🇨🇾 NEW: Vladimir Putin scored a PR coup in 2016 when Cyprus’s parliament called for removing EU sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Crimea.
Now, we reveal a Kremlin-linked group helped plan the resolution in an EU-wide campaign.
#KremlinConnection
occrp.org/en/investigati…
Now, we reveal a Kremlin-linked group helped plan the resolution in an EU-wide campaign.
#KremlinConnection
occrp.org/en/investigati…
🇷🇺 Run by Russian parliamentary staffer Sargis Mirzakhanian, the International Agency for Current Policy arranged payments across Europe in order to push pro-Russian motions.
What happened in Cyprus is a striking example of its success.
What happened in Cyprus is a striking example of its success.
In April 2016, Mirzakhanian emailed a draft resolution against the EU sanctions - and a plan to get it passed in Cyprus.
By June, he received another draft back, signed by the opposition AKEL party with only minor changes.
In July, the motion passed. (Docs available in story).
By June, he received another draft back, signed by the opposition AKEL party with only minor changes.
In July, the motion passed. (Docs available in story).
Russian-Cypriot Dmitry Kozlov played a key role, reaching out to AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou after discussing the motion with a Mirzakhanian associate.
Kyprianou visited Moscow later that year and in 2017 attended a conference promoting investment in Crimea.
Kyprianou visited Moscow later that year and in 2017 attended a conference promoting investment in Crimea.
Kozlov also appears to have helped set up a “Russian party” in Cyprus - blessed by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.
The party no longer exists - but its Facebook page frequently shares posts promoting presidential candidate Nikos Christoudoulides ahead of Sunday’s vote.
The party no longer exists - but its Facebook page frequently shares posts promoting presidential candidate Nikos Christoudoulides ahead of Sunday’s vote.
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