Day: February 23, 2024

Russian national with ties to Vladimir Putin arrested in Austin

Post author By Mike Nova
Post date February 23, 2024

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Vadim Wolfson, a Russian national and current U.S. legal permanent resident, was arrested earlier Thursday in Austin by local federal task force officers, according to court records.

Documents state Wolfson is the founder of Bank Otkritie, formerly one of the largest privately-held banks in Russia, before he moved to the U.S. around 2018.

The arrest came from a federal warrant issued by the Southern District of New York. According to court documents, Wolfson and others have been indicted on federal charges related to violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and money laundering.

IEEPA Senate Report 2007 Download

Court documents list two co-defendants, Andrey Kostin, a Russian national who resides in Russia, and a U.S. national residing in New Jersey.

Attorney information for Wolfson wasn’t listed as of Thursday evening. KXAN will update this story when that information becomes available.

Records state the defendants all participated in a scheme using shell companies to own and control assets worth “tens of millions of dollars” to and for the benefit of Kostin, a Russian oligarch who, since 2002, has been the president and chairman of VTB Bank, one of the largest Russian state-owned banking groups.

Among those assets were a luxury home in Aspen, Colorado, which was primarily used by Wolfson, and two luxury superyachts valued at over $135 million, according to the Department of Justice.

In 2018, Kostin was sanctioned and designated a Specially Designated National and put on the Blocked Persons list (“SDN List”) by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”).

“Unless otherwise authorized or exempt, transactions conducted by U.S. persons, including U.S. financial institutions, or occurring in the United States are prohibited if they involve transferring, paying, exporting, withdrawing, or otherwise dealing in the property or interests in property of an entity or individual listed on the SDN List,” documents state.

According to court records, Kostin was made aware that the U.S. was likely going to impose new sanctions that would target Russian oligarchs as a result of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

A news report cited in the court documents state Kostin was aware there was “a high risk his name would be added to a new U.S. list of people close to Vladimir Putin, but that he was unfazed by the prospect.”

The indictment states Wolfson moved to New York around 2018 where he resided at the time but does not specifically reference why Wolfson was in Austin.

KXAN found two property records in Austin listing Wolfson as the owner, a nearly 4.5-acre ranch in southwest Austin purchased by Wolfson in 2020, and a home in west Austin’s affluent Tarrytown neighborhood purchased by Wolfson in 2022.

The two properties are valued at nearly $10 million, according to property records.

According to the DOJ, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:

“As alleged, sanctioned oligarch Andrey Kostin and his co-defendants flouted U.S. sanctions to support his exceptionally lavish lifestyle. Through complex schemes involving shell companies and illicit transactions, Kostin and his associates allegedly laundered funds and illegally made transactions with U.S. currency for the maintenance and enhancement of Kostin’s superyachts and luxury Aspen home, blatantly disregarding U.S. law. This investigation highlights the collaborative efforts of this Office and our law enforcement partners around the globe to uphold critical sanctions put in place to support our national security goals and hold accountable those who seek to undermine them.“

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.

South Caucasus News

AP Headline News – Feb 23 2024 13:00 (EST)

Post author By Mike Nova
Post date February 23, 2024

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South Caucasus News

Istanbul’s Hrant Dink School Holds Annual ‘Love Table’ Event

Post author By Mike Nova
Post date February 23, 2024

BY LILIT POGHOSYAN
Translated by Louisa Janbazian

The Hrant Dink School, located at the Armenian Evangelical Church of Gedikpaşa, held it’s annual “Love Table” on February 4 at the Cathedral of the Mother Church. The annual event that benefits the school tells a 20-year story in the history of the Istanbul Armenians.

The entire school community, including Trustee Arto and Talar Horozoğlu, Rev. Kirkor Ağabaloğlu, Pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Church of Gedikpaşa, the Principal, teaching staff, officials, students, and parents gathered at the Cathedral with the call of unity while the bells of the church were ringing and calling all to attend the annual Madağorhnutyun (blessing of sacrificial meal) followed by the Love Table for the school, held at the hall of the church..

