Thread by @MsMariaT

Remember when Trump shoved the Montenegrin PM, and Orban was giggling like a lil kid in the background? Manafort, was in talks w/Russia-backed opposition party in Montenegro, in Fall 2016. Think Trump didn’t know that? time.com/5490169/paul-m…

"According to three sources in this opposition movement, known in Montenegro as the Democratic Front, they were counting on help from an American lobbyist who had worked in their country before – and who happened to be fresh out of a job in Washington. His name was Paul Manafort"

"Having served for 3 months as Trump’s campaign, Manafort was forced to resign in mid-August after his links to RU interests in Ukraine became public. Still deep in debt, he reportedly went around pitching his services...from the Kurds in Iraq to the incoming pres of Ecuador."

"Manafort was also in contact w/politicians from his old stomping ground of Montenegro. Among them was Nebojsa Medojevic, one of the oppo leaders who were then campaigning to unseat the country’s pro-NATO leaders...met w/Medojevic to discuss a poss consulting deal...fall of 2016"

"Why would one of the world’s most prominent political advisers...consider working w/a group seen as pro-Russian upstarts in a Balkan nation of 600,000 people?

Sr Montenegrin official: “If Manafort got involved here in 2016, it would only be through the RUSSIANS...”

Victor Boyarkin, who treasury put at the top of the sanctions list 12/18. Deripaska's his boss, ties to Putin, arms dealer (see Africa), and he was on Manafort's ass to collect:

time.com/5490169/paul-m…

Re Montenego Independence: "Kremlin...was only too happy to have another potential ally in East Europe – one that was heavily dependent on RU investments. The arrangement suited Montenegro’s leaders just fine. “Better the RUs come here w/suitcases of $$$ than w/columns of tanks,”

"But [Montenegro's] relationship w/Deripaska quickly soured...the Russian billionaire sued Montenegro in 2014 for seizing the aluminum plant he controlled. The country then SPED UP IT'S PLANS TO JOIN NATO military alliance and integrate with the West."

"The Kremlin wasn’t pleased. FM Lavrov said 2014 it would be “irresponsible” and “even a provocation” for another Balkan state to become a NATO member...Russian agents soon began plotting to unseat leaders and install a gov't...friendly to Moscow. By coincidence..."

Trump....

"By coincidence, the dispute came to a head in the fall of 2016, at the same time as the U.S. presidential race.

About 3 weeks before the American elections, the people of Montenegro were due to hold a pivotal vote of their own...."

"Depending on the outcome, the gov' would either shepherd the country into the NATO alliance the following yr, or a new set of leaders would take power, most of whom wanted to change course and develop CLOSER TIES W RUSSIA."

Russians pay to install their puppets in America, too

Trump shoves Montenegrin PM as Viktor Orban giggles

"According to three sources in this oppo movement, known in Montenegro as the Democratic Front, they were counting on help from an American lobbyist who had worked in their country before – and who happened to be fresh out of a job in Washington. His name was Paul Manafort."

"In more than a doz interviews...officials and political leaders in Montenegro confirmed that DERIPASKA and ONE OTHER RUSSIAN OLIGARCH bankrolled the pro-RU opposition in 2016. Two of them said they heard Manafort’s name come up in strategy mtgs for that opposition movement."

"When asked about Manafort’s role, Medojevic, one of the leaders of this movement, confirmed that he had met with Manafort to discuss a potential partnership in the fall of 2016."

"For Medojevic and the rest of the opposition, the elections...did not go smoothly. The day before the vote, a group of men was arrested and charged w/plotting to overthrow the gov't of Montenegro, assassinate its leader and seize power by force – all w/abundant help from Moscow"

"Montenegrin authorities later charged two agents of Russia’s military intel svc w/masterminding the alleged coup. Several of the leaders of the opposition...including Medojevic, are currently on trial for charges that stem from the alleged COUP attempt."

