Carter Page's July Trip To Moscow (report 94 and report 134) |
Secrete Meeting With Sechin
[Report 94 Allegation 1]
Speaking in July, a Russian source close to Rosneft President, PUTIN close associate and US-sanctioned individual, Igor Sechin, confided the detail of a recent secret meeting between him and Carter Page.
Secrete Meeting With Sechin (confirm)
[Report 134 Allegation 1]
Speaking to a trusted compatriot in mid October, a close associate of Rosneft President and PUTIN ally Igor SECHIN elaborated on
on the reported secret meeting between the latter and Carter PAGE, of US Republican presidential candidate's foreign policy team, in Moscow in July. The secret meeting had been confirmed to him/her by a senior member of SECHIN's staff, in addition to by the Rosneft President himself. It took place on either 7 or 8 July, the same day or the one after Carter PAGE made a public speech to the Higher Economic School in Moscow.
Substance of The Meeting With Sechin
[Report 94 Allegation x]
According to Sechin's associate, The Rosneft President (CEO) had raised with PAGE the issues of future bilateral energy cooperation and prospects for an associated move to lift Ukraine-related western sanctions against Russia. PAGE had reacted positively to this demarche but had been generally non-committal in response.
Substance of The Meeting With Sechin (elaborated)
[Report 134 Allegation x]
In terms of the substance of their discussion, SECHIN's associate said that the Rosneft President was so keen to lift personal and corporate sanctions western imposed on the company, that he offered PAGE associates the brokerage of up to a 19 per cent (privatized) stake in Rosneft in return. PAGE had expressed interest and confirmed that were TRUMP elected US president, then sanctions on Russia would be lifted.
[Report 134 Allegation 5]
SECHIN's associate opined that although PAGE had not stated it explicitly to SECHIN, he had clearly implied that in terms of his comment on TRUMP's intention to lift Russian sanctions if elected president, he was speaking with the Republican candidate's authority. | Report 94 (7/19/16)
Allegations 1, x
Sources:
S(94).A
_____________
Report 134
(10/15/16)
Allegations 1
Sources:
S(134).A
S(134).A.Confidant
Allegations x
Sources:
S(134).A
S(134).A.Confidant
Allegations 5
Sources:
S(134).A
S(134).A.Confidant | Alleged Secrete Meeting With Sechin
[Report 94 Allegation 1 and Report 134 Allegation 1] partially proved and not disproved.
Carter Page did have a trip to Moscow in July of the Election year, according to Mueller Report - Link between Carter Page and Russia - which described the meeting in detail. Page went to the commencement ceremony at New Economic School (NES) in Moscow to give speech which he criticized the U.S. government's foreign policy toward Russia on 7/8/16.
Page and Dvorkovich (deputy prime minister) shook hands on the next day 7/8/16 who gave the speech that the sanctions the United States had imposed on Russia had hurt the NES. But no evidence indicated in the Mueller Report that Page met secretly with Sechin and Page himself also denied met with Sechin in his testimony to the House. and he was investigated by FBI [U.S. intel officials probe ties between Trump adviser and Kremlin, (9/23/16, yahoo news) which led to his termination]. But he acknowledged he met the Baranov (who is close to Setchin). He admitted that he met with friends and associates he knew from when he lived in Russia, including Andrey Baranov and individuals from Tatneft [a Russian vertically integrated oil and gas company, the sixth largest oil company in Russia.] Page believed he and Baranov discussed Rosneft president Igor Sechin also.
On 7/9/16, Page emailed several Campaign officials and stated he would send "a readout soon regarding some incredible insights and outreach I've received from a few Russian legislators and senior members of the Presidential Administration here. Mueller wrote: [after a paragraph of black out] The Office was unable to obtain additional evidence or testimony about who Page may have met or communicated with in Moscow; thus, Page's activities in Russia was not wholly explained.
In addition, according to Mueller report, Page had been approached [and appeared to be screened for recruitment] by Russia intelligence agents in x/.x/08 and x/x/13 - Alexander Bulatov, Victor Podobnyy who formed the relationship with Page, although Page later said that "I didn't do anything..." and stated [answer to the interview by the Office] he had only provided immaterial non-public information to them and that he did not view this relationship as a back channel.
Later on in the transition period during a business trip to Mowscow , 12/9/16 Page again was being reached out and targeted by Russia official - Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich -whom he shook hands with during the 7/8/16 NES event - in an attempt to have him facilitate connecting Dvorkovich with individuals involved in the transition and starting a dialogue between the United States and Russia. And Manafort was informed of this Meeting by Kilimnik (who FBI assessed as a Russia intelligence agent and who worked for and was close to Manafort). Kilimnik emailed to Manafort - "Carter Page is in Moscow today, sending messages he is authorized to talk to Russia on behalf of DT on a range of issues of mutual interest..."
