2010
WikiLeaks cables link Russian mafia boss to EU gas supplies
This article is more than 8 years old
Semyon Mogilevich, one of FBI's most wanted people, identified as real power behind billionaire owner of Ukrainian-based RUE
His cable, released by WikiLeaks, followed statements by the then prime minister of Ukraine, Yulia Tymoshenko, to the BBC that she had "documented proof that some powerful criminal structures are behind the RosUkrEnergo (RUE) company". theguardian.com/world/2010/dec…
📌Allegations have long swirled that the Russian crime don Semyon Mogilevich had covert interests in Swiss-registered RUE, which distributes gas from central Asia.
In a secret memo the ambassador, William Taylor, wrote: "He [Firtash] acknowledged ties to Russian organised crime figure Semyon Mogilevich, stating he had needed Mogilevich's approval to get into business in the first place." theguardian.com/world/2010/dec…
The cable stated: "Firtash acknowledged that he needed, and received, permission from Mogilevich when he establishedvarious businesses, but he denied any close relationship to him." theguardian.com/world/2010/dec…
📌Other cables said the two men were closely linked through "joint holdings in offshore vehicles" and "mutual personal relationships". They also share the same lawyer. theguardian.com/world/2010/dec…
📌The US says Mogilevich is one of the world's top mafia bosses, accusing him of creating eastern Europe's most powerful crime group in the 1990s.
📌Mogilevich is on the list of the FBI's 10 most wanted fugitives for his alleged part in a multimillion-dollar fraud involving a Pennsylvania-based company in the 90s. theguardian.com/world/2010/dec…
📌The Russians arrested Mogilevich in 2008 over tax evasion at a cosmetics chain. But in 2009 he was mysteriously released. Russia's interior ministry described the charges against him as "not of a particularly grave nature". theguardian.com/world/2010/dec…
2003
📌Four indicted in stock scheme
The four men are Semion Mogilevich, Igor Fisherman, Jacob Bogatin & Anatoly Tsoura. Bogatin was arrested at his Richboro home, although the other three remain at large, believed to be residing in Russia bizjournals.com/philadelphia/s…
Finally, the F.B.I. agent spoke. No deal, he said; Mr. Mogilevich must surrender. Mr. BRUCE OHR said little, but his unwillingness to negotiate was signal enough: The Justice Department would not compromise with the Russian mafia.
On Feb. 3, long-time Trump associate Felix Sater filed a cross-complaint in a NY federal court. The complaint alleges that Russian and Kazakhstan-connected individuals and entities conducted “a shadow intelligence operation of Sater and Trump. 🙄😂🙄 thefederalist.com/2022/02/04/law…
Please join me on a photo tour of beautiful & tranquil Père-Lachaise cemetery?
A visit to the Père-Lachaise cemetery is always on my itinerary — it is always so relaxing exploring the paths, lanes & trails as you always see something new & different & leave feeling relaxed.
This 1995 infrared photo is my favorite and standard I seek to duplicate each time I visit Père-Lachaise cemetery. 🤷♀️
Infrared photography is #oldskoll, but today I played in PhotoShop to see if I could render my newer color images w/ similar effects achieved as infrared film.
Here is a color image & its twin “infrared” rendered version.
Woodward book: Worried Trump could 'go rogue,' Milley took top-secret action to protect nuclear weapons cnn.com/2021/09/14/pol…
Gen. Milley 'was certain that Trump had gone into a serious mental decline in the aftermath of the election, with Trump now all but manic, screaming at officials and constructing his own alternate reality about endless election conspiracies.'
Milley's fear was based on his own observations of Trump's erratic behavior. His concern was magnified by the events of January 6 and the 'extraordinary risk' the situation posed to US national security, the authors write.
High-profile supporters of Trump descended on Brazil to throw their weight behind president Jair Bolsonaro, as the populist gears up for a re-election campaign next year viewed as a key battle for the global anti-establishment [anti-democratic] right. ft.com/content/6e81d7…
Jason Miller: Former Trump spokesman questioned for three hours by police in Brazil
“This afternoon my travelling party was questioned for three hours at the airport in Brasilia, after having attended this weekend’s CPAC Brasil Conference.”
One of the star speakers [CPAC Brazil] was the former US president’s eldest son Don Jr, who gave a live video address because of cancelled flights due to hurricane disruption in New York. He said Brazil had “a big decision to make next year”.
Former top Republican congressman registers as lobbyist for Saudi Arabia
Ed Royce registers to work with Saudi foreign ministry to 'facilitate meetings with federal government officials,' Politico reports middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-ara…
Ed Royce was involved in Elliott Broidy’s Romanian Arms deal.
Ed Royce was also involved in Broidy & Nader’s disinfo op, for which they were both indicted by the Qataris, to smear Qatar as a terrorist-supporting state.
Ed Royce introduced legislation that would brand Qatar as a terrorist-supporting state. cbsnews.com/news/witness-i…