anyone). These will be fleshed out or removed as more information is gathered. We’ve also only included dossiers for players with more than 2 links. Jeff Sessions and Steve Bannon are the two most notable exclusions, but their subsequent links will be covered within the dossiers of players that are included.
We understand this is an extremely dense and complex data-set. Layers of complexity allow a biased or malicious actor to insert inaccuracies with the intent of pushing a narrative. This analysis will only use sourced links, with at least one news-media source per connection.
This is the web thus far, in all its complicated glory. To be honest, the best way to parse this is likely to download it and zoom into each individual link. It is far too complex to be human readable in its current form. A few hierarchical notes:
Entities marked blue: American business or USG entities
Entities marked red: Russian business or Kremlin entities
Entities marked purple: Russian mafia or alleged Russian mafia entities
Entities marked yellow: “Neutral” parties that do not fit the above
Lines marked blue: Direct reporting or chain of command relationships
Lines marked orange: Business relationships or partnerships
Lines marked yellow: Non-business or organizational relationships
Lines marked red: Illegal relationships
Solid lines: Source confirmed
Dashed lines: Source alleged
Dot-dashed lines: Reserved for killed, murdered, or “found dead”
Below is a visualization that separates each entity into its respected “camp”. One important note: The lines between Russian government/legitimate business and Russian mafia get blurry very quickly. This is our best attempt to maintain dividing lines based on current sourcing.
Still a little much. For this reason, and for source integrity, we have prepared a short dossier of each player along with sourced links for every relationship. We’ll start with the man of the hour:
AMERICANS
DONALD J TRUMP
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American businessman, television personality, politician, and the 45th President of the United States.
Born and raised in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, Trump received an economics degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. In 1971, he took charge of his family‘s real estate and construction firm, Elizabeth Trump & Son, which was later renamed The Trump Organization. During his business career, Trump built, renovated, and managed numerous office towers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. He has lent the use of his name in the branding of various products. He owned the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants from 1996 to 2015, and from 2004 to 2015, he hosted The Apprentice, a reality television series on NBC. As of 2016, Forbes listed him as the 324th wealthiest person in the world and 113th richest in the United States, with a net worth of $4.5 billion.
Americans
- Trump is President and CEO of the Trump Organization.
- Richard Burt, Carter Page, Paul Manafort were advisors to the Trump Campaign. Manafort was the Campaign Chair before resigning.
- Jared Kushner is Trump’s son-in-law and an advisor to the Trump Regime.
- Mike Flynn was Trump’s National Security Advisor before resigning.
- Rex Tillerson, former CEO of Exxon, is Trump’s Secretary of State
- Jeff Sessions is Trump’s Attorney General
- Michael Cohen is Trump’s personal lawyer
Russian Gov/Business
- Trump has stated on multiple occasions he maintains a personal relationship with Vladimir Putin.
- Sergei Millian, Russian businessman, is head of the Russian America Chamber of Commerce, an alleged Russian Intelligence Front. He advised Trump on Foreign Policy during the campaign. Funded Trump projects.
- Andrey Artemenko is a Pro-Russian Ukrainian Parliamentarian. He co-wrote the draft Russian Sanctions easement policy hand delivered to Mike Flynn with Michael Cohen and Felix Sater. He attended Trump’s Inauguration and has expressed support for Trump. He is under investigation in Ukraine for treason for that act.
- Peter Kiritchenko, Ukrainian businessman and advisor to corrupt Ukrainian PM Pavel Lazarenko, owned two units in Trump Tower. He was arrested on fraud charges in 1999 and testified against Lazarenko for money laundering. Lazarenko has alleged ties to Simeon Mogilavech via hired muscle to corner the Ukrainian gas industry.
- Herman Gref is the CEO of Sberbank Russia. He was the Russian Minister of Economics and Trade from 2000 to 2007. Sberbank funded Trump’s Moscow Miss Universe Pageant.
Russian Mafia
- Felix Sater, the name you should be hearing much more of, is a Russian-born American real estate developer and managing director of Bayrock Group LLC, a real estate conglomerate based out of New York City. He was a Senior Advisor to the Trump Organization and through Bayrock Group funded multiple Trump projects. In 1998 he was found guilty of racketeering and fraud. His father, Mikhail, worked for infamous Russian crime lord Simeon Mogilavech. He co-wrote the draft Russian Sanctions easement policy hand delivered to Mike Flynn with Michael Cohen and Andrey Artemenko. Despite multiple links, especially recently, Trump insists he does not know Sater.
- Tamir Sapir (deceased), through the Sapir Organization, partnered with Bayrock Group to fund multiple Trump projects. During the days of the Soviet Union, he sold electronics to KGB agents out of his Manhattan storefront.
- Tevfik Arik, Kazakh businessman and former Soviet official, was a part of Bayrock group and funded Trump projects. In 2010 he was arrested in Turkey for running a prostitution ring, involving some underage Russian and Ukrainian models, for wealthy Russian businessmen.
- Rotem Rosen is an Israeli born real estate mogul and an executive member of the Sapir Organization, which funded Trump projects. Rosen married Sapir’s daughter at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump attended the wedding and Rosen’s son’s bris.
- Alimzhan Tokhtakhunov is a Russian businessman and mobster. His Interpol Wanted Poster cites an affiliation with the Mogilavech Crime Family. He was accused of bribing Olympic officials in 2002 and was arrested in 2013 for running an illegal gambling ring out of Trump Tower. He attended the Moscow Miss Universe Pageant with Trump in 2013.