Trump's Russia dossier corroborated: FBI used document to obtain wiretap on Carter Page
Substance of the Meeting With Sechin
[Report 94 Allegation x and Report 134 Allegation x]
[Report 94 Allegation x] not disproved.
Page had a background in working in the energy sector. In x/x/08 Page founded Global Energy Capital LLC (GEC), an investment and advisory firm focused on the energy sector in emerging markets. Page asked Yatsenko to work with him at GEC.
During his time with the Campaign, Page advocated pro-Russia foreign policy.
On his speech at NES event 7/7/16, Page criticized the U.S. government's foreign policy toward Russia.
on Carter Page's reaction /response
According to Yahoo, a US intelligence source told Yahoo's Michael Isikoff that Sechin met with Page during Page's three-day trip to Moscow. Sechin, the source told Yahoo, raised the issue of the US lifting sanctions on Russia under Trump. Page has criticized the US sanctions on Russia as " sanctimonious expressions of moral superiority. A US official serving in Russia while Page worked at Merrill Lynch in Moscow told Isikoff that Page "was pretty much a brazen apologist for anything Moscow did."
Regarding the source for Yahoo's Michael Isikoff :
[Report 134 Allegation x] was an elaboration of [Report 94 allegation x] with the added information on the 19% Rosneft stake deal for sanction lift - not disproved
on the 19% Rosneft stake deal for sanction lift
see this reference:Trump Russia Dossier Decoded: Yes, There Really Was A Massive Oil Deal Mueller reports wrote: Page believed he and Baranov discussed Rosneft president Igor Sechin, and he thought Baranov might have mentioned the possibility of a sale of a stake in Rosneft in passing.
One of the companies Rosneft sold to is the Qatar Investment Authority which via Qatar Airways had offices in Trump Towers for years
on Carter Page's reaction /response on the 'offer' |
Secrete Meeting With Divyekin And Substance
[Allegation 3]
Speaking separately, also in July, an official close to Presidential Administration Head, S. IVANOV, confided in a compatriot that a senior colleague in the Internal Political Department of the PA Igor DIVYEKIN also had met secretly with PAGE on his recent visit. Their agenda had included DIVEYKIN raising a dossier of 'kompromat' the Kremlin possessed on Democratic presidential rival, Hillary CLINTON, and its possible release to the Republican's campaign team.
[Allegation 4 Source(94).B] However, the Kremlin official close to S. IVANOV added that s/he believed DIVEYKIN also had hinted (or indicated more strongly) that the Russian leadership also had 'kompromat' on TRUMP which the latter should bear in mind in his dealings with them. | Report 94 (7/19/16)
Allegations 3, 4
Sources:
S(94).B,
S(94).B.Confidant | The Alleged Secrete Meeting With Divyekin
[Allegation 3 and 4] not disproved. There was no mention in the Mueller Report that Page met with Igor DIVYEKIN. Page himself also denied met with DIVYEKIN who is a former Russian security official and now serves as Deputy Chief for Internal Policy.
On the alleged Clinton Dossier: see Report 80 (6/20/16) allegation 5 and 6 in Table on Interference
On Trump Kompromat and whether it was deployed or not: see Report 97 (7/30/16) Allegation 4 in Table on Kompromat |
The Alleged Conspiracy Behind The Hacking And Dumping Operation
(Report 95)
This was managed on the TRUMP side by campaign manager Paul MANAFORT (broader not limited to Paul Manafort alone)
|
[Report 95 Allegation 1]
Speaking in confidence to a compatriot in July, Source E, an ethnic Russian close associate of Donald Trump, admitted that there was a well-developed conspiracy of co-operation between them [Trump] and the Russian leadership. This was managed on the TRUMP side by campaign manager Paul MANAFORT, who was using foreign policy advisor, Carter PAGE, and others as intermediaries. Both sides had a mutual interest in defeating Hillary CLINTON whom President PUTIN apparently both hated and feared..
[Report 95 Allegation x(B)] Source E acknowledged that {preceded by allegation x(A) which states "the Russian regime had been behind the recent leak of embarrassing e-mail messages, emanating from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to the WikiLeaks platform. The reason for using WikiLeaks was "plausible deniability" and"} the operation had been conducted with the full knowledge and support of TRUMP and senior members of his campaign team. In return the TRUMP team had agreed to sideline Russian intervention in Ukraine as a campaign issue and to raise defense commitments in the Baltics and Eastern Europe to deflect attention away from Ukraine, a priority for PUTIN who needed to cauterize the subject. | Report 95 (date not provided 7/x/16)
Allegations 1,
sources: E, E.Confidant
Allegation x(B)
sources: E, E.Confidant | [Allegation 1]: not disproved.
