WASHINGTON D.C. Mar 8 (AMTV) – A federal court in New York unsealed a complaint today charging a dual Russian and U.S. citizen with acting and conspiring to act in the United States illegally as an agent of the Russian government, willfully failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), as well as conspiring to commit visa fraud and making false statements to the FBI.
According to court documents, Elena Branson, 61, beginning in at least 2011, worked on behalf of the Russian government and Russian officials to advance Russian interests in the United States, including by coordinating meetings for Russian officials to lobby U.S. political officials and businesspersons, and by operating organizations in the United States for the purpose of publicly promoting Russian government policies. Branson never notified the Attorney General as she was required to, including by registering under FARA.
“As alleged, Branson engaged in a wide-ranging influence and lobbying scheme with funding and direction from the Russian government – all while deliberately leaving the American people in the dark,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The department will continue to expose these serious crimes and shine a light on foreign malign influence.”
“As alleged, Elena Branson, a dual U.S. – Russian national, actively subverted foreign agent registration laws in the United States in order to promote Russian policies and ideology,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “The Russian government at its highest levels, up to and including President Vladimir Putin, have made known that aggressive propaganda and recruitment of the Russian diaspora around the world is a Russian priority. In connection with this pursuit, Branson is alleged to have corresponded with Putin himself and met with a high-ranking Russia minister before founding a Russian propaganda center here in New York City, the Russian Center New York. Branson’s promotional outreach, including an ‘I Love Russia’ campaign aimed at American youths, exemplifies her attempts to act at the behest of the Russian government to illegally promote its interests in the United States. All the while, Branson knew she was supposed to register as an agent of the Russian government but chose not to do so and, instead, instructed others regarding how to illegally avoid the same. Particularly given current global events, the need to detect and hinder attempts at foreign influence is of critical importance, and the Southern District of New York is proud to do its part in the fight against tyranny.”
“The evidence gathered in the Branson case shows she is a serial offender in violating the Foreign Agents Registration Action in order to promote Russian interests,” said Assistant Director Alan E. Kohler Jr. of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “While living in the United States for nearly a decade, she allegedly took money and direction from Russian government officials – including some at the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. – as she arranged meetings for Russian officials to lobby U.S. officials. The FBI and our partners will continue to investigate and stop individuals who hide their work for foreign governments, like the one in Moscow.”
According to court documents, the Russian government has sought to spread Russian propaganda and to use Russian citizens in the United States and elsewhere to make connections with U.S. community leaders, politicians and businesspersons, in order to advance Russian government objectives. Russian leaders, including President Vladimir Putin, have made public statements acknowledging this foreign policy strategy of the Russian government.
As part of that Russian government effort, beginning in at least approximately 2011, Branson, a native of Russia, acted illegally as an agent of the Russian government while living in the United States, by not registering pursuant to FARA or otherwise notifying the Attorney General as required by a separate statute. Among other things, in or about 2012, after receiving approval from the highest levels of the Russian government, Branson incorporated an organization headquartered in Manhattan, New York, named the Russian Center New York (RCNY). She sent correspondence to then-Prime Minister Putin and met with a high-ranking Russian government minister in connection with the initiation of her activities for the Russian government in the United States.
Branson received tens of thousands of dollars in funding from the Russian government for the RCNY and used the RCNY to host events and engage in public messaging at the direction of the Russian government and Russian officials. Branson was directed to, among other things, host events designed to consolidate the Russian-speaking youth community in the United States in exchange for funding. For example, Branson and the RCNY hosted an annual youth forum which was funded in part by an entity controlled by the government of Moscow.
Throughout her work as a Russian agent in the United States, Branson received funding and direction from the Russian government, including from the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and received tasking from high-level Russian government officials and Russian government-run organizations. At the same time, however, Branson actively sought to hide that the Russian government was providing her with tasking and funding her activity, and she instructed her co-conspirators to do the same. She also cautioned others against using language in describing their activities that would draw attention to FARA registration obligations for herself and the organizations.
As alleged, in or about 2019, Branson coordinated through the RCNY a campaign to lobby Hawaiian officials not to change the name of a fort located on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, which is the last remaining formerly Russian fort in the Hawaiian-islands and is significant to the Russian government. Among other things, Branson provided Hawaiian officials with messages from Russian government officials and organized a trip to Moscow for Hawaiian officials responsible for the potential name change to meet with high-ranking Russian government personnel.
In addition to the RCNY, Branson served as a chairperson of the Russian Community Council of the USA (KSORS), which is funded at least in part by various Russian government-run entities. Among other things, KSORS coordinated an “I Love Russia” campaign in the United States and organized youth forums focused on the promotion of Russian history and culture to American youths. Branson used the KSORS website to promote messages from the Russian Embassy and organized KSORS events approved by the Russian Ambassador to the United States. When Branson sought financial support from a government of Moscow official for the KSORS website, Branson reported that the purpose of the KSORS website was to spread information “about the activities of organizations created by Russian compatriots to form a positive image of Russia and Moscow among Americans.”