- Anotoly Golubchik is also a Russian mobster that ran the illegal gambling ring with Tokhtakhunov out of Trump Tower. He also attended the Moscow Miss Universe Pageant with Trump.
- Alex Shnaider is a Russian billionaire that funded Trump’s Toronto Tower project. His father-in-law is Sergei Mikhaylov, who was the head of the SoIntsevskaya Bratva, Russias largest crime syndicate, which has historical ties with Simeon Mogilavech. He also received loans from FL Group, the Icelandic company involved with Bayrock Group.
- David Bogatin is a known Russian mobster with a long rap sheet of fraud and racketeering charges. The FBI ties him to Simeon Mogilavech as well. Donald Trump personally sold Bogatin five condos in Trump Tower.
Neutral Parties
- Deutsche Bank is Trump’s biggest lender since US banks ceased financing his ventures, to the tune of $2.5B. They’ve also loaned Jared Kushner $700M. In January 2017, they were also fined roughly $630M for a Russian money laundering scheme that allowed Russian oligarchs to move approximately $10B out of Russia and into offshore accounts.
- FL Group is an Icelandic investment company that invested in Trump’s SoHo Tower through Bayrock Group. It is currently in litigation for a tax fraud scheme involving funneling $250M from Bayrock through FL Group. As a minority owner, Trump had to sign off on the deal. He is currently named a material witness in the case. FL Group has deep ties to Russian oligarchs, mobsters, and the Kremlin.
- Julian Assange is the man behind Wikileaks. The Kremlin has repeatedly stated support for Assange. Roger Stone has suggested he was in contact with Assange during the Campaign. During the election, Wikileaks repeatedly tweeted anti-Clinton sentiment. There are allegations that Assange has been co-opted by Russia or has always been a Russian asset.
THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION
The Trump Organization is an American privately owned international conglomerate based in Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It comprises the business ventures and investments of Donald Trump. From 1971 to 2017, Trump ran the company as chairman and president. After being elected U.S. president, Trump announced that his two oldest sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump (both longtime company executive vice presidents), along with longtime CFO Allen Weisselberg, have taken over the management of the company, serving as trustees for the duration of Trump’s presidency. Although he is no longer involved with its day-to-day management, the company remains under Trump’s ownership.
Note: There are obviously many duplicated connections between Trump and the Trump Organization. Some of these connections are copy/pasted for posterity.
Russian Gov/Business
- Sergei Millian, Russian businessman, is head of the Russian America Chamber of Commerce, an alleged Russian Intelligence Front. He advised Trump on Foreign Policy during the campaign. Funded Trump projects. He was contracted to promote Trump real estate ventures in Russia.
- Alfa Bank is the largest commercial bank in Russia. During the 2016 Presidential Election, a server was discovered within the Trump Org making mysterious DNS connections to servers at Alfa.
Russian Mafia
- Felix Sater, the name you should be hearing much more of, is a Russian-born American real estate developer and managing director of Bayrock Group LLC, a real estate conglomerate based out of New York City. He was a Senior Advisor to the Trump Organization and through Bayrock Group funded multiple Trump projects. In 1998 he was found guilty of racketeering and fr His father, Mikhail, worked for infamous Russian crime lord Simeon Mogilavech. He co-wrote the draft Russian Sanctions easement policy hand delivered to Mike Flynn with Michael Cohen and Andrey Artemenko. Despite multiple links, especially recently, Trump insists he does not know Sater.
- Tevfik Arik, Kazakh businessman and former Soviet official, was a part of Bayrock group and funded Trump projects. In 2010 he was arrested in Turkey for running a prostitution ring, involving some underage Russian and Ukrainian models, for wealthy Russian businessmen.
- Rotem Rosen is an Israeli born real estate mogul and an executive member of the Sapir Organization, which funded Trump projects. Rosen married Sapir’s daughter at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump attended the wedding and Rosen’s son’s bris.
- Alex Shnaider is a Russian billionaire that funded Trump’s Toronto Tower project. His father-in-law is Sergei Mikhaylov, who was the head of the SoIntsevskaya Bratva, Russias largest crime syndicate, which has historical ties with Simeon Mogilavech. He also received loans from FL Group, the Icelandic company involved with Bayrock Group.
- Alimzhan Tokhtakhunov is a Russian businessman and mobster. His Interpol Wanted Poster cites an affiliation with the Mogilavech Crime Family. He was accused of bribing Olympic officials in 2002 and was arrested in 2013 for running an illegal gambling ring out of Trump Tower. He attended the Moscow Miss Universe Pageant with Trump in 2013.
- Anotoly Golubchik is also a Russian mobster that ran the illegal gambling ring with Tokhtakhunov out of Trump Tower. He also attended the Moscow Miss Universe Pageant with Trump.
- Boris Berezovsky (deceased) was a Russian business oligarch with alleged mafia ties. He aided Putin in gaining power in Russia, before having a falling out and opposing him. He was later found dead. Like many other Russians with questionable ties, he owned a condo in Trump Tower.
- Peter Kiritchenko is a Ukrainian businessman with ties to the Mogavilech crime family and was an advisor to Pavlo Lazarenko. He also owned a condo in Trump Tower.
