The Russian Weed Connection – Russian oligarch Andrey Muraviev invested in cannabis and US politicians

On Monday, March 14, Russian oligarch Andrey Muraviev was charged by federal prosecutors with funding a $1 million hush-money campaign that unlawfully funneled donations to US politicians to help them obtain a cannabis retail license .

A whirlwind of schemes spreading through various states points to a conspiracy to influence elections and illegally acquire cannabis licenses in other areas and in Nevada.

According to an indictment released to the public a few days ago by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, it was alleged that a Russian oligarch conspired with American officials to obtain a cannabis license through illegal channels in Nevada . Federal prosecutors said the activities amounted to donations to political campaigns that were not legal.

Not Andrew’s first problem with the law

In 2018, Andrew Muraviev, who happens to be a Russian oligarch, was charged with violating federal campaign finance laws. He was accused of illegally funneling donations to former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt in exchange for an adult cannabis business license in Nevada. Laxalt had previously been suspected and accused of bribery.

The information comes at a time when organizations and various companies are trying to cut ties with Russian oligarchs, albeit for a different reason, as the conflict with Ukraine is attracting prying eyes. Andrew Muraviev is assigned to work with Ukrainian-born Andrey Kukushkin, Igor Fruman, Lev Parnas and others. They have all been convicted in court or have admitted their guilt in similar crimes.

The five of them are accused of devising a plan to obtain $1 million from Muraviev to later donate political campaigns as favors to political candidates who, in exchange for Muraviev and his companions, could take steps to save Muraviev and his Colleagues to help accomplices get licenses.

High Times Magazines was informed by a representative of the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board that they had just discussed this particular issue during a board meeting that took place last December. Chairman Dennis Neilander said at the December 14 Cannabis Compliance Board meeting that “Muraviev was a creditor and lender and the board takes responsibility for knowing where the funds are going.”

Considering this situation, the funds were raised by an individual who was found to be with some other individuals who had committed serious crimes. The majority of board members agreed. According to reports in the Miami Herald, the plan included securing cannabis licenses in various states. Eventually, however, it died because the required paper documents were not submitted in time to obtain licenses elsewhere and in Nevada.

Muraviev’s fortunes were acquired as chief executive officer of a Russian cement company and of QIWI, the Russian online payments company in which he has interests. Muraviev had invested in various California-based cannabis companies prior to his association with Igor Fruman and Lev Parnas.

Prosecutors claim that Muraviev is in Russia and remains at large.

In a press release, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams and Deputy Acting Director of the New York Branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Micheal J. Driscoll openly stated the unsealing.

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll announced that Andrew Muraviev, a Russian citizen and oligarch, allegedly tried to influence the 2018 election by planning to send $1 million of his funds abroad for campaigns and transfer candidates. He also made attempts to corrupt the southern district’s political system in order to boost his business revenues.

He also stated that the Southern District of New York is committed to weeding out efforts by foreign people to interfere in their elections.

The campaign was designed to publicize that federal prosecutors will not condone illicit donations intended to influence elections on behalf of anyone.

Consistent with this, FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said that “Muraviev, who is a Russian foreigner, allegedly made unlawful political donations and worked with Andrey Kukushki, Igor Fruman, and Lev Parnas to hide their true origins.”

The funds Muraviev poured into our political system were allegedly approved for candidates whose views were beneficial to his business income and that of his co-conspirators. As today’s action demonstrates, we remain diligent in pursuing those who seek to illegally influence our country’s elections.”

The triad (Fruman, Parnas, Kukushki) is also said to have been linked to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s efforts to uncover dirt in Ukraine about future US President Joe Biden.

According to the Nevada Independent, Parnas was found guilty last October on six counts related to channeling funds into US campaigns, and Laxalt confirmed at trial that Lev Parnas had promised to hold a fundraiser, which never happened. Igor Fruman admitted last September that he was guilty of illegal campaign donations.

other details

To cover up Muraviev’s illegal donations, his co-conspirators disguised the donation as a business loan and transferred the funds to an organizational account controlled by Kukushkin, federal prosecutors wrote. The men sent Muraviev a photo taken on Oct. 20, 2018, with an unidentified Nevada candidate who was scheduled to receive a $10,000 campaign donation from them nearly two weeks later. Federal prosecutors said the contribution was made on behalf of Fruman but was funded by Muraviev.

Although the Russian-born men were victorious in various elections and met with Muraviev again and again in 2019, they didn’t apply for marijuana licenses in a timely manner or didn’t get the permits, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

bottom line

The bureau’s public corruption department is investigating the Muravyev case. Hagan Scotten, Aline R. Flodr, Nicolas Roos and Rebekah Donaleski are the United States Assistant Attorneys in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations. The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

RUSSIA ABOUT WEED AND UKRAINE,

WHY HATEING RUSSIAN PEOPLE IS STUPID READ MORE!

OR..

CAN WEED END WARS, MAYBE PUTIN UNDERESTIMATES LEGALIZATION!