According to the complaint, Branson’s work on behalf of the Russian government also included arranging meetings for herself and other Russian officials with U.S. government officials and executives at businesses based in the United States. For example, in March 2016, Branson worked to arrange meetings for the head of the Department of Foreign Economic Activity and International Relations for the Government of Moscow with, among others, a New York state senator and the management of certain U.S. companies.
Branson also participated in a scheme to obtain fraudulent visas for Russian officials and their associates, by providing information about RCNY events to those individuals for using as false pretenses to obtain visas to enter the United States.
The FBI interviewed Branson on Sept. 29, 2020. During this interview, among other things, Branson falsely claimed that she was never asked by Russian officials to coordinate any meetings between U.S. business leaders or politicians and officials from the government of Moscow. Branson subsequently left the United States for Russia. On or about Oct. 15, 2021, during an interview on a Russian government-controlled television station, Branson stated that she left the United States because she thought it was likely that she would be arrested.
Branson is charged with: (1) conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; (2) acting as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; (3) conspiring to evade FARA registration, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; (4) willfully failing to register under FARA, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; (5) conspiring to commit visa fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and (6) making false statements to the FBI, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Branson left the United States for Russia in 2020 and remains at large.
The FBI’s New York Field Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason A. Richman for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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8月1日华盛顿讯，美国总统特朗普今天表示，美国已同意“取消对伊朗的袭击”，此前他暗示结束战争的和平协议可能即将达成。 特朗普总统今天社交媒体平台“真实社交”上发帖写道：“美国已经蓄势待发，准备以二战以来未见的军事恐怖、实力和力量水平，对伊朗伊斯兰共和国采取行动。尽管如此，我们刚刚接到伊朗和其他中东国家的请求，要求我们暂停任何攻击，因为双方已就协议的范围达成一致。这将包括霍尔木兹海峡的立即、完全和彻底开放……”。 特朗普总统今天还发帖称：“伊朗和其他中东国家刚刚要求我们暂停任何袭击，因为协议的框架已经达成一致。这将包括立即、全面、彻底地开放霍尔木兹海峡，以及结束伊朗的核威胁。” 特朗普总统补充道：“为了世界未来的利益，也为了伊朗的繁荣发展，我同意取消袭击，前提是能够迅速达成协议。以色列也认同这一承诺。” 据哥伦比亚广播公司新闻（CBS News）报道，多位消息人士透露，美国和以色列计划对伊朗的能源基础设施目标发动迄今为止最猛烈的轰炸行动之一，袭击最早可能在本周末发生。 