“The mission of Hrant Dink School is unique among the other 16 Armenian schools in Istanbul because it implements the Republic of Armenia’s Educational Curriculum and prepares Armenian students from the Motherland living in Istanbul to further their Armenian education in Armenia. These children are our children; therefore, we are obliged to prepare a future for them,” said Archbishop Sahag II Mashalian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, during the Love Table event.

Representatives of the Hrant Dink School at the “Love Table” event

“Probably, there is no such school neither in France nor America, but there is one in Istanbul. So, this testifies to the educational traditions of our Istanbul Armenians,” continued Archbishop Mashalian. “On my side sitting I have Father Vartan representing the Armenian Catholic community, on the other side Rev. Ağabaloğlu representing the Armenian Evangelical Community, and I, as the Patriarch, representing our Armenian Apostolic community. We are all one, we are Armenians, we have the same destiny, we serve the same nation, therefore the existing difference between our churches and traditions does not affect that we implement our national plans together on this public denominator.”

“This school is unique because the impossible became possible. I remember the founder-director of the school Mrs. Heriknaz Avagyan. When I was the Pastor of Gedikpaşa church, she came to me and asked for a room, but it was not easy to provide a room for a school. The District Council was thinking about the legal issues. However, the Armenian Evangelical church of Gedikpaşa was courageous enough to open its doors because that church has a brave Pastor, Rev. Kirkor Ağabaloğlu,” added the Archbishop.

Hrant Dink School students performing at the “Love Table” event

“I heartily encourage and congratulate his courage, because there are fateful moments where sometimes one should not turn to the mind, but to the heart. Therefore, he did so and opened an era for himself, for the Armenian Evangelical Community and for the church of Gedikpaşa, and until today this holy work continues successfully. But we are here as a community, as a Patriarchate to support the school from the start of the work, because we know that this work is not the work of this or that person,” he said.

“Benefactors of the Armenian Community in Istanbul have found representatives in Arto and Talar Horozoğlu, who participated in this crazy case and have reached out to protect our children with their guardianship. Twenty years have passed since the establishment of the school and God only knows how the future will be. With faith, we will leave this important task in His hands,” Archbishop Mashalian concluded.

Hrant Dink School students performing at the “Love Table” event

While donations were being collected, the Hrant Dink School students presented a special program of songs and recitations which radiated their longing for their Motherland. With the innocence of children and teenagers, they expressed the dreams they had for their “small in area but rich in history” Homeland. “A piece of Armenia,” a safe, secure, prosperous country is the dream desired by the children and young people and it was weaved into their speeches. At the conclusion of the program, a video was shown in which the history of the school was presented through the eyes of the students, from kindergarten to the 9th grade.

And it is no coincidence that Rev. Kirkor Ağabaloğlu mentioned in his remarks that the Hrant Dink School is like a small Armenia, where for almost 20 years, students have enjoyed the breath of Armenia under the roof of the school and the church every day.

“A heroic story of Armenian Evangelical courage from Camp Armen to Hrant Dink School,” said Zaven Khanjian, AMAA Executive Director/CEO.

Founded in 1918, the Armenian Missionary Association of America serves the spiritual, educational, and social needs of Armenian communities in 24 countries around the world including Armenia and Artsakh. For additional information, please visit the website.

Lilit Poghosyan, is an administrator and teacher at Hrant Dink School.

South Caucasus News

ANCA Pasadena Endorses Rick Cole for City Council District 2

Post author By Mike Nova
Post date February 23, 2024

Rick Cole

PASADENA—The Armenian National Committee of America – Pasadena Chapter on February 19 officially announced its endorsement of Rick Cole for the Pasadena City Council District 2 seat in the upcoming March 2024 Primary Election.