On Manfort 's Loose collusion and the alleged role in Conspiracy
Paul Manafort had deep dies to Russia and Ukraine. His link to the Russia/Ukraine Oligarch through Kilimnik was described in detail in the Mueller Report. FBI appeared to have very solid evidence that Kilimnik was Russia intelligence agent, although Manafort deied that he knew that. Manafort had been sending Campaign internal polling data to Russia. He offered briefings on the progress of the Campaign to Oleg Deripaska. If Manafort had conspired with Russia in the standard of criminal definition of conspiracy - that might be passive because Manafort appeared to be compromised that he had debt and lawsuit with Deripaska and it seems his intentions to join Trump Campaign is to monetize his relationship with the Administration.
The problem was on Trump's written answer when he was asked whether Trump knew Paul Manafort offered briefings on the progress of the Campaign to Oleg Deripaska"]: "l had no knowledge of Mr. Manafort offering briefings on the progress of my campaign to an individual named Oleg Deripaska"; and whether Trump knew if Paul Manafort/Trump Campaign sent internal Trump campaign information to any person linked to Ukraine or Russia]: "I do not remember being aware of Mr. Manafort or anyone else associated with my campaign sending or directing others to send internal Trump Campaign information to anyone I knew to be in Ukraine or Russia" whether Paul Manafort communicate with Trump regarding the stance Ukraine or Russia would want the U.S. to support]: "I do not remember Mr. Manafort communicating to me any particular positions Ukraine or Russia would want the United States to support."
On Manafort using Page and other as intermediary
Paul Manafort and Cater Page relation was not clear. Paul Manafort had worked closely with Rick Gates. But Paul Manafort appears to know Cater Page's trip to Moscow during transition period and his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich. Manafort was informed by Klimnik's email that saying 'today Page was in Moscow, he is authorized to talk to Russia on behalf of DT on a range of issues of mutual interest, including Ukraine"
[Allegation x(B)]
On WikiLeaks and Knowledge of the Dissemination of the Hacked material
See this post regarding Trump Campaign and Dissemination of the Hacked Material- Russia began to use WikiLeaks to release the hacked material in order to expand its interference in the Election. It appears to be supported and known by Roger Stone in the dissemination stage. Although Mueller did not have sufficient evidence to establish the Criminal Conspiracy', he analyzed and applied the Campaign Finance Statute on the case. [author of this blog attributed this to the Loose Collusion] and Again the problem was with Trump's written answer: "I do not recall being provided any information during the campaign about the hacking of any of the named entities or individuals before it became the subject of media reporting."........
On The Alleged Exchange (sanction and other)
Deemed to be true, Trump did sidelined Russian intervention in Ukraine by the attempts to lift or delay sanction and see the section of this post on -Trump Policy Orientations Implicate Collusional Exchange Against National Interests |
Paul Manafort (specific - report 105 and report 95) |
Revelations About The Black Ledger And YANUKOVYCH's Reassurance (Report 105)
[Report 105 Allegation 1]
Speaking in late August,in the immediate aftermath of Paul MANAFORT's resignation as campaign manager for TRUMP [8/19/16], a well-placed Russian figure reported on a recent secret meeting between PUTIN and ex-President YANUKOVYCH of Ukraine on 8/15/16 near Volgograd, Russia and the western media revelations about MANAFORT and Ukraine had featured prominently on the agenda. YANUKOVYCH had confided in PUTIN that he did authorize and order substantial kick-back payments to MANAFORT as alleged but sought to reassure him that there was no documentary trail left behind.
[Report 105 Allegation x][continue with Allegation 1]: Given YANUKOVYCH's (unimpressive) record in covering up his own corrupt tracks in the past, PUTIN were sceptical about the ex-Ukrainian president's reassurances on this as relating to MANAFORT. They therefore still feared the scandal had legs, especially as MANAFORT had been commercially active in Ukraine right up to the time in March when he joined campaign team. For them it therefore remained a point of potential political vulnerability and embarrassment. | Report 105
(8/22/16)
Allegation 1, x
Source:
S(105).A | [Allegation 1 and x]: not disproved. The New York Times in 8/15/16 revealed that the FBI and Ukrainian investigators were looking into a recently unearthed 'Black Ledger' detailing alleged off-the-books payments to Manafort by Yanukovych’s party totaling $12.7 million. in the secret 'Black Ledger' of payments by the Ukrainian pro-Russian government, Manafort’s name is associated with 22 transactions over five years 11/20/07 - , for an estimated $12.7 million. Manafort was forced to resign from the campaign less than a week after the story. [see these reference]. Manafort admits he received payments.
8/15/16 secret meeting between Putin and YANUKOVYCH': was not disproved. and whether Putin was skeptical about YANUKOVYCH's assurance on cover up is not known. But YANUKOVYCH's corruption was exposed by Anti-Corruption Bureau confirmed The bribes disbursed by Mr Yanukovych ranged from individual payments of millions of dollars to a wristwatch worth $67,000...
