Latest news with #Krasnov
The Star
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Russian prosecutor general in Cambodia for first time, days after high profile extradition
Russian Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov (second from left) and Supreme Court Prosecutor General Chea Leang, during the former's visit to Cambodia. - Russian prosecutor's office PHNOM PENH: Russian Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov is on a working visit to Cambodia from 26-27. He is the highest-level visitor in the history of law enforcement cooperation between the two nations, and his arrival comes just days after former businessman Heng Sithy was extradited to the kingdom from Russia. Krasnov was welcomed by Chea Leang, Cambodia's Prosecutor General at the Supreme Court, as well as the leadership of the Ministry of Justice. In Phnom Penh, Krasnov laid wreaths at the Independence Monument and the monument to the late King Norodom Sihanouk. He will hold talks with the heads of relevant authorities and discuss issues of bilateral cooperation with other officials. A number of documents which will help strengthen and develop relations will also be signed, according to a press release from the Russian prosecutor's office. According to the release, the relation between Russian supervisory agencies and the Cambodian authorities began more than 10 years ago, and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the Russian Prosecutor General's Office and the justice ministry was signed in 2016. Former businessman Heng Sithy has been extradited to Cambodia. - FN It added that in September last year, on the sidelines of the 9th Eastern Economic Forum, Krasnov and Leang signed an interdepartmental MoU on cooperation, which became the foundation for activating joint measures to ensure the rule of law and protect the rights of citizens. The high-level visit began two days after Russian authorities returned Heng Sithy to Cambodia to face charges of aggravated blackmail. Following a series of public spats with officials, former high-profile businessman Sithy was arrested in Russia in January. On the night of May 24, at the request of the justice ministry, Sithy was transferred to Cambodia. An Interpol red alert had been placed on the former businessman. Sithy has publicly accused Sar Sokha, Minister of Interior, Hun To, a prominent Okhna, and Sar Thet, Commissioner-General of the National Police, of actively working to protect online criminals in Cambodia. His allegations have been repeatedly refuted by the interior ministry, the national police and Hun To, who deemed them 'fabricated information with malicious intent aimed at misleading the public'. Justice ministry spokesperson Seng Dyna told The Post that Sithy's return was in line with a 2017 extradition treaty signed by Cambodia and Russia, and followed a court-ordered arrest warrant. Sithy has been charged with aggravated blackmail pursuant to articles 372 and 374 of the Criminal Code. The law stipulates a jail term of between five and 10 years. Regarding Krasnov's visit, Dyna explained that the ministry will issue an outcome statement following the visit. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
NDTV
20-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
The 'Muscovian Candidate': Was Donald Trump Russian Intel Asset 'Krasnov'?
On February 20, 2025, Alnur Mussayev, who claimed to be a KGB officer, made the most fantastic of Facebook posts - that in 1987 Russia recruited a then 40-year-old Donald Trump as an 'intelligence asset'. It has been a busy fortnight for ' Krasnov ', an alleged ex-Russian intelligence asset working undercover in the United States government and holding an impossibly high position. On May 10 he "sure as hell helped" India and Pakistan reach a ceasefire deal to end a 100-hour military conflict sparked by the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. Advertisement - Scroll to continue On May 20 he declared his tactic - of using trade with America as a reward - had pushed Russia and Ukraine to " immediately start negotiations towards a ceasefire" to stop a three-year war. But who is 'Krasnov', you might ask? What does he look like? What position does he hold? How could he have influenced India and Pakistan, and what role might he have in the Ukraine war? Well, according to ex-KGB agent Alnur Mussayev, 'Krasnov' is a 78-year-old businessman with a shock of orange-blond hair who owns the Mar-a-Lago resort, and he lives in the White House. Surprised? On February 20, 2025, Mussayev made the most fantastic of Facebook posts. That the KGB, in 1987, recruited a then 40-year-old American businessman travelling to Moscow. A man claiming to be a former KGB officer, Alnur Mussayev, claimed Trump was 'Krasnov'. The businessman - allegedly