Topline
Russian businessman Andrey Muraviev has been charged with allegedly making illegal political contributions and conspiring to donate $1 million to influence U.S. elections in 2018, U.S. prosecutors said Monday.
The Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse, which houses the United States District Court for the … [+]
Key Facts
In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said Muraviev attempted to “corrupt” the U.S. political system and “advance his business interests” by donating to candidates, which is illegal for foreign nationals.
Muraviev allegedly conspired to contribute money to U.S. candidates alongside Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman—both ex-associates of President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Rudy Giuliani—as well as Andrey Kukushkin and others who were convicted or have pleaded guilty to similar crimes, according to the Department of Justice.
The DOJ accused Muraviev of plotting with the three to obscure the source of the donations, which allegedly went to politicians that would be “favorable” to his business interests.
Muraviev—who the DOJ believes is still in Russia—faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The indictment was issued in September 2020 but unsealed Monday.
Tangent
Muraviev owned a cement company in Russia before founding his own investment firm, Parus Capital, according to the New York Times. The U.S. government is trying to put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to pull back the invasion of Ukraine by targeting powerful and wealthy Russian nationals.
Key Background
The DOJ says Muraviev agreed to wire $1 million through multiple bank accounts to Fruman and Parnas, with the intention of funding political candidates that could help him, Kukushkin, Fruman and Parnas acquire cannabis licenses for a business the men began in 2018. The money wired by Muraviev allegedly went toward political donations in Florida, Nevada and Texas, and the DOJ says he agreed to use the funds to pay for donations for New York and New Jersey political candidates as well. The money was sent to a bank account controlled by Fruman’s brother before the donations were made in Fruman’s and Parnas’ names to avoid suspicion, according to a DOJ statement Monday. Parnas, Fruman and Kukushkin were all convicted of campaign finance violations last year. According to prosecutors, about $150,000 was actually donated to politicians in the United States.
Further Reading
Russian businessman funded ex-Giuliani associates’ account, court records show (Reuters)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2022/03/14/russian-oligarch-andrey-muraviev-indicted-for-illegal-us-political-donations/