According to Mueller report Manafort had initially denied [Manafort had denied meeting with Kilimnik before being confronted with documentary evidence] Manafort said that Kilimnik had updated him on a criminal investigation into so-called "black ledger" payments to Manafort that was being conducted b Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau. [Black Out] |
The Reasons behind MANAFORT's Recent Demise
[Report 105 Allegation 3]
Speaking separately, also in late August, an American political figure associated with Donald Trump and his campaign outlined the reasons behind MANAFORT's recent demise. - the Ukraine corruption revelations had played a part; several senior players close to TRUMP had wanted MANAFORT out, primarily to loosen his control on strategy and policy formulation. Of particular importance in this regard was MANAFORT's predecessor Corey LEWANDOWSKI who hated MANAFORT personally and remained close to TRUMP with whom he discussed the presidential campaign on a regular basis. | Report 105
(8/22/16)
Allegation 3
Source:
S(105).B | [Allegation 3]: proved. one direct reason for Manafort's resignation is The Black Ledger illegal payment by the media revelation and Ukraine anti-corruption Bureau.
The other reason was Trump put in place a new leadership structure that appeared to minimize Manafort’s role shortly before Manafort was removed.
According to Politico.com, "In recent days, Manafort had lost the confidence of Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and one of his closest advisers, and other members of Trump’s family, according to a source close to the campaign" |
The Flow of Intelligence From Trump Campaign To Russia
(Report 95 Allegation 4 and Report 97 Allegation 3)
|
[Report 95 Allegation 4]
In terms of the intelligence flow from the TRUMP team to Russia, Source E reported that much of this concerned the activities of business oligarchs and their families' activities and assets in the US, with which PUTIN and the Kremlin seemed preoccupied.
[Report 97 Allegation 3] However, in terms of established operational liaison between the Trump team and the Kremlin, the 'emigre' confirmed that an intelligence exchange had been running between them for at least 8 years. Within this context PUTIN's priority requirement had been for intelligence on the activities, business and otherwise, in the US of leading Russian oligarchs and their families. TRUMP and his associates duly had obtained and supplied the Kremlin with this information. | Report 95 (date not provided 7/x/16)
Allegations 4
Sources: E,
E.Confidant
_______
Report 97
(7/30/16)
Allegation 3,
sources:
S(97).A
S(97).A.Confidant | Report 95 Allegation 4] and [Report 97 Allegation 3] not disproved.
It was implicated that Trump/Trump Associates might be able to send flows of information on activities of business oligarchs and their families' activities and assets in the US to Russia through its real estate business with those Russian oligarchy who was complained to be hiding their wealth from the Russia government.
Russian elite had invested nearly $100 million in Trump buildings. At least 63 individuals with Russian passports or addresses have bought at least $98.4 million worth of property in seven Trump-branded luxury towers in southern Florida. The tally of investors from Russia may be conservative. The analysis found that one-third of investors in his seven building were LLCs, which have the ability to hide the identity of a property’s true owner.
Trump's business dealing with Russia can be traced decade ago.
A history of Donald Trump’s business dealings in Russia
Donald Trump's ties to Russia go back 30 years |
Outreach: Engage and/or Support (Report 101 Allegation 4) |
[Report 101 Allegation 4]
Speaking separately, also in early August, a Kremlin official involved in US relations commented on aspects of the Russian operation to date. Its goals had been threefold- asking sympathetic US actors how Moscow could help them; gathering relevant intelligence; and creating and disseminating compromising information ('kompromat').
This had involved Kremlin engaging with and supporting several high profile US political figures, including funding indirectly their recent visits to Moscow. S/he named a delegation from Lyndon LAROUCHE; presidential candidate Jill STEIN of the Green Party; TRUMP foreign policy adviser... Carter Page and former DIA Director Michael FLYNN, in this regard and as successful in terms of perceived outcomes. | Report 101 (8/10/16)
Allegation 4
Sources:
S(101).B | [Report 101 Allegation 4] proved
see Links Between Russia And Trump Campaigns (Mueller Report) relevant sections regarding:
___ Carter Page (campaign period) and Carter Page (transition period)
___ Michael Flynn
___ George Papadopoulos
___ Paul Manafort
___ Other engaged or supported individuals (external to Mueller Report
Jill Stein: proved Jill Stein has made several comments favorable to Russian interests and "traveled to Moscow, Russia, in December 2015 to participate in a panel organized by RT, a television network funded by the Russian government... Stein also attended a dinner with Russian President Vladimir Putin." [from reference: annotated dossier]
Lyndon Larouche: not disproved
Here’s an Insane Story About Roger Stone, Lyndon LaRouche, Vladimir Putin - The international cult leader has long-standing ties to Russia
On 'funding their recent visits to Moscow;'
Kremlin funded trips for Michael Flynn, Dr. Jill Stein & Carter Page according to this reference:
- General Flynn was paid by Russia Today, the propaganda network-he confirms and defends the payment in this video:
- Gen Flynn gave Putin standing ovation-Flynn was paid by Putin to be there in this video
- Michael Flynn, Dr. Jill Stein & Putin at an event in Moscow that they were paid by Russia Today Network to be at (photos in the reference
|
Sechin's Prospects and His Alleged New Feelers
[Report 134 Allegation 3] According to SECHIN's close associate, the Rosneft President had continued to believe that Trump could win the us presidency right up to I7 October, when he assessed this was no longer possible. SECHIN was keen to re-adapt accordingly and put feelers out to other business and political contacts in the US instead.