- Vyacheslav Ivankov (deceased) was a notorious Russian mafia member with alleged ties to Russian intelligence. He was assassinated in Moscow in 2009. He also owned a condo in Trump Tower.
PAUL MANAFORT
Paul John Manafort Jr.(born Apri l 1, 1949) is an American lobbyist and political consultant.
Manafort is best known for his lobbying efforts on behalf of Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych as well as world leaders such as Ferdinand Marcos and Mobutu Sese Seko and guerrilla leader Jonas Savimbi. He was an adviser to the U.S. presidential campaigns of Republicans Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bob Dole, and was the national chairman of the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, as well as being a senior partner in the firm Davis, Manafort, and Freedman. It was confirmed in The New York Times on the eve of the 2017 Presidential Inauguration that Manafort is under active investigation by the CIA, NSA, FBI, ODNI and FinCEN
Americans
- Roger Stone founded the DC lobbying firm Black, Manafort, Stone and Kelly with Manafort.
- Manafort was the Campaign Chairman for Donald Trump, before abruptly resigning in August 2016.
Russian Gov/Business
- Manafort served as an advisor to Pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych before he was removed from power. Yanukovych’s party allegedly owes Manafort approximately $12.7M.
- Following Yanukovych’s removal, Manafort continued to advise right-wing pro-Russian parties within Ukraine, including the Party of Regions and Oppo Block. This includes pro-Russian Parliamentarian Andreii Artemenko and his “Solidarity of Right Forces” party.
- Manafort also advised Dmytro Firtash, who is 50% owner of RosUkrEnergo, but is alleged to serve as the business frontman for Russian mob boss Simeon Mogilavech per the Wikileaks Cables. Firtash is about to be extradited to the US.
CARTER PAGE
Carter Page (born 1971 or 1972) is an American oil industry consultant. Donald Trump named him as a foreign policy advisor to his presidential campaign, which campaign staffers later denied. Page is the founder and managing partner of Global Energy Capital, a New York investment fund and consulting firm specializing in the Russian and Central Asian oil and gas business
Americans
- Page was a Foreign Policy Advisor to Trump during the Election Campaign before resigning in September 2016.
Russian Gov/Business
- Page was an advisor to Russian state-owned oil company GazProm
- Page reportedly met with Igor Sechin, President of Russian oil company Rosneft
- Rosneft recently sold 19% of its ownership to an anonymous buyer, which matches allegations in the unsubstantiated Steele Dossier. Page was in Moscow at the time of the sale.
RICHARD BURT
Richard R. Burt (born February 3, 1947) is an American businessman and diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to Germany and was a chief negotiator of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. Prior to his diplomatic career, Burt worked as director of a non-governmental organization and was a correspondent for the New York Times.
Americans
- Burt was an advisor to the Trump Campaign
- Burt was also a Foreign Policy advisor to Attorney General Jeff Sessions
Russian Gov/Business
- Burt did lobbying work for New European AG in favor of the Nordstream Pipeline, which was 50% owned by GazProm
- Burt served as advisor to Mikhail Fridman, cofounder of Alfa Bank
JARED KUSHNER
Jared Corey Kushner (born January 10, 1981) is an American real estate investor and developer, publisher, and senior advisor to his father-in-law, President Donald Trump. Together with Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, he forms Trump’s leadership team. Kushner is said to be President Trump’s most trusted advisor, showing “unwavering loyalty” to his father-in-law
Americans
- Kushner is Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor.
Russian Gov/Business
- Kushner received a $295M loan from Uzbek oligarch Lev Leviev and later did a $450M business deal with him.
- Russian oligarch Yuri Milner overpaid Kushner by $50M for real estate.
Russian Mafia
- Kushner and Trump are friends with Rotem Rosen. Both attended Rosen’s son’s bris.
Neutral Parties
- Deutsche Bank, tied to Russian money laundering, has lent Kushner $700M.
MIKE FLYNN
Michael Thomas “Mike” Flynn (born December 1958) is a retired United States Army Lieutenant General who was the 18th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump. Flynn served as the 25th National Security Advisor from January 20, 2017, to February 13, 2017, when he resigned at the behest of the President after misleading key officials about the nature of his telecommunications with Russian diplomats. Flynn’s tenure of just 24 days as National Security Advisor is the shortest in the history of the office
Americans
- Flynn was involved in the Trump Campaign and later became Trump’s National Security Advisor. He resigned after it was discovered he spoke with the Russian Ambassador about Russian sanctions easement.
- Flynn was personally given a draft Russian Sanctions easement policy by Trump lawyer Michael Cohen.
Russian Gov/Business
- Flynn received money for speaking engagements in Russia, and met with Vladimir Putin in GRU headquarters. He also appeared on state-owned TV network Russia Today.
- Flynn discussed sanctions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak prior to Trump’s Election. It was the cause for his resignation.
Russian Mafia
- Felix Sater co-wrote the Russian Sanctions easement policy that was hand-delivered to Flynn.
REX TILLERSON
Rex Wayne Tillerson (born March 23, 1952) is an American energy executive, civil engineer, and diplomat who is the 69th and current United States Secretary of State, serving since his confirmation on February 1, 2017. Tillerson joined ExxonMobil in 1975 as an engineer and served as the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the company from 2006 to 2016.
Americans
- Tillerson serves as Trump’s Secretary of State
Russian Gov/Business
- Vladimir Putin awarded Tillerson Russia’s Order of Friendship, the highest honor bestowed to a non-Russian citizen, for his work developing cooperation in the energy sector.