US President Donald Trump, if you haven't followed so far - was codenamed 'Krasnov', which translated refers to the colour red. OK. First, Trump as 'peacemaker'? The 'Trump the peacemaker' narrative, pushed enthusiastically by his deputy, JD Vance, and members of his administration, seems to be gathering steam; indeed, a Republican Congressman from California, Darrell Issa, has nominated his boss for the Nobel Peace Prize. But not everyone, of course, is convinced, and certainly not by his less-than-specific posts on Truth Social about the Russia-Ukraine situation, which were short on details on how Kyiv and Moscow might be pushed to halt the bloodiest European conflict since World War II. And the lack of those details, added to Trump refusing to follow the West in imposing new sanctions against Moscow - to push Vladimir Putin toward a ceasefire - have raised eyebrows They also re-spawned rumours Trump is 'Krasnov', a Russian intelligence asset. Now the first important statement. Trump has denied any link to Russia or ever having worked as a KGB intelligence asset. In 2019, during his first term, he specifically told The New York Times "I never worked for Russia". And then the second. Mussayev, a Kazakh national, never offered any proof of his remarkable claim. In fact, there are question marks over his claims, including the position he claimed to hold in the KGB. Mussayev's wasn't the first time such a claim was made. In 2021 another ex-KGB operative - Yuri Shvets, a key source for a book by an American journalist - told the Guardian that 40 years ago Trump had been 'cultivated as a Russian asset... and proved so willing to parrot anti-West propaganda there were celebrations in Moscow'. The denial was in reference to an FBI inquiry into claims Moscow had interfered with, and possibly even manipulated the results of, the 2016 American presidential election. There is more authenticity attached to this claim; Shvets was a Major in the Russian army and had a documented cover position - as a news reporter - when posted to the US in the 1980s. And four years earlier there was the Steele dossier, a report by former British spy Christopher Steele that claimed to expose shocking connections between Trump and Russia. But, by November 2021, the Steele dossier was widely discredited; a detailed report by CNN pointed out multiple inaccuracies, flaws, and even mistruths, and how part of it may have even been put together by Trump's rivals, the Democrats, in an effort to 'dirty up' the President. What do we really know? That Trump went to Moscow in 1987. According to Shvets the Russians had been tracking Trump from a decade earlier, when he married Czech model Ivana Zelnickova in 1977. And when in Moscow, the KGB swung into action. "... for the KGB, it was a charm offensive... the feeling was that he was extremely vulnerable psychologically... prone to flattery." Trump's 'recruitment', journalist and author Luke Harding said in his book 'Collusion: Secret Meetings, Dirty Money, and How Russia Helped Donald Trump Win', was linked to General Vladimir Alexandrovich Kryuchkov, the head of the KGB's recruiting team at the time, urging "bolder use of material incentives". These, he said, were to include money and flattery. Trump returned to the US and explored a run at the 1988 presidential campaign; he took out three full-page ads, including one in The New York Times, in which he harped about America being "exploited" by NATO (a sentiment he continues to express today) and about Washington's payments to the bloc. There was no mention of Russia but, according to Shvets, the ads prompted celebration in Moscow as proof of 'Krasnov'. And those celebrations returned 28 years later, when Donald Trump secured 304 Electoral College votes to defeat Hillary Clinton and become POTUS. "Trump was the perfect target in a lot of ways..." Shvets told the Guardian, "His narcissism made him a natural was cultivated over a 40-year period, right up through his election." Was Trump really a Russian asset? This is important - there is no proof, none whatsoever, that Trump worked with the KGB or any Russian intelligence agency to, consciously or otherwise, destabilise the United States. An American investigation - the 2019 Mueller report - into allegations Moscow interfered with the 2016 presidential election to support Trump did not "establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired, or coordinated, with Russia in its election interference activities". "It's a disgrace that you even ask that question. It's all a big fat hoax," Trump said then. Sign up to read this article FREE! Exclusive Stories: Dive into content reserved just for members. Fewer Ads: A cleaner, more enjoyable reading experience. Enhanced Interface: Tailored just for you. Join Now – It's Free!