“Rick has had a longstanding appreciation, friendship, and understanding of what it is to be an Armenian in Pasadena, the issues that concern the Armenian American community in his district and the City, and with a keen approach on how to improve on those issues,” said ANCA Pasadena Chapter Board member, Marisa Sarian.

“My life has long been enriched by my Armenian-American friends, neighbors and colleagues, starting with my first job as the dishwasher for Kabakian’s restaurant when I was a student at Blair High,” said Rick Cole. “Armenian-Americans have long made an incalculable cultural, economic and civic contribution to our community, built on the values I share: faith, family, country, opportunity and hard work. I also draw inspiration from the resilience of a 3,000-year-old history of thriving in the face of challenge and adversity. It is a privilege to have the support of the Armenian National Committee of America’s Pasadena Chapter–an honor I hope to vindicate over the next four years of working together.”

Deeply rooted in Pasadena as a native and lifelong resident, Rick Cole brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record from his extensive career in public service. His journey has seen him in pivotal roles across several California cities, serving as a Councilmember and Mayor of Pasadena and extending his expertise as Deputy Mayor for the City of Los Angeles and as City Manager for Azusa, Ventura, and Santa Monica. His current role as Chief Deputy Controller for the City of Los Angeles underscores his adeptness in municipal governance and financial oversight.

Rick continues to be actively involved in numerous volunteer activities, namely serving as Lector in Saint Monica’s Church, participating in the faith-based non-profit Making Housing and Community Happen, Civitas, Pasadenans Organizing For Progress, Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood Association, as well as Pasadena Heritage and NAACP.

Rick’s priorities for Council District 2 are to ensure affordable housing for young families and seniors, help end homelessness, support public schools and businesses, and preserve Pasadena’s unique character.

Cole has dedicated more than forty years to public service and community empowerment, including leadership in various cities, as well as the League of California Cities, the International City/County Management Association, and the National League of Cities while teaching Urban Policy at Occidental College and Pepperdine University. His dedication and unwavering commitment to community service have garnered numerous awards and accolades. Considering his diverse and distinguished professional background, ANCA-Pasadena proudly endorses Rick Cole for Pasadena City Council District 2 in the upcoming Primary Election on March 5th, 2024.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Pasadena Chapter is the oldest, largest, and most influential non-partisan Armenian American grassroots organization of its kind within the City of Pasadena. Founded in 1979, the Pasadena ANCA advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the city’s thriving Armenian American community and promotes increased civic service and participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.

South Caucasus News

Crescenta Valley Youth Center to Host ‘From Artsakh to Armenia and the Current Situation’ Lecture – Asbarez.com – Asbarez Armenian News

Post author By Mike Nova
Post date February 23, 2024

Crescenta Valley Youth Center to Host ‘From Artsakh to Armenia and the Current Situation’ Lecture – Asbarez.com Asbarez Armenian News

South Caucasus News

Armenia’s Security Service Denies EU Mission Claims on Russia Barring Access to Nerkin Hand – Asbarez.com – Asbarez Armenian News

Post author By Mike Nova
Post date February 23, 2024

Armenia’s Security Service Denies EU Mission Claims on Russia Barring Access to Nerkin Hand – Asbarez.com Asbarez Armenian News

Selected Articles

Putin’s Popular Support: A Miasma of Jew Hate and Fatalism

Post author By Mike Nova
Post date February 23, 2024

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After more than 500 days, not a single goal of the “special operation” in Ukraine has been achieved, yet Russians still back Vladimir Putin. Why?

The war has left hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers dead and seriously wounded, seen the shelling of Russian cities, and caused a significant drop in living standards. Nevertheless, the most recent poll by the Levada Center shows 68% of Russians hope to see Putin as president after 2024.

The majority of Russian society simply ignored Yevgeniy Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner mercenary group, when he demolished the Kremlin’s propaganda about the causes of the war. Prigozhin was officially forgiven and personally met with Putin in the Kremlin five days after his mutiny. His argument that the war was caused by Russian generals and oligarchs and that the population had been “deceived into thinking there was a threat from Ukraine,” was not officially rejected and caused little discord.