- Tillerson is a close friend of Igor Sechin, President of Rosneft.
- While CEO of Exxon, Tillerson negotiated extensive deals between Exxon and Rosneft.
MICHAEL COHEN
Michael Dean Cohen (born 1966/67) is the personal lawyer to US President Donald Trump. Prior to this appointment he was Executive Vice-President of The Trump Organization and special counsel to Trump. Cohen also previously served as co-president of Trump Entertainment and a member of the board of the Eric Trump Foundation, a children’s health charity. He joined the Trump Organization after having been a partner at Phillips Nizer.
Americans
- Cohen is Trump’s personal lawyer and has extensive history within Trump business ventures.
- Cohen co-wrote the Russian sanctions easement draft to be delivered to Mike Flynn.
Russians
- Cohen co-wrote this easement draft with Felix Sater and Andrey Artemenko.
RUSSIAN GOV/BUSINESS
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician who is the current President of the Russian Federation, holding the office since 7 May 2012.He was Prime Minister from 1999 to 2000, President from 2000 to 2008, and again Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012. During his second term as Prime Minister, he was the Chairman of the United Russia Party, the ruling party.
Americans
- Donald Trump has stated at multiple times to have “a relationship” with Putin, despite going back and forth about it.
- Rex Tillerson was awarded the Russian Order of Friendship by Putin for his work “fostering cooperation” in the energy sector.
- Mike Flynn received money for speaking engagements in Russia, and met with Vladimir Putin in GRU headquarters. He also appeared on state-owned TV network Russia Today.
Russian Gov/Business
- Sergei Millian, Russian businessman, is head of the Russian America Chamber of Commerce, an alleged Russian Intelligence Front.
- GazProm, Russian oil giant, is owned by the state.
- Lev Leviev has stated he is a personal friend of Putin’s.
- Igor Sechin, Rosneft President, has been described as Putin’s “de facto deputy”.
- Herman Gref, Sberbank CEO, is known as Putin’s “personal banker” and friend.
- Andreii Artemenko, Ukrainian Parliamentarian, belongs to the pro-Putin block of lawmakers within Ukraine.
- Sergey Kislyak is Putin’s Ambassador to the United States.
- Viktor Yanukovych is the former pro-Russian President of Ukraine. He is currently in exile in Russia under Putin’s protection.
- GRIZZLY STEPPE is the Russian state hacking outfit responsible for the 2016 Election hacks.
Russian Mafia
- According to Ukrainian Intelligence sources and former KGB agent Alexander Litivenko, Putin has long personal ties with infamous Russian mafia top-boss Simeon Mogilavech
- Tamir Sapir (deceased), likely Soviet Intelligence asset. During the days of the Soviet Union, he sold electronics to KGB agents out of his Manhattan storefront.
- Boris Berezovsky (deceased) was a Russian business oligarch with alleged mafia ties. He aided Putin in gaining power in Russia, before having a falling out and opposing him. He was later found dead. Like many other Russians with questionable ties, he owned a condo in Trump Tower.
- Vyacheslav Ivankov (deceased) was a notorious Russian mafia member with alleged ties to Russian intelligence. He was assassinated in Moscow in 2009
Neutral Parties
- In January 2017, Deutsche Bank was fined roughly $630M for a Russian money laundering scheme that allowed Russian oligarchs to move approximately $10B out of Russia and into offshore accounts.
- FL Group is an Icelandic investment company that invested in Trump’s SoHo Tower through Bayrock Group. It is currently in litigation for a tax fraud scheme involving funneling $250M from Bayrock through FL Group. As a minority owner, Trump had to sign off on the deal. He is currently named a material witness in the case. FL Group has deep ties to Russian oligarchs, mobsters, and the Kremlin.
- Julian Assange is the man behind Wikileaks. The Kremlin has repeatedly stated support for Assange. Roger Stone has suggested he was in contact with Assange during the Campaign. During the election, Wikileaks repeatedly tweeted anti-Clinton sentiment. There are allegations that Assange has been co-opted by Russia or has always been a Russian asset.
IGOR SECHIN
Igor Ivanovich Sechin (born 7 September 1960 in Leningrad, Soviet Union) is a Russian official, considered a close ally and “de facto deputy” of Vladimir Putin.[2] Sechin is often described as one of Putin’s most conservative counselors and the leader of the Kremlin’s Siloviki faction, a lobby gathering former security services agents.[3] Until 21 May 2012, he served as Deputy Prime Minister of Russia in Vladimir Putin‘s cabinet and he is currently the Executive Chairman of Rosneft, the Russian state oil company.
Americans
- Rex Tillerson is a close friend of Igor Sechin,
- Page reportedly met with Igor Sechin, President of Russian oil company Rosneft. Rosneft recently sold 19% of its ownership to an anonymous buyer, which matches allegations in the unsubstantiated Steele Dossier. Page was in Moscow at the time of the sale.
Russians
- Sechin has been described as Putin’s “de facto deputy”.
- Igor Sechin is the President of Russian oil company Rosneft
- Oleg Erovinkin (deceased), former KGB chief, served as Sechin’s Chief of Staff. He is alleged to be one source in the Steele Dossier. He was found dead in the back of his car in January 2017.