Earlier, Manafort and Davis in Montenegro:

https://twitter.com/MsMariaT/status/958196170483908608

@Klickedy I GET IT NOW. Paata Burchuladze, Georgia....

https://twitter.com/MsMariaT/status/958195581205147648

@Klickedy "Georgian Operatic Bass Criticized for Performing in Russia"

Paata Burchuladze

georgiatoday.ge/news/13829/Geo…

@Klickedy Georgian Opera Star Paata Burchuladze Questioned In Embezzlement Probe

"Burchuladze's lawyer...told reporters 2/9/18 that his client had returned from RUSSIA several days ago and was ready to answer any questions from prosecutors." @Klickedy

rferl.org/a/georgia-oper…

Vanetik taking pro-Russia PM candidate Paata Burchuladze (9/16) around halls of Congress. Here with Sen Richard Burr (chairman of intel committee and sits on finance committee):

I diverted lol, back to Montenegro:

Manafort, Deripaska, & Montenegro.

Trump: "Montenegro is a tiny country w/very strong people. … By the way, they’re very strong people. They’re very aggressive people. They may get aggressive and congratulations, you’re in WWIII."

lol wut🙄

"The following yr, Montenegro’s parliament overwhelmingly ratified membership in NATO, as pro-RU demonstrators protested outside. Russia’s FM said lawmakers were “trampling all democratic norms and principles.”

LOL "protesters"

"Now, Montenegro is protected by Article 5 of the alliance, which calls for all members to support any state that comes under attack.

This summer, President Trump took issue with that protection."

Like the paid puppet that he is, yup.

Deripaska's collector that was on Manafort's butt:

"Treasury Department said [Victor] Boyarkin “reports directly to Deripaska and has led business negotiations on Deripaska’s behalf.”

"Those negotiations, involving MINING DEALS in AFRICA and factories in EUROPE, were of secondary concern to U.S. investigators when they contacted Boyarkin last yr...They wanted to know about his links to Manafort, and the “priv briefings” he had offered to Boyarkin & his boss.“

Link back to Time's work re Manafort, Boyarkin, & Deripaska, and their interference in Montenegro's politics, on behalf of Russia:

Exclusive: Russian ex-spy pressured Manafort over debts to an oligarch

bit.ly/2LGSqb1?utm_so…

time.com/5490169/paul-m…

They caught up with Victor Boyarkin in Greece at Rhodes Forum (10/5/18), for this article:

Rhodes Forum 2018 gallery

doc-research.org/2018/10/rhodes…
doc-research.org/2018/10/rhodes…

Viktor Boyarkin is the 2nd person on the Treasury's sanctions list (12/19/18):

treasury.gov/resource-cente…

The same day (12/19/18), Treasury sent the notice to Congress that they were going to remove the sanctions imposed in En+ and Rusal (Deripaska's companies)...

And yet, here is his collector/enforcer, Boyarkin, on the list...

treasury.gov/resource-cente…

treasury.gov/resource-cente…

EOT 🤓✌🏽

If you see anything interesting wDan/a Rohrabacher or Rand Paul and Montenegro, drop it here please and TY ✌🏽

That didn't take long 😁

(3/31/17) Sen. Rand Paul Op-Ed: "Montenegro Joining NATO Is Against U.S. Interests" #PutinPuppets

ti.me/2noHwtC?utm_so…

Check it: Manafort's client, in Montenegro: Nebojsa Medovic:

11/30/18: Montenegro detains opposition leader Nebojsa Medojevic outside parliament

dw.com/en/montenegro-…

Cue the "protestors" 🙄😒

(12/10/18) Yellow vest protests held in Montenegro

"Crowd in capital Podgorica holds protests against government over arrested lawmaker Medojevic"

Nebojsa Medojevic being Manafort's client in Montenegro

yenisafak.com/en/news/yellow…

aa.com.tr/en/europe/yell…

(3/17) Dr. Rand Paul Votes Against Further Expanding NATO (keep Montenegro out - Putin was so proud I bet when he watched this speech!)

paul.senate.gov/news/dr-rand-p…

(3/27/17) Sen. Rand Paul: "Will we add another commitment to defend yet another....blah blah blah....Montenegro via @YouTube

I'll let him tell it: 🙄🧐

'The senator from Kentucky is now working for Putin': John McCain slams Rand Paul for blocking Montenegro from joining NATO

businessinsider.com/john-mccain-sl… via @businessinsider

In his new memoir, the irascible @SenJohnMcCain says it "wasn't incorrect" to say that @RandPaul was "working for Vladimir Putin" by delaying Montenegro/NATO vote last year.

reason.com/blog/2018/05/1…