Page 46 - bne IntelliNews monthly magazine May 2024

46 I Eastern Europe bne May 2024
Russia’s Investigative Committee has launched a criminal investigation into Ukraine’s oil and gas company Burisma, where Hunter Biden served on the board of directors for five years, and has accused “senior officials of the United States and Nato countries" of funding terrorism in Russia. / bne IntelliNews
Kremlin tries to link Hunter Biden to financing of Moscow’s Crocus City Hall terrorist massacre
Ben Aris in Berlin
Russia’s Investigative Committee launched a criminal investiga- tion into the financing of terror- ism in Russia on April 9, with the focus on a board of directors that included the son of US President Joe Biden, Hunter Biden.
“Today, the Investigative Committee accused Joe Biden almost personally of financing terrorist attacks in Russia (but not yet specifically in Crocus) and through Ukraine,” The Bell reported.
The Investigative Committee linked terrorism in Russia to “senior officials of the United States and Nato countries,” without specifically mentioning the Crocus City Hall attack on March 22 that left over 140 dead.
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A recent poll in Russia found that
the majority of Russians believe that
the attack on the mall by at least four gunmen from Tajikistan was organised by Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has stringently denied being involved or masterminding the attack. As bne IntelliNews reported, there is much stronger evidence that
the mastermind behind the attack was based in Turkey. A branch of the Islamic State (IS) extremist group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
This Investigative Committee case has been brought under Article 205.1 of the Russian Criminal Code that deals with terrorism and claims that the Hunter Biden-linked company Burisma was involved in funding terrorist operations aimed at destabilising Russia. The committee claims the company targeted key political and public figures as well as inflicting economic damage on Russia.
The inquiry into these allegations began after an appeal by Duma deputies and
“A branch of Islamic State (IS) extremist group has claimed responsibility for the attack”