LEV LEVIEV
Lev Leviev (born July 30, 1956) is an Israeli businessman, philanthropist and investor, of Uzbek Bukhari Jewish background, Known as the “King of Diamonds”. Lev Leviev has a net worth of $1.1 billion as of September 2016, he has been a major philanthropist for Hasidic Jewish causes in Eastern Europe and Israel. Beginning in the 1990s, Leviev avoided being directly involved with the Yeltsin family, and nurtured ties with Vladimir Putin. His diamond mining investments in Angola and his investments in Israeli settlements have been the target of protests
Americans
- Jared Kushner received a Leviev and later did a $450M business deal with him.
Russian Gov/Business
- Lev Leviev has stated he is a personal friend of Vladimir Putin’s.
Russian Mafia
- Felix Sater and Rotem Rosen are described as former “lieutenants” in past Leviev enterprises.
DMYTRO FIRTASH
Dmytro Vasylovych Firtash (born 2 May 1965) is a Ukrainian businessman, investor and philanthropist. He is head of the board of directors of Group DF. He was highly influential during the Yuschenko administration, he was President of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine (FEU), He was Chairman of the National Tripartite Social and Economic Council (NTSEC), He was Co-Chairman of Domestic and Foreign Investors Advisory Council under the Ministry of Education, Science, Youth and Sports of Ukraine, and was a member of the Committee for Economic Reforms under the President of Ukraine. He is currently being extradited to the US for bribery and other charges.
Americans
- Paul Manafort also advised Dmytro Firtash, while he was 50% owner of RosUkrEnergo,
Russian Gov/Business
- Firtash ownes 50% of RosUkrEnergo. Gazprom owns the other half.
Russian Mafia
- Wikileaks Cable leaks allege that Firtash is merely the business frontman of RosUkrEnergo, and the true beneficiary is Russian mafia top-boss Simeon Mogilavech.
GAZPROM
Gazprom is a large Russian company founded in 1989, which carries on the business of extraction, production, transport, and sale of natural gas. The company name is a portmanteau of the Russian words Gazovaya Promyshlennost (Russian: газовая промышленность – gas industry). The headquarters of Gazprom are in Moscow.
Americans
- Carter Page was an advisor to Russian state-owned oil company GazProm
Russians
- GazProm is majority owned by the state. Putin personally owns 4.5%.
- GazProm owns 50% of RosUkrEnergo, the other half owned by Dmytro Firtash.
- GazProm owns 50% of New European AG/Nordstream, for which Richard Burt lobbied.
VIKTOR YANUKOVYCH
Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych (born 9 July 1950) is a Ukrainian politician who served as the fourth President of Ukraine from February 2010 until his removal from power in February 2014. He is currently in exile in Russia and wanted by Ukraine for high treason.
Americans
- Manafort served as an advisor to Pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych before he was removed from power. Yanukovych’s party allegedly owes Manafort approximately $12.7M.
Russians
- Yanukovych is the former pro-Russian President of Ukraine. He is currently in exile in Russia under Putin’s protection
ANDREII (ANDREY) ARTEMENKO
Andriy Viktorovych Artemenko (born 14 January 1969) is a Ukrainian politician, the People’s Deputy of Ukraine of the 8th convocation of Verkhovna Rada and chairman of the “Solidarity of Right Forces” party.
Americans
- Artemenko attended Donald Trump’s Inauguration and has expressed support for him. He also co-wrote the draft Russian Sanctions easement policy hand delivered to Mike Flynn with Michael Cohen and Felix Sater. He attended Trump’s Inauguration and has expressed support for Trump. He is under investigation in Ukraine for treason for that act.
- After Yanukovych was removed from power, Paul Manafort continued to advise right-wing pro-Russian parties within Ukraine, including the Party of Regions and Oppo Block. This includes pro-Russian Artemenko and his “Solidarity of Right Forces” party.
Russians
- Artemenko belongs to the pro-Putin block of lawmakers within Ukraine.
- Felix Sater co-wrote the draft Russian Sanctions easement policy hand delivered to Mike Flynn with Michael Cohen and Artemenko.
RUSSIAN MAFIA
FELIX SATER
Felix Henry Sater (born Haim Felix Sater; March 2, 1966) is a Russian-born American real estate developer and managing director of Bayrock Group LLC, a real estate conglomerate based out of New York City, New York. Sater has been an advisor to many corporations, including The Trump Organization, Rixos Hotels and Resorts, Sembol Construction, Potok (formerly the Mirax Group), and TxOil.
Americans
- Sater, was a Senior Advisor to the Trump Organization and through Bayrock Group funded multiple Trump projects. In 1998 he was found guilty of racketeering and fraud. His father, Mikhail, worked for infamous Russian crime lord Simeon Mogilavech. He co-wrote the draft Russian Sanctions easement policy hand delivered to Mike Flynn with Michael Cohen and Andrey Artemenko. Despite multiple links, especially recently, Trump insists he does not know Sater. Sater, through Bayrock, funded Trump SoHo.
- Michael Cohen co-wrote the Russian sanctions easement draft with Sater and Andrey Artemenko, to be delivered to Mike Flynn.
Russian Gov/Business
- Andrey Artemenko, Pro-Putin Ukrainian lawmaker, co-wrote the Russian sanctions easement draft with Sater and Cohen, to be delivered to Mike Flynn.
- Sater is described as a “former liueutenant” of “King of Diamonds” Lev Leviev.