| Report 134
(10/15/16)
Allegations 3
Source:
S(134).A
S(134).A.Confidant
| [Report 134 Allegation 3] not disproved
Sechin's prospects on Trump for Election was not known. Whether he put feelers out to other contacts was not clear. |
Contacts Through Alfa Group (report 11_) |
[Author's notes: Allegations in Report 11_ mentions no name of Trump Campaign; it only stated the relations between Putin and Alpha-group; but there was media reports that indicated - unusual computer server contact was observed between Alfa Bank and Trump's organization, therefore this report was listed here for the alleged link between Trump Campaign and Alpha group due to its oligarchy status and relation with Putin
The history and current state of relations between President PUTIN and the Alpha Group
[Allegation 1]
Speaking to a trusted compatriot in mid-September, a top level Russian government official commented on the history and current state of relations between President PUTIN and the Alpha Group; led by oligarchs Mikhail FRIDMAN, Petr AVEN and German KHAN - were on very good terms with PUTIN. Significant favors continued to be done in both directions, FRIDMAN and AVEN continued to give informal advice to PUTIN on foreign policy, and especially about the US where he distrusted advice being given to him by officials.
[Allegation x]
Although FRIDMAN recently had met directly with PUTIN in Russia,
much of the dialogue and business between them was mediated through a senior Presidential Administration Official, Oleg GOVORUN, who currently headed the department therein responsible for Social Co-operation with the CIS. GOVORUN was trusted by PUTIN and recently had accompanied him to Uzbekistan to pay respects at the tomb of former president KARIMOV. However according to the top level Russian government official, during the 1990s GOVORUN had been Head Of Government Relations at Alpha Group and in reality, the "driver" and "bag carrier" used by FRIDMAN and AVEN to deliver large amounts of illicit cash to the Russian president, at that time deputy Mayor of St Petersburg. Given that and the continuing sensitivity of the relationship, and need for plausible deniability, much of the contact between them was now indirect and entrusted to the relatively low profile GOVORUN.
[Allegation 3]
The top level Russian government official described the PUTlN-Alpha relationship as both carrot and stick. Alpha held 'kompromat' on PUTIN and his corrupt business activities from the 1990s whilst although not personally overly bothered by Alpha's failure to reinvest the proceeds of its TNK oil company sale into the Russian economy Since, the president was able to use pressure on this count from senior Kremlin colleagues as a lever on FRIDMAN and AVEN to make them do his political bidding. | Report 11_ (9/13/16)
Allegation 1-3
sources:
S(11_).A
S(11_).A.Confidant | [Allegation 1] proved. Alfa Group is one of Russia's largest privately owned investment groups, comprising of a portfolio of companies. The group was founded in 1989 as Alfa-Eco by Israeli-Russian businessman Mikhail Fridman, the second wealthiest man in Russia, in partnership with several other partners. Petr Olegovich Aven is an International businessman, economist and politician who heads Alfa-Bank, Russia's largest commercial bank.
On The Relation with Putin: this reference contain a section which suggests Alpha Group/Bank is VERY close with Putin-just as described in dossier. It states: "some parts of the dossier’s characterization of relations between Putin and Alfa Group appears to be on the mark, or close to it. Alfa Bank was rather fancifully linked with Trump by Democrat-leaning publications. The dossier paints a picture of a long-standing symbiotic relationship between Alfa Group and the Russian leader. Alfa owners Mikhail Fridman and Pyotr Aven have provided Putin with valuable information through their own network of business contacts in the U.S., valued particularly because of the conflicting signals Putin was getting from his diplomats and spies regarding the success of the alleged operation.
Alfa/Alpha Group Consortium – Background
The Unusual Computer Server: not disproved. there were several theories being proposed after the computer server was analyzed by groups of computer scientists, some of them were innocuous, but suspicions was indicated by some analyst, particularly the fact that the server was immediately shut off after the issue being inquired by the media. see these references:
About Petr Aven: although Mueller report mentioned no name of Petr Aven in Links between Trump Campaign and Russia in the Campaign Period, but in the Transition Period, Aven was the one of the main figures in Mueller report who was identified as the alternative channel (to the government) - the oligarchy Russia business - who were trying to reach out the Trump Transition team. (go to this post and this subsection was all about Aven's outreach to Transition team). Aven regularly (on a quarterly basis) meet with Putin in the Kremlin; and Aven said that he took these meetings seriously and understood that any suggestions or critiques that Putin made during these meetings were implicit directives, and that there would be consequences if he did not follow through. On his last quarter meeting with Putin of the Election year, Putin raised the prospect that the United States would impose additional sanctions on Russian interests, including sanctions against Aven and/or Alfa-Bank. Putin spoke of the difficulty faced by the Russian government in getting in touch with the incoming Trump Administration. Aven told Putin he would take steps to protect Alfa-Bank from potential sanctions, and one of those steps would be to try to reach out to the incoming Administration. In December of the election, Aven tried to reach out the Transition team via Richard Burt who approached Dimitri Simes for help facilitating Aven's request. At the time, Simes was lobbying the Trump Transition Team to appoint Burt U.S. ambassador to Russia. Later Burt contacted Simes and asked if he could arrange a meeting with Kushner to discuss setting up a high-level communications channel between Putin and the incoming Administration.