特朗普总统7月31日在戴维营说：“我们会狠狠打击他们。总有一天，他们会说，‘我们再也忍无可忍了。’” 据报道，今天早些时候，沙特王储穆罕默德·本·萨勒曼（Mohammed bin Salman）与特朗普总统通话时警告，不要对伊朗发动新一轮打击。一位消息人士称，本·萨勒曼与特朗普总统的沟通“完全是出于对打击目标的担忧”。 由于“紧张局势加剧”，包括约旦安曼、以色列耶路撒冷和伊拉克巴格达在内的多个美国驻中东大使馆今天发布了安全警报。 美国国务院建议，“目前身处中东的美国公民应保持谨慎和高度警惕，并做好航班取消、空域间歇性关闭和旅行可能中断的准备。” 7月28日，美国和沙特宣布，对伊拉克境内受伊朗支持的武装分子进行了一次联合空袭行动。美国中央司令部（CENTCOM）表示，此次空袭是对过去72小时内这些武装分子发动的30多次无人机袭击的回应，这些袭击的目标是“美军和沙特能源基础设施”，并且是在伊朗革命卫队的指示下进行的。 7月28日早些时候，美国中央司令部确认，伊朗对美军驻驻中东军事基地发动了弹道导弹袭击，并称所有伊朗导弹均被拦截。 美国对伊朗的最新一轮直接空袭发生在7月29日。据美国中央司令部称，此次行动打击了伊朗的“军事指挥中心、导弹和无人机设施、海岸监视和防御设施以及海上作战能力”。…
8月1日华盛顿讯，美国国务院今天警告驻中东多地大使馆领区的美国公民，鉴于伊朗和美国之间日益紧张的局势，应保持警惕并做好航班取消的准备。 美国驻伊拉克、约旦和阿联酋大使馆均警告美国公民考虑立即离开该地区，或做好在冲突升级时离开的准备。 一位海湾国家政府高级官员和一位常驻海湾地区的外国外交官称，该地区已处于“高度戒备”状态，预计未来几天军事行动可能“升级”。由于事态敏感，这两位官员不愿透露姓名，他们补充说，整个地区将出现“严重的混乱”。 一位美国官员称，海湾国家已获悉美国和以色列可能对伊朗能源基础设施发动袭击。美国外交官表示，如果此类袭击发生，预计伊朗将以海湾地区的能源设施为目标进行报复。 此前，一艘在阿曼附近海域航行的油轮报告称夜间遭到袭击，另一艘油轮则称目睹附近发生爆炸。伊朗警告美国，美军封锁伊朗将导致关闭霍尔木兹海峡。科威特方面则承认，其防空系统遭遇了伊朗的无人机袭击。 此次冲突发生之际，美国媒体报道称，特朗普总统正准备最早于本周末对伊朗发动新一轮打击。此前，人们对通过谈判结束这场始于2月28日的战争的希望日益渺茫，而能源价格也在不断攀升。 据伊朗外长阿巴斯·阿拉格奇Abbas Araqchi）在社交应用Telegram上的账号显示，他今天分别与土耳其外长和巴基斯坦陆军司令通电话时强调，任何美国和以色列的“侵略”或地区国家的参与都将遭到“果断且相称的回应”。 一位伊朗官员警告称，美国的行动将迫使伊朗加强对关键海上通道的控制。伊朗最高国家安全委员会秘书穆罕默德·巴格尔·佐尔加德尔（Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr）在接受伊朗瓦纳通讯社（WANA）采访时表示：“美国政权继续实施海上封锁和挑起战争，不仅会进一步封锁霍尔木兹海峡，还会关闭其他海峡和咽喉要道。” 佐尔加德尔还表示：“全球经济、能源市场和美国选民都将为此付出代价。” 一个由英国海军支持的机构英国海事贸易行动中心（UKMTO）今天表示，他们收到报告称，一艘油轮遭到“不明弹丸”袭击，导致机舱受损。 该中心就这起发生在阿曼东北11海里的事件表示：“该油轮目前处于失控状态，地区海岸警卫队已接到通知。目前没有人员伤亡或环境影响的报告。” 该中心还确认，另一艘在阿曼附近海域航行的油轮报告称，“看到船只附近发生剧烈爆炸并溅起大量水花”。…
7月31日华盛顿讯，美国总统特朗普今天就一名联邦法官的严厉裁决提出上诉。该裁决认定，特朗普恶意提起100亿美元的诉讼，目的是为了达成一项对他有利的和解协议。 特朗普总统在公开表达不满数小时后，他向迈阿密联邦地区法院提交了上诉通知。此前，作为和解协议一部分而设立的17.76亿美元“法律战”(lawfare）基金被取消。 特朗普总统今天下午在戴维营举行的内阁会议上表示：“他们已经同意取消这项基金。但很多人对此非常不满。” 特朗普总统还抱怨说，他提名的美国司法部（DOJ部长托德·布兰奇（Todd Blanche）在美国参议院的提名程序陷入僵局，因为少数几位共和党参议员仍在寻求书面确认，以证明这项备受争议的基金确实已经终止。 这些参议员表示，他们尚未收到这一保证，这引发了人们的担忧：如果布兰奇获得确认，该基金可能会死灰复燃。 特朗普总统在内阁会议上说：“基金已经名存实亡了，但你知道，我希望它还在。” 随后他开始抱怨他的支持者遭到联邦执法部门的不公正对待。 今天下午，特朗普总统、他的两个成年儿子、特朗普集团以及他们的两名律师在一份联合文件中表示，他们将就法官凯瑟琳·威廉姆斯（Kathleen Williams）措辞严厉的裁决向美国第十一巡回上诉法院提起上诉。 威廉姆斯法官于7月13日裁定，该起诉讼表面上源于多年前一名美国国税局（IRS）前雇员泄露特朗普总统的纳税申报表，但实际上是为了“为一项没有任何法律或事实依据的‘和解’提供司法合法性”。 在今天提交上诉通知后，特朗普法律团队的一位发言人重申了之前的声明，抨击美国国税局泄密事件，并宣称：“特朗普总统将继续追究那些伤害美国和美国人民的人的责任。” 该和解协议包括特朗普总统及其共同原告撤销诉讼，以换取美国司法部设立一个17.76亿美元的基金，用于赔偿那些声称自己是政府法律战受害者的人。 布兰奇此前在美国参议院作证时，并未排除将部分资金用于赔偿那些在2021年1月6日国会大厦骚乱中被控袭击警察的人。特朗普总统几乎赦免了所有参与国会大厦骚乱的人，并经常对他们表示同情。 特朗普总统今天上午在社交媒体平台“真实社交”上发帖努力维护该基金时称：“我始终认为，这些政府滥用职权的受害者应该得到赔偿，因为他们被迫承受了这一切，他们的生活已经被毁了！”…