Russian Mafia
- Felix Sater’s father, Mikhael Sheferovsky (aka Michael Sater), reportedly worked for Simeon Mogilevech’s crime syndicate.
- Sater/Bayrock partnered with Tamir Sapir, CEO of the Sapir Organization, to build Trump SoHo.
- Sater was a business partner of Tevfik Arik through Bayrock, described as “Arik’s right hand man”.
- Rotem Rosen was a business partner of Sater’s through the Bayrock/Sapir deal with Trump SoHo.
- Sater is managing director of Bayrock Group, currently facing allegations of receving funding from Russian firms “loyal to Putin” and receiving unexplained cash infusions from Russia and Kazakhstan.
SIMEON MOGILEVECH
Semion Yudkovich Mogilevich (born June 30, 1946) is a Ukrainian-born, alleged Russian organized crime boss, believed by European and United States federal law enforcement agencies to be the “boss of bosses” of most Russian Mafia syndicates in the world. Mogilevich is believed to direct a vast criminal empire and is described by the FBI as “the most dangerous mobster in the world.” He has been accused by the FBI of “weapons trafficking, contract murders, extortion, drug trafficking, and prostitution on an international scale.” He lives freely in Moscow, and has three children. He is most closely associated with the Solntsevskaya Bratva crime group. Political figures he has close alliances with include Yury Luzhkov, the former Mayor of Moscow, Dmytro Firtash and Leonid Derkach, former head of the Security Service of Ukraine. Oleksandr Turchynov, who was designated as acting President of Ukraine in February 2014, appeared in court in 2010 for allegedly destroying files pertaining to Mogilevich. Shortly before his death, Alexander Litvinenko claimed that Mogilevich has allegedly had a “good relationship” with Vladimir Putin since the 1990s.
Russian Gov/Business
- Vladimir Putin is reportedly a close friend, according to murdered ex-KGB spy Alexander Litivenko, and Ukrainian Intelligence.
- Wikileaks Cable leaks allege that Dmytro Firtash owns 50% of RosUkrEnergo on behalf of Mogilevech, who is the true beneficiary of the deal.
- Alexander Litivenko alleges that Mogavilech is associated with the murder of Boris Berezovsky, which was done on behalf of Putin.
- Pavlo Lazarenko, former PM of Ukraine, reportedly used Mogavilech men to “divide and conquer the Ukrainian gas market”
Russian Mafia
- Vyacheslav Ivankov was a Lieutenant in the Mogilevech Crime Family. He owned a condo in Trump Tower.
- Sergei Mikhaylov is Alex Shnaider’s father-in-law. He is the head of SoIntsevkaya Bratva, a Russian crime syndicate with ties to Mogilevech.
- Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov is a Russian crime boss. His InterPol Wanted Poster stated affiliations with the Mogilevech Crime Family. He owned a condo in Trump Tower and operated an illegal gambling ring out of it. He also attended the Moscow Miss Universe pageant with Trump.
- David Bogatin, known Russian mobster, was personally sold 5 condos in Trump Tower by Trump himself. He is a member of the Mogilavech Crime Family.
- Felix Sater’s father, Mikhael Sheferovsky (aka Michael Sater), reportedly worked for Simeon Mogilevech’s crime syndicate.
- Mogilavech started a company called YBM Magnex, which subsequently defrauded investors of approximately $150M. David Bogatin’s brother Jacob was the CEO.
ROTEM ROSEN
Rotem Rosen is an Israeli born New York real estate mogul, director of ASRR Capital and an executive member of the Sapir Organization since 2010. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of AFI USA from 2005 to 2009. Rosen is known as the “right hand man” of real estate magnate Lev Leviev. In 2007, he married fellow real estate heavyweight, Zina Sapir, daughter of Tamir Sapir, founder of the Sapir Organization. While the majority of Rosen’s real estate portfolio consists of property in New York, such as former Morgans Hotel Group’s Mondrian Soho, ASRR Capital purchased its first Miami office building in October 2015 for $13.3 million.
Americans
- While involved with Bayrock/Sapir, Rosen worked with Donald Trump and invested in Trump real estate projects. He attended the Moscow Miss Universe with Trump as well. Trump hosted Rosen’s wedding to Tamir Sapir’s daughter at Mar-a-Lago and attended Rosen’s son’s bris.
- Jared Kushner also attended the bris.
Russian Gov/Business
- Rotem Rosen’s is described as the “right hand man” of Lev Leviev.
Russian Mafia
- Rosen is married to Tamir Sapir’s daughter, which was performed at Mar-a-Lago. They worked together at the Sapir Organization.
- Rotem Rosen is business partners with Felix Sater and Tevfik Arik via Bayrock and Trump deals.
TAMIR SAPIR
Tamir Sapir 1946/1947 – September 26, 2014) was an American businessman and investor from the former Soviet republic of Georgia who made millions bartering fertilizer and oil with the Soviets in the 1980s; he took most of his money and put it into New York real-estate. He was included in The 400 Richest Americans List of September 2008 (#246), with a net worth of $1.9 billion. In March 2010, he ranked 721st on Forbes’ list of billionaires, with a net worth of $1.4 billion.
Americans
- Sapir funded Donald Trump real estate ventures through the Sapir Organization, partnered with Bayrock Group.
Russian Gov/Business
- An alleged KGB intelligence asset, Sapir sold electronics to the KGB from his Manhattan storefront.