[Allegation x] not disproved. Oleg Markovich Govorun is a Russian politician and the Minister of Regional Development.
Putin went to Uzbekistan in the same timeframe as described in the dossier: Russia's Putin offers support to new Uzbekistan leadership[Allegation 3] not disproved
Alfa Group ran TNK Oil sale as described in dossier & sold it to Rosneft-the Russian oil company (see this reference)
Alfa/Alpha Group Consortium – Background |
The Alleged 'Michael Cohen' s Meeting Aug/Sep in Prague with Russia (set aside as explained in the comment) |
Allegations Involving Michael Cohen (135, 136, 166)
The Alleged Role of Cohen
[Report 134 Allegation 4]
Speaking separately to the same compatriot in mid-October, a Kremlin insider with direct access to the leadership confirmed that a role in the secret Trump campaign/Kremlin relationship was being played by the Republican candidate's personal lawyer Michael COHEN. [Redacted]
[Report 135 Allegation 1]
Speaking in confidence to a longstanding compatriot friend in mid-October, a Kremlin insider highlighted the importance of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's lawyer, Michael COHEN, in the ongoing secret liaison relationship between the New York tycoon's campaign and the Russian leadership. COHEN's role had grown following the departure of Paul MANNAFORT as campaign manager in August. Prior to that MANNAFORT had led for the TRUMP side.
[Report 166 Allegation 1]
We reported previously (in Report 135 and 136) on secret meeting/s held in Prague, Czech Republic in August 2016 between then Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's representative, Michael COHEN and his interlocutors from the Kremlin working under cover of Russian 'NGO' Rossotrudnichestvo.
Plausible Deniability
[Report 136 Allegation x]
Continuing on this theme, the Kremlin insider highlighted the importance of the Russian parastatal organisation, Rossotrudnichestvo, in this contact between TRUMP campaign representative/s and Kremlin officials. Rossotrudnichestvo was being used as cover for this relationship and its office in Prague may well have been used to host the COHEN/Russian Presidential Administration (PA) meeting/s. It was considered a "plausibly deniable" vehicle for this, whilst remaining entirely under Kremlin control.
[Report 135 Allegation 3]
Things had become even "hotter" since August on the track. According to the Kremlin insider, this had meant that direct contact between the TRUMP team and Russia had been farmed out by the Kremlin to trusted agents of influence working in pro-government policy institutes like that of Law and Comparative Jurisprudence. COHEN however continued to lead for the TRUMP team.
[the summary portion of the report: These secret contacts continue but are now farmed out to trusted agents of influence working in pro-government policy institutes like that of Law and Comparative Jurisprudence.so as to remain "plausibly deniable" for Russian regime]
[the comment portion of the report: The Kremlin insider was unsure of the identities of the PA officials with whom COHEN met secretly in August, or the exact date/s and locations of the meeting/s. There were significant internal security barriers being erected in the PA as the TRUMP issue became more controversial and damaging. However s/he continued to try to obtain these.]
[Report 136 Allegation 3]
The Kremlin insider went on to identify leading pro-PUTIN Duma figure, Konstantin KOSACHEV (Head of the Foreign Relations Committee) as an important figure in the TRUMP campaign-Kremlin liaison operation. KOSACHEV, also "plausibly deniable" being part of the Russian legislature rather than executive, had facilitated the contact in Prague and by implication, may have attended the meeting/s with COHEN there in August.
Agenda: Cover Up (Manafort and Cater Page) and Damage Limitation Operation
[Report 135 Allegation x]
According to the Kremlin insider, COHEN now was heavily engaged in a cover up and damage limitation operation in the attempt to prevent the full details of relationship with Russia being exposed. In pursuit of this aim, COHEN had met secretly with several Russian Presidential Administration (PA) Legal Department officials in an EU country in August. The immediate issues had been to contain further scandals involving MANNAFORT's commercial and political role in Russia/Ukraine and to limit the damage arising from exposure of former TRUMP foreign policy advisor, Carter PAGE's secret meetings with Russian leadership figures in Moscow the previous month. The......overall objective had been to "to sweep it all under the carpet and make sure no connections could be fully established or proven"
[Report 136 Allegation 1]
[similar to Report 135 Allegation x with the additional information on the location of the meeting - Prague.]