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds join 'Hands Off' protest in Adrian against Trump cuts to federal government
ADRIAN — Hundreds of people gathered Saturday at the Old Lenawee County Courthouse to express their displeasure with actions President Donald Trump and his administration have taken since he took office in January. Part of a national day of action, the "Hands Off" protests aimed to draw attention to efforts by Trump, presidential adviser Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and Trump's cabinet secretaries to shrink the federal government through mass layoffs and canceling contracts and grants. There were more than 50 protests across Michigan and more than 1,200 across the U.S. At the Adrian protest, people held signs advocating for Medicare, Medicaid, women's rights, Social Security, cancer research, LGBTQIA+ rights, elections and workers as they chanted, "Rights are what we're fighting for/We don't want a fascist state," and, "No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here." "The theme is 'Hands Off' and you pick the subject matter," said Denice Benjamin of Blissfield, one of the Adrian protest's organizers from Lenawee Indivisible. "We want our legislators to stop him from cutting these benefits that we've paid for our entire lives." Attempts to cut the Department of Education and funding for libraries, national parks, and clean air and water regulations were among the actions that drew protestors to the old courthouse lawn. There were so many people at the rally that they spilled across Main Street and Maple Avenue. Protesters lined the Main Street sidewalk down toward the judicial building's entrance. "It's important to show how unhappy we are with the way our government is going now," Valerie Bays of Adrian said as she wore a sign reading, "Hands off our democracy" and held a sign that said, "We the people under siege" with an image of an upside down American flag — a distress signal. "We're trying to show our freedoms are being taken from us in big numbers," Robbin Bays, Valerie's husband, said, adding that Trump's actions will lead to poor people becoming poorer, the rich becoming richer and vulnerable populations being neglected. "The cruelty of this government is unbelievable." Support local news: For all the latest local developments, breaking news, and high school and college sports content. He wore a Ukrainian flag like a cape and carried a sign that read, "Impeach Krasnov. Felon. Rapist. Liar." The "a" in Krasnov was replaced with a swastika. A former KGB agent claimed on Facebook that Trump was recruited by the KGB in the 1980s and given the codename Krasnov. Tony Lara of Adrian, a retired U.S. Air Force master segreant, rode his electric scooter around the courthouse lawn while playing the song "We're Not Gonna Take It" by the rock band Twisted Sister. The band's lead singer, Dee Snider, is an outspoken critic of Trump. Another one of the protest's organizers, Sarah Clark of Tecumseh, said she's concerned about federal funding for at-risk students in schools. She said she's a teacher and reading specialists who work with students are paid for with federal funds. "I don't think anyone is against making things smaller and more efficient," Benjamin said, "but what they're doing is nuts." During the 90-minute event, several passing drivers honked their horns to show their support, but not everyone was supportive. Some drivers with Trump flags affixed to their pickups drove past, and one driver caused black smoke to pour from his pickup's exhaust next to the protesters who used their signs to waft the fumes away. Still, there was. asense of solidarity among the protesters. "Something I didn't expect for the first time in a month — I feel good," Mark Busha of Addison said. "I feel good and hopeful." — Contact reporter David Panian at dpanian@ or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @lenaweepanian. This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: 'Hands Off' protest in Adrian stands against Trump administration
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fact check: Was Donald Trump recruited by the KGB under code name 'Krasnov'?
A Facebook post by an ex-KGB agent claiming that Donald Trump was recruited by Moscow in 1987 under the code name "Krasnov" has sent social media into a spin. What's the story behind the claim? Euroverify investigates. View on euronews
Euronews
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Fact check: Was Donald Trump recruited by the KGB under code name 'Krasnov'?