Russian Mafia
- Felix Sater, Tevfik Arik, and Rotem Rosen partnered with Tamir Sapir, CEO of the Sapir Organization, to build Trump SoHo.
- Rotem Rosen married Sapir’s daughter at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
TEVFIK ARIK
Tevfik Arik is a Kazakh businessman, former Soviet official, and former president of Bayrock Group. Arif was arrested in a raid on the historic “Savarona” yacht along with “Russian, Kyrgyz and Kazakh businessmen and high-level government officials,” according to Bloomberg, for running an underage prostitution ring.
Americans
- Arik funded Donald Trump real estate ventures through the Sapir Organization, partnered with Bayrock Group. Arik worked out of Trump Tower.
Russians
- Felix Sater, Tevfik Arik, and Rotem Rosen partnered with Tamir Sapir, CEO of the Sapir Organization, to build Trump SoHo.
ALEX SHNAIDER
Alex Shnaider (born 1968) is a Russian-born Israeli-Canadian entrepreneur and former commodities trader. He is co-founder with Eduard Shifrin of the Midland Group.
Americans
- Donald Trump’s Toronto Tower project was funded by Shnaider.
Russians
- Shnaider’s father-in-law is Sergei Mikhaylov, leader of the Russian Bratva.
- Shnaider received loans from FL Group, the Icelandic investment firm with deep ties to Russian oligarchs and currently in litigation for a $250M tax fraud scheme involving Bayrock.
ANATOLY GOLUBCHIK
Anatoly Golubchik is a known Russian mobster that was arrested in 2013 for racketeering, extortion, and running an illegal gambling ring out of Trump Tower. 34 other conspirators were also arrested. He is allegedly tied to the Mogevilech crime family.
Americans
- Golubchik lived in Trump Tower and conducted his illegal business out of the property. He also attended the Moscow Miss Universe pageant with Donald Trump.
Russians
- Golubchik ran the gambling ring with Alimzhan Tokhtakhunov, who also ties to Mogilevech.
ALIMZHAN TOKTAKHUNOV
Alimzhan Tursunovich Tokhtakhounov (b. 1 January 1949 in Tashkent) is a Russian businessman, suspected criminal, and former sportsman. He is accused in relations with organized crime and bribing of figure skating judges in the 2002 Winter Olympics. His nickname is thought to be “Taiwanchik,” which refers to his distinctly Asiatic as opposed to European facial features.
Americans
- Toktakhunov was arrested in 2013 for running an illegal gambling ring out of Trump Tower. He attended the Moscow Miss Universe Pageant with Trump in 2013.
Russians
- Toktakhunov ran the illegal gambling ring in a partnership with Anatoly Golubchik
- Toktakhunov’s Interpol Wanted Poster affiliates him with Simeon Mogilevech.
VYACHESLAV IVANKOV
Vyacheslav Kirillovich Ivankov (January 2, 1940 – October 9, 2009) was a notorious member of the Russian Mafia who was believed to have connections with Russian state intelligence organizations and their organized crime partners. He has operated in both the Soviet Union and the United States. His nickname, “Yaponchik” (Япончик) translates from Russian as “Little Japanese”, due to his faintly Mongoloid facial features. He was assassinated in Moscow in 2009.
Americans
- Ivankov owned a condo in Trump Tower.
Russians
- Ivankov was a known lieutenant to Mogilevech’s criminal enterprise.
DAVID BOGATIN
David Bogatin is a Russian businessman and member of the Mogevilech crime family. In 1992, he was extradited to the US from Poland and stood trial for federal racketeering and tax fraud. He was sentenced to 8 years.
Americans
- Donald Trump personally sold David Bogatin five condos in Trump Tower.
Russians
- Bogatin is a known member of the Mogilevech crime family
FL GROUP
Stodir (Icelandic: Stoðir, FL Group prior to 4 June 2008) is an international investment company, headquartered in Reykjavík, Iceland with offices in London. The company was founded on July 20, 1973, under the name Flugleiðir. It was formed as a holding company for Loftleiðir and Air Iceland. Stodir was best known for its subsidiary Icelandair Group, which was sold in October 2006. Icelandair, Loftleidir Icelandic and other companies of Icelandair Group have been leaders in the Icelandic flight and tourism industry for about 70 years. The company was placed into administration in September 2008 after Glitnir, its largest investment, was part-nationalised by the Icelandic government.
In 2007 Bayrock struck a deal with FL Group, an Icelandic company that had agreed to invest $50 million in four of Bayrock’s subsidiary partnerships. However, the deal was later relabeled as a loan. In New York, the sale of a stake in a partnership would make the existing partners liable to pay more than 40 per cent in tax on their ‘gain’, based on the highest tax rate. However, if the investment is classified as a loan no tax would be payable. Former employees of Bayrock have alleged in a case against the company that the deal was intended to fraudulently evade some $20 million in tax through a disguised sale of partnership interests.
Americans
- Donald Trump is named a material witness in the FL Group/Bayrock tax scheme. As an 18% owner of the deal, Trump also signed off on it for approval.
Russians
- FL Group partnered with Bayrock for the alleged tax fraud scheme.
- FL Group has a long history with Russian oligarchs, including loans to Alex Shnaider.
FOLLOW-UP DATA ANALYSIS:
The Mogilevech Connection
Donald Trump is connected to Russian mob boss Simeon Mogilavech via 9 different paths, never more than 3 degrees of separation away through business or family ties. Assuming Litivenko and Ukrainian Intelligence are right, that is 9 different paths to Putin by way of Mogilavech.