When the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, the majority of Russians reached for any explanation that would help restore a sense of inner comfort, regardless of its plausibility. At the very beginning of the war, most tried to rationalize the necessity of starting a so-called “special operation,” choosing the justifications that suited them best. Sociologists have since noted widespread denial that Russia launched the “special operation” at all and the growth of the idea the war was spontaneous and unavoidable.

“In the framework of this justification, war is presented as some unpleasant and even catastrophic natural phenomenon,” explained Svetlana Yerpyleva, a research fellow at the University of Bremen. “It can be terrible, take human lives, but it is pointless to oppose it — we do not oppose floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes. This means that war, like a natural disaster, must be accepted.”

Thus the true reasons for the conflict fade into the background and cease to have meaning. If the war is transformed into a natural event, how it began and was justified becomes unimportant. This is why Prigozhin’s words, which might have resonated in the first months of the war, are now meaningless for many Russians.

This approach also creates a mythologized perception of the war, which cannot be refuted since it is basically devoid of logic.

The certainty that the war was started by some evil entity is a key feature of such arguments. In the propagandists’ version of events, the role is played by the US, which “is trying to maintain its shaky status as world hegemon,” or the “collective West,” which for centuries “has wanted to destroy Russia.”

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It doesn’t matter how this “terrible enemy” started the war — whether the Kremlin was provoked to take a “forceful decision”, or this evil unleashed the war itself by attacking Russia in some way. The central theme is that the enemy’s goal is the destruction of the motherland.

A conspiracy theory is also spreading, which centers on a supposed “Jewish mafia” and “Jewish Masonic World Government” as provoking the war to “expand living space at the expense of Ukraine and Russia.” As soon as the full-scale invasion began, such antisemitic passages began to appear not only in marginal media, but also on Telegram channels directly supervised by the presidential administration.

Orthodox priests preach that “globalists” — a term widely used by conspiracy theorists to refer to Jews and so-called “Anglo-Saxons” — created a “plan to depopulate the planet by the end of the 21^st century,” and that only Russia can save the world. They do not explain how Putin, who ordered the invasion with its repeated manifestations of mass murder, is preserving life on the planet, nor why, after starting the war, he shouldn’t be seen as an agent of the Americans, “globalists” or “absolute evil.”

For most Russians — the “Putin majority” — such contradictions don’t appear to matter. The president is an opponent of “absolute evil” and therefore cannot be a part of it, no matter what he does.

Accepting war as a natural phenomenon has also led to a loss of connection with its goals. If neither the war’s beginning nor its end is dependent on the will of the people, then failure to achieve the declared goals of the “special operation” is insufficient to evoke disillusion. It just means the authorities have not yet found a way to tame the raging elements.

Such ideas also contribute to the growth of “learned helplessness” and dangerous fatalism. In September, 55% of Russians believed that the country was moving in the right direction, a figure that rose to 73% in June — despite attacks on Russian territory, together with the loss of swaths of territory in the occupied Kharkiv and Kherson regions. Asked to name a single military achievement as a result of the war, more than half of Russians are unable to do so.

The growing readiness to kill — and to die — with no understanding of the reason is frightening. The only reassurance is that many analysts believe Putin won’t use nuclear weapons if he anticipates a harsh response from outside. While Russian society is clearly incapable of keeping its authorities from insane acts, the threat of that response must come from elsewhere.

Kseniya Kirillova is an analyst focused on Russian society, mentality, propaganda, and foreign policy. The author of numerous articles for the Jamestown Foundation, she has also written for the Atlantic Council, Stratfor, and others.

Europe’s Edge is CEPA’s online journal covering critical topics on the foreign policy docket across Europe and North America. All opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position or views of the institutions they represent or the Center for European Policy Analysis.

Europe’s Edge

CEPA’s online journal covering critical topics on the foreign policy docket across Europe and North America.