Since 2014, Russia has secretly spent more than $300 million in more than 20 countries to influence domestic political processes. The Russians made lavish gifts and payments in cash or cryptocurrencies.
This is stated in a CNN report, citing administration official Joe Biden, who owns the relevant intelligence data. Russia tried to influence politicians and other officials abroad.
The United States shared data with the states against which Russia's actions were directed
The report said that intelligence had determined that Russia secretly transferred more than $300 million during this period and “planned to transfer hundreds of millions more to foreign political parties, officials and politicians in more than two dozen countries on four continents.”
A CNN source added that not all cases of money transfers were detected.
The American official explained that in this way the Kremlin was trying to strengthen specific parties and blow up democracy in certain countries. According to him, the United States shared this data with states against which Russian retaliatory actions were directed.
A Biden administration official said that Russia's attempt to influence the domestic political situation in other countries is “a global phenomenon that requires coordinated action.” The official stressed that parties that accept money from Russia will be exposed.
Russian hidden political influence poses a serious problem for the US, US administration official said.
CNN reports that Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has sent intelligence community findings to embassies around the world.
Such interference has been documented in the Balkan countries – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania.
“Russia has the dual benefit of covert political funding: influencing the recipients and parties and increasing the likelihood that these parties will do better campaigns. Covert relationships between these parties and their Russian benefactors undermine the integrity of democratic institutions and the public's faith in them,” Blinken emphasized.
The Secretary of State revealed how Russia interferes in the internal political processes in other countries. We are talking about generous gifts, payments in cash or in cryptocurrency, the movement of funds through shell companies and think tanks, as well as the use of accounts and resources of Russian embassies.
The United States does not disclose how much Russia spent in Ukraine
The Associated Press also reported that the US State Department released a diplomatic cable that was sent on Monday to many US embassies and consulates abroad.The cable does not name specific Russian targets, but says that the United States is providing classified information to individual countries on this matter. A senior administration official declined to say how much money Russia is believed to have spent in Ukraine.
