—
This Ukrainian refugee and accomplished Journalist, brings a very interesting perspective to the Trump-Russian connections story. This post of his is well worth reading, since he knows well, how the “other side” lives and breathes
...
Askold Krushelnycky: The truth about Trump’s murky Russia connections will come out
by Askold Krushelnycky, KyivPost — March 10, 2017
[...]
Many dubbed “oligarchs” from Russia and other parts of the former Soviet empire have sought to transform vast piles of dirty dollars, sometimes amassed through crime and corruption, into legitimate property assets in Western countries.
[...]
Trump has repeatedly tried to make it appear there are no financial connections between him and Russia. He chooses his words very carefully saying he has no investments or properties in Russia or loans from there. But his statements don’t exclude Russian investments into Trump businesses. And they certainly don’t exclude past business dealings with Russia.
Indeed, Trump and family members have made many trips to Russia seeking investors there. And they have met with success, as the president’s son, Donald Jr, boasted in 2008 when he said: “Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets…. We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia.”
[...]
Sometimes when it rains, it pours — presumably “money pouring in” from the New Russians, looking to The West for innovative ways to “park” their ill-gotten loot profit-taking ...
New Russians (Novye Russkie, Russian: новые русские) is a term for the newly rich business class in post-Soviet Russia. It is perceived as a stereotypical caricature. According to the stereotype, New Russians achieved rapid wealth by using criminal methods during Russia's chaotic transition to a market economy.
“Nature abhors a Vacuum” … so too apparently, does a former communist state making a rapid transition to an open market economy. To the swift and connected, go the ‘spoils’ … of communism (aka … to the Russian Oligarchy):
The term Russian oligarch (see the related term "New Russians") generally labels wealthy businessmen of the former Soviet republics who rapidly accumulated wealth during the era of Russian privatization in the aftermath of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the 1990s. The failing Soviet state left the ownership of state assets contested, which allowed for informal deals with former USSR officials (mostly in Russia and Ukraine) as a means to acquire state property.
[...]
Post-Soviet business oligarchs include relatives or close associates of government officials, even government officials themselves, as well as criminal bosses who achieved vast wealth by acquiring state assets very cheaply (or for free) during the privatization process controlled by the Yeltsin government of 1991-1999.
[...]
The most famous oligarchs of the Putin era include Roman Abramovich, Alexander Abramov, Oleg Deripaska, Mikhail Fridman, Mikhail Prokhorov, Alisher Usmanov, German Khan, Viktor Vekselberg, Leonid Mikhelson, Vagit Alekperov, Pyotr Aven, and still Vladimir Potanin and Vitaly Malkin.
Between 2000 and 2004, Putin apparently engaged in a power-struggle with some oligarchs, reaching a "grand bargain" with them. This bargain allowed the oligarchs to maintain their powers, in exchange for their explicit support of – and alignment with – Putin's government.[10][11]
Many more business people have become oligarchs during Putin's time in power, and often due to personal relations with Putin [...]
Donald Trump Jr. now more than ever, is Mr. Overseer of this once “emerging” Russian trend — that of New Money just looking to go somewhere overseas, far from the prying eyes of the locals, who relinquished it. And The Donalds are only too happy to oblige them ...
Executive Talk: Donald Trump Jr. bullish on Russia and few emerging markets
by Hazel Heyer, Special to eTN, eturbonews.com — Sep 15, 2008
[...]
"And in terms of high-end product influx into the US, Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets; say in Dubai, and certainly with our project in SoHo and anywhere in New York. We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia. There's indeed a lot of money coming for new-builds and resale reflecting a trend in the Russian economy and, of course, the weak dollar versus the ruble," he said.
Trump Jr. also oversees the Trump International Hotel and Tower SoHo project along with [...]
And “The Junior will never talk to The Senior about such ongoing Deals” — Scout’s Honor. Just Trust them. Never ever.
Because, With a Name like Trump — you can Bank on it. Like foreign investors have been doing for years now — No Questions asked.
Ever ... (Wait, wait one question: “Now where’s the Check?”)