Anytime you hear the name Paul Manafort, think of two things - Viktor Yanukovych and a zoo.
Yanukovych ran for president against Viktor Yushchenko in 2004 and was originally declared the winner but allegations of fraud and vote tampering brought thousands of people to protest in what became known as the Orange Revolution and led to a rerun of the election where Yushchenko beat Yanukovych.
Paul Manafort was brought in to rehabilitate Yanukovych's political career and public image in the aftermath of the Orange Revolution. The FBI began a criminal investigation into Manafort's business dealings while he was lobbying for Yanukovych. Between 2010 and 2014 Manafort was paid more than $60 million and was eventually convicted of fraud and tax evasion.
_(10992648186)_(cropped).jpg)
.jpg)
Post-Soviet Ukraine has always been torn between the west (Europe and America) and Russia, and Yanukovych was always pro-Russia. As soon as he became president, he struck a deal to extend Russia’s lease of the port at Sevastopol, the base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, until 2042. In exchange, Ukraine would receive a reduction in the price of Russian natural gas. In 2013, he pulled out of an agreement that would have potentially brought the country into the EU, and decided instead to move the country further into Russia’s economic sphere.
All of this led to a revolution in 2014 that brought massive crowds into Independence Square in Kiev (all of this during the winter Olympics in Sochi). At least 100 people died during the protests, as the government tried to violently put down the demonstrations. Yanukovych fled Kiev during the night of 21 February 2014, assisted by Russian troops.
So, here's a quick profile of Paul Manafort's boy in Ukraine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Yanukovych#Former_criminal_convictions_and_new_criminal_cases
Yanukovych ran for president against Viktor Yushchenko in 2004 and was originally declared the winner but allegations of fraud and vote tampering brought thousands of people to protest in what became known as the Orange Revolution and led to a rerun of the election where Yushchenko beat Yanukovych.
Paul Manafort was brought in to rehabilitate Yanukovych's political career and public image in the aftermath of the Orange Revolution. The FBI began a criminal investigation into Manafort's business dealings while he was lobbying for Yanukovych. Between 2010 and 2014 Manafort was paid more than $60 million and was eventually convicted of fraud and tax evasion.
Post-Soviet Ukraine has always been torn between the west (Europe and America) and Russia, and Yanukovych was always pro-Russia. As soon as he became president, he struck a deal to extend Russia’s lease of the port at Sevastopol, the base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, until 2042. In exchange, Ukraine would receive a reduction in the price of Russian natural gas. In 2013, he pulled out of an agreement that would have potentially brought the country into the EU, and decided instead to move the country further into Russia’s economic sphere.
All of this led to a revolution in 2014 that brought massive crowds into Independence Square in Kiev (all of this during the winter Olympics in Sochi). At least 100 people died during the protests, as the government tried to violently put down the demonstrations. Yanukovych fled Kiev during the night of 21 February 2014, assisted by Russian troops.
But why a zoo, you ask?
After Yanukovych was run out, the Ukranians got to see what his life was really like. They were amazed at the opulence and extravagance of what they found, including a private zoo, a fleet of cars, and a large boat in an artificial lake. The property is now a museum displaying Yanukovych's luxurious lifestyle.So, here's a quick profile of Paul Manafort's boy in Ukraine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Yanukovych#Former_criminal_convictions_and_new_criminal_cases
- robbery
- assault (twice)
- fraud
- forgery
- battery
- accused of mass murder of civilians
- put on the US sanction list in 2014
- suspected of bribery
- charged with abuse of power and state treason
- charged with property theft
No comments:
Post a Comment