“Putin’s chef” suspected of interfering in US election
A total of 13 Russians are being charged by the US with interfering in the country's 2016 election, with suspicion of helping Donald Trump win the election.
Special prosecutor Robert Mueller, who is in charge of the investigation into alleged Russian interference in the US election - Photo: Reuters
On February 16, Mr. Yevgeny Prigozhin, along with 12 other people and three organizations from Russia, were charged by the US government with carrying out efforts to manipulate public opinion in the 2016 US election.
Prigozhin is a wealthy businessman and restaurateur said to be close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This information is noteworthy because it is a detail that can make many people lean towards the opinion that the Russian government is involved in this election interference accusation.
The AP news agency cited a 37-page indictment saying that Mr. Prigozhin and his close associates provided large funding to the Internet Research Agency (IRA), an organization based in St. Petersburg (Russia).
The IRA is accused of using social media posts and fake ads in the names of Americans to influence the race for the White House.
In 2016, Mr. Trump competed with Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton for the position of President of the United States. The US investigative agency opened a special investigation into the suspicion that Russia interfered in the US election and helped Mr. Trump win.
Robert Mueller is now the special prosecutor in charge of the case.
Mr. Yevgeny Prigozhin. Photo: Reuters
Reuters reported that the official overseeing Mr Mueller’s investigation said the probe was not yet complete. Court records said the Russians on the list had sent divisive information, traveled to the US to gather intelligence and visited 10 states.
In addition, the 13 Russians also created fake images that influenced the US election, for example depicting Mrs. Clinton in a prison uniform.
In a tweet on February 16, US President Trump wrote: "Russia began its campaign against the United States in 2014, long before I announced my intention to run for president. The election results were not affected. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion."
Thus, Mr. Trump still denies the idea that his election campaign colluded with the Russians. But this is still his most direct opinion on the suspicion of Russian interference in the US election, Reuters commented.
Meanwhile, information about the indictment of 13 Russians this time continues to receive opposition from Russia.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the accusation "absurd" and mocking, saying that a group of just over 10 people could influence American democracy.
As for Mr. Prigozhin, this businessman also reacted to the information that he was put on the US government's list of accusations as follows: "Americans are very sensitive. They see what they want to see. I respect them very much. I am not angry at all about being on that list. If they want to see evil, let them see it."
According to the American press, Mr. Prigozhin used to be a pastry seller, but opened one of the most "ostentatious" stores in St. Petersburg and caught the attention of President Putin.
Putin previously invited former French President Jacques Chirac to dinner at one of Prigozhin's restaurants. The Russian president has also attended many of Prigozhin's shows.