A Facebook post by an ex-KGB agent claiming that Donald Trump was recruited by Moscow in 1987 under the code name "Krasnov" has sent social media into a spin. What's the story behind the claim? Euroverify investigates. ADVERTISEMENT When former KGB officer Alnur Mussayev claimed that US President Donald Trump was recruited as an asset for Moscow in the 1980s, it set off a storm on social media. In a Facebook post on 20 February, Mussayev said that Trump was enlisted by the KGB in 1987 while on a trip to Moscow, then aged 40, and assigned the code name "Krasnov". Trump has not directly responded to Mussayev's claims. The US president has repeatedly denied having ever worked for Russia. One thread on X, which has amassed more than 1 million views, refers to Trump as "Krasnov" and brands the US president as a Russian asset. The post goes on to list a series of claims which it presents as purported evidence for this declaration. Viral social media post claiming Trump is KGB asset X Meanwhile, other social media users turned to mockery, with one account posting a photo montage of Trump in a KGB outfit, with the political slogan and acronym MAGA ("Make America Great Again") altered to read "Moscow Agent Governing America". One X account makes a photo montage X Krasnov is a common surname in Russia, derived from the word "krasniy", which means red. A flurry of speculative media reports followed, and politicians, including British conservative MP Graham Stuart, repeated his claim, writing in X: "We have to consider the possibility that President Trump is a Russian asset". Does the claim carry any weight? Mussayev did not provide any proof to back up claims that Trump was recruited by the KGB during his visit to Moscow. Doubts have also been cast over the position Mussayev says he held within the KGB. In the Facebook post, Kazakhstan's former spy chief says he worked for the KGB's 6th Directorate. However, sources including the Encyclopedia of the Central Intelligence Agency, state that this department did not focus on "recruiting foreign intelligence", but instead on "guarding against economic espionage". Euroverify cannot verify claims that Trump is a Russian asset. Facebook post from former KGB agent Alnur Mussayev Facebook, Alnur Mussayev The amplification of the claims on social media has likely been intensified by the US president's foreign policy stance, which has been viewed as favourable to Russia. Moving away from the Biden administration's support of Ukraine, the Trump administration has halted military support and intelligence sharing with Kyiv. That followed a public spat between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a highly contentious meeting in the Oval Office last month. Trump's 1987 trip to Moscow Similar allegations about Trump being a Russian asset have surfaced repeatedly in the past. In 2021, American journalist and author Craig Unger published his book American Kompromat, in which he claims that Trump was recruited by Moscow. ADVERTISEMENT Former KGB agent Yuri Shvets — who had a cover job as a correspondent for the Russian state-owned news agency TASS in Washington during the 1980s — was one of Unger's key sources for the book. Shvets told Unger that Trump was tapped up in 1987. Unger told Euronews there is a clear distinction between an agent and an asset. "While an agent is employed by and intelligence agency and paid, an asset is a reliable friend who will do favours," he said. In Unger's book, Shvets alleged that when Trump opened his first major property development, the Grand Hyatt New York Hotel, in 1980, he purchased 200 television sets from the Joy-Lud electronics store, which was owned by a Soviet emigré. ADVERTISEMENT Shvets claimed the shop was a KGB front and that Trump had already been identified as a potential asset by that point. In 1987, Trump travelled to Moscow, where Shvets claims that Trump was tapped up by the KGB. Upon his return, Trump bought three full-page adverts criticising US foreign policy in three major American newspapers at a total cost of $94,801 (€87,150 at time of writing). In his 1987 book, The Art of the Deal, Trump also mentioned the prospect of inaugurating a Trump building in Moscow. ADVERTISEMENT "Trump had previously provided tabloid-fodder for the American press, but when he returned from Russia, he began portraying himself as a savvy foreign policy analyst," Unger told Euronews. The 2019 Mueller report: A dig into Trump's Russia ties Trump's ties with Russia were investigated in the 2019 Mueller report, which was commissioned by the US Justice Department and examined Russian interference in the 2016 US elections. While "links between the Russian government and the Trump Campaign" were identified, the report did not "establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities." "I never worked for Russia," said Trump when questioned about his ties to the country by a reporter in 2019. ADVERTISEMENT "It's a disgrace that you even ask that question. It's all a big fat hoax", he added.