The Trump-Putin Affair
Filtering out some of the extraneous noise, we can look at exactly how Putin and Trump can communicate through proxies on each of their respective sides. Trump has 11 outgoing ties through American or Russian business partnerships that directly can directly path to Putin via his 17 outgoing connections via 15 Russian government, intelligence, or mafia relationships.
The Inner Circle
Just looking at Trump’s advisors, 20 separate connections exist to Russian interests, the oligarchy, the mafia, or the outfits linked to the aforementioned. This filters out the eventual ties to Putin, Trump, or Mogilevech.
In conclusion, the web is large and complicated. It is easy to get lost in the matryoshka. What is plain to see, however, is that this is an extremely large mass of questionable contacts and relationships. It is highly unlikely that the Russian state was not involved in Trump affairs at some point during the last two decades. An investigation needs to happen as soon as possible.
POSTSCRIPT – MORE NAMES:
AMERICAN Wilbur Ross
Wilbur Louis Ross Jr., born in Weehawken, NJ on November 28th 1937, is the current US Secretary of Commerce. After graduating from Yale in 1959, Mr. Ross went onto obtain an M.B.A from Harvard in 1961 and then served a 2 year tour in the US Army Adjunct General Corps.
Upon leaving the Army, Mr. Ross began his career in private industry where he held multiple executive roles and board positions across a variety of companies. Of recent interest in his role as the Director/Vice Chairman of the Bank of Cyprus from 11.2014 until 3.2017. The cause for public interest in this bank is already documented in a well sourced article at DCReport.
AMERICANS
- Ross is the current Secretary of Commerce in the Trump Administration
RUSSIANS
- Ross was Director/Vice Chairman of the Bank of Cyprus at the same time as former KGB Agent and Putin ally Vladimir Strzhalkovsky. He is yet another Russian with a history in Russian intelligence, tied to the Trump inner circle via business relationships, that has a very close relationship with Vladimir Putin.
AMERICAN JD Gordon
Jeffrey D. “J.D.” Gordon is an American communications and foreign policy advisor, who served as a Pentagon spokesman from 2005–2009. Gordon is a retired United States Navy officer who has served as a senior advisor to Republican political figures and at conservative Washington, DC-based think tanks. Gordon is also a contributing columnist to Fox News, The Daily Caller, The Hill, The Washington Times and other media outlets. Gordon founded Protect America Today, a national security-themed Super PAC in February 2012.
Previously, he served as a spokesman for the Navy and Department of Defense, retiring as a Commander. He managed communications and press relations in a wide variety of locations over a 20-year career, including posts in Europe, Latin America and Asia. His final assignment in the military was at the Pentagon, serving under Secretaries Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates.
AMERICANS
- Gordon was an advisor to the Trump Campaign and is alleged to be the architect behind the rewrite of the GOP Platform, in which the Republican stance on Ukraine shifted to favor Russia.
RUSSIANS
- Gordon is yet another Trump advisor said to have spoken with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak about closer relationships with Russia prior to the US Presidential Election.
Russian – Roman Abramovich
Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich (born 24 October 1966) is a Russian billionaire businessman, investor, and politician. Abramovich is the primary owner of the private investment company, Millhouse LLC. Abramovich is best known outside Russia as the owner of Chelsea Football Club, a Premier League football club.
Abramovich was the first person to originally recommend to Yeltsin that Vladimir Putin be his successor as the Russian president. When Putin formed his first cabinet as Prime Minister in 1999, Abramovich interviewed each of the candidates for cabinet positions before they were approved. Subsequently, Abramovich would remain one of Putin’s closest confidants. In 2007 Putin consulted in meetings with Abramovich on the question of who should be his successor as president – Medvedev was personally recommended by Abramovich.
Chris Hutchins, a biographer of Putin, describes the relationship between the Russian president and Abramovich as like that between a father and a favorite son. Abramovich himself says that when he addresses Putin he uses the Russian language’s formal “Вы” (like Spanish “usted”, German “Sie” or French “vous”), as opposed to the informal “ты” (Spanish “tú”, German “du” or French “tu”). Abramovich says that the reason is because ‘he is more senior than me’. Within the Kremlin, Abramovich is referred to as “Mr A”
AMERICANS
- Abramovich’s wife, Dasha Zhukova, and Ivanka Trump are close friends, pictured together at multiple social events.
- Abramovich’s oil company Evraz, of which he owns 41%, has secured a deal via the Trump Administration to supply 24% of the steel needed to complete the Keystone XL pipeline.
RUSSIANS
- Abramovich currently owns $300m worth of shares in previously documented Russian oil company Rosneft.
- In 1997, Abramovich and Boris Berezovsky acquired previously documented Russian oil company Gazprom for $100m.
- Allegedly murdered oligarch Berezovsky later saw Abramovich in court, alleging that he was forced to sell his shares in Gazprom due to threats from Abramovich.
- The close personal relationship between Abramovich and Vladimir Putin is well documented, described as “special privileges and access” to the Russian President.
Don’t have time to read all this now. It is bookmarked for whenever I have time. Thanks for all the research, and for posting this, Mary. Though I didn’t have the fact like this post, something like this is exactly what I suspected–for I know the evil runs this world. Ephesians 6:12.