Speaking to a compatriot and friend on 10/19//16, a Kremlin insider provided further details of reported clandestine meeting/s between Republican presidential candidate, Donald TRUMP's lawyer Michael COHEN and Kremlin representatives in August 2016. Although the communication between them had to be cryptic for security reasons, the Kremlin insider clearly indicated to his/her friend that the reported contact/s took place in Prague, Czech Republic.
[the comment portion of the report 136: We reported previously, in our Company Intelligence Report 135 of 10/19/16 from the same source, that COHEN met officials from the PA Legal Department clandestinely in an EU country in August 2016. This was in order to clean up the mess left behind by western media revelations of TRUMP ex-campaign manager MANAFORT's corrupt relationship with the former pro-Russian YANUKOVYCH regime in Ukraine and TRUMP foreign policy advisor, Carter PAGE's secret meetings in Moscow with senior regime figures in July 2016. According to the Kremlin advisor, these meeting/s were originally scheduled for COHEN in Moscow but shifted to......what was considered an operationally "soft" EU country when it was judged too compromising for him to travel to the Russian capital.]
[report 166 Allegation 3]
see content next
Agenda: Operative in Eastern Europe and Deniable Payments
[report 166 Allegation x]
[Redacted] provided further details of these meeting/s and associated anti-CLINTON /Democratic Party operations. COHEN had been accompanied to Prague by 3 colleagues and the timing of the visit was either in the last week of August or the first week of September. One of their main Russian interlocutors was Oleg SOLODUKHIN operating under Rossotrudnichestvo cover. According to [redacted], the agenda comprised questions on how deniable cash payments were to be made to hackers who had worked in Europe under Kremlin direction against the CLINTON campaign and various contingencies for covering up these operations and Moscow's secret liaison with the TRUMP team more generally.
[Report 166 Allegation 3]
[Redacted] reported that over the period March-September 2016 a company called [redacted] and its affiliates had been using botnets and porn traffic to transmit viruses, plant bugs, steal data and conduct "altering operations" against the Democratic Party leadership. Entities linked to one [redacted] were involved and he and another hacking expert, both recruited under duress by the FSB, [redacted] were significant players in this operation. In Prague, COHEN agreed contingency plans for various scenarios to protect the operation, but in particular what was to be done in the event that Hillary CLINTON won the presidency. It was important in this event that all cash payments owed were made quickly and discreetly and that cyber and other operators were stood down/able to go effectively to ground to cover their traces. (We reported earlier that the involvement of political operatives Paul MANAFORT and Carter PAGE in the secret TRUMP/Kremlin liaison had been exposed in the media in the run-up to Prague and that damage limitation of these also was discussed by COHEN with the Kremlin representatives).
[Report 166 Allegation 4]
In terms of practical measures to be taken, it was agreed by the sides in Prague to stand down various "Romanian hackers" (presumably based in their homeland or neighboring eastern Europe) and that other operatives should head for a bolt-hole in Plovdiv, Bulgaria where they should "lay low". On payments, IVANOV's associate said that the operatives involved had been paid by both TRUMP's team and the Kremlin, though their orders and ultimate loyalty lay with IVANOV, as Head of the PA and thus ultimately responsible for the operation, and his designated successor/s after he was dismissed by president PUTIN in connection with the anti-CLINTON operation in mid August.
Agenda: Action In the Event of Clinton Victory
[report 166 Allegation 3]
see content above | Report 134 (10/18/16)
Allegation 4
Source:
S(135).A
S(134).A.Confidant
_____________
Report 135 (10/19/16)
Allegations 1-3
Source:
S(135).A
S(135).A.Confidant
______________
Report 136 (10/20/16)
Allegations 1-3
Source:
S(135).A
S(135).A.Confidant
______________
Report 166
(12/13/16)
Allegations 1
source: reiteration
S(135).A
S(135).A.Confidant
Allegations x
Source:
S(166).A
Allegation 3
source:
S(166).A
Allegation 4
source:
IVANOV's associate (no designation assigned, could be same as S(166).A which was redacted).
| On the Very Existence of the alleged Prague Meeting
On The Identity Who was in the alleged Prague Meeting (Trump Side)
[author Hong Gan's comment]: saying to use Cohen for the cover up and damage limitation operation in the attempt to prevent the full details of relationship with Russia being exposed does not made very much sense. By exposing the secret relationship to Trump's lawyer was not predicted to be effective for the Cover Up. In addition, see this media report Explosive memos claim Trump's lawyer met with Kremlin officials — but he may have been mistaken for a person with the same name;
Although there was media report McClatchy’s Peter Stone and Greg Gordon
regarding special counsel's having evidence on whether Cohen had traveled to Prague or not in August (4/13/18), but in Mueller Report, there were no mention of anything about Cohen except his involvement in the Trump Tower Moscow Project. Mueller's evidence was the detection outside Prague of Cohen's cell phone signal in the timeframe of the alleged meeting. But later findings confirmed that the cell phone was a Cohen-supplied or registered burner phone which many criminals could use to eliminate the trace of the activities. In the April (4/x/18) FBI Raid in Cohen's office, there were a dozen of burner cell phone found in Cohen's drawer [why Cohen did not throw away these burner phones instead kept them in his drawer, here was an explanation]. The burner cell phone could be the cell phone Trump Campaign had shared with.
Further media reporting revealed the fact that Donald Trump Jr's mother was born in then-Czechoslovakia and went to college in Prague. He speaks fluent Czech language Since he was a little kid, he routinely travelled to his maternal grandfather's house outside the Prague during summer time. (see this video at a forum site post titled as Who exactly was in Prague? by Dworkin: 'Here’s video I found of Donald Trump, Jr. speaking fluent Czech & saying he speaks it fluently. He then explains how he & his family went to Czech Rep every summer for months every year growing up. With all this Prague talk, this video is interesting
These media reports (see list next to this paragraph) also analyzed the tweet Michael Cohen voiced regarding his denial -'I have never been to Prague':
I hear is beautiful in the summertime. I wouldn’t know as I have never been. knows everything!”
Reference list:
Don Jr. May Have Gone to Prague, Not Michael Cohen (politicususa.com)
Donald Trump Jr, Michael Cohen, and Prague
Michael Cohen Report Is Based On Third-Hand Information … (daily kos)
[also comment by Steele himself] "The Kremlin insider was unsure of the identities of the PA officials with whom COHEN met secretly in August, or the exact date/s and locations of the meeting/s. There were significant internal security barriers being erected in the PA as the TRUMP issue became more controversial and damaging. However s/he (refer to the source Kremlin insider] continued to try to obtain these"
this reference discussedWhy the question of whether Michael Cohen visited Prague is massively important for Donald Trump
On the alleged 'Growing Role' of Cohen
Plausible Deniability: NGORossotrudnichestvo as the Cover [Report 136 Allegation x]
Rossotrudnichestvo is an autonomous Russian federal government agency under the jurisdiction of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is a Russian government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. Rossotrudnichestvo operates in Central Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe (but mostly in Commonwealth of Independent States). Oleg Solodukhin does indeed run the NGO out of Prague, Czech Rep.
"Western intelligence has also obtained reports that a Trump associate met with a pro-Putin member of Russian parliament at a building in Eastern Europe maintained by Rossotrudnichestvo, an agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that is charged with administering language, education and support programs for civilians."
Plausible Deniability: Konstantin Kosachev
is Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council. He was appointed head of Rossotrudnichestvo in 2012. According to a former Pentagon official, “While not a member of Putin’s innermost circle, [Kosachev] is one of the most influential Russian voices on foreign affairs. When Kosachev speaks, everyone knows he’s speaking for the Kremlin.”. These references implicates Kosachev 's opinion on Mueller's findings.
Russia's REACTION on Mueller report (The Guardians) included Kosachev's opinion and statements on the Mueller Findings.
Plausible Deniability: Farm Out
[Report 135 Allegation 3]
not disproved.
"The Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the Russian Federation is a research organisation incorporated as a federal state research institution." The author of the Annotated Dossier implicate the institute could be the alfa group. that I (Hong Gan, the author of this blog) believe it was due to the story of the unusual computer sever.
Agenda: Cover Up (Manafort And Cater Page) and Damage Limitation Operation
Agenda: Operative/Hackers in Eastern European Countries and Deniable Payments
[Report 166 Allegation 3, 4]
___ Romanian operative:
Romanian hackers took over D.C. surveillance cameras just
Romania: Haven for hackers turned cyber sleuths - USA TODAY
Romanian hackers charged with disabling DC police cameras
Romanian hackers infiltrated 65% of DC outdoor
Marcel Lazăr Lehel, known as Guccifer, is a Romanian hacker responsible for high-level computer security breaches in the U.S. and Romania. Lehel targeted celebrities, Romanian and U.S. government officials, and other prominent persons. Lehel first appeared in news media in February 2013 after the website The Smoking Gun reported he was responsible for hacking the AOL account of Dorothy Bush Koch, sister of former president George W. Bush. Family photos of former president George H. W. Bush, who Marcel Lazăr Lehel, known as Guccifer, is a Romanian hacker responsible for high-level computer security breaches in the U.S. and Romania. Lehel targeted celebrities, Romanian and U.S. government officials, and other prominent persons. Lehel first appeared in news media in February 2013 after the website The Smoking Gun reported he was responsible for hacking the AOL account of Dorothy Bush Koch, sister of former president George W. Bush. Family photos of former president George H. W. Bush, who according to this media report Mueller's indictment to GRU appear to indicate the hacker invented the fictitious Romanian hacker to cover GRU's track.
___Bulgaria bolt hole
Agenda: Action In the Event of Clinton Victory |