Meetings on Thames

One of the key sponsors of the British exit from the European Union (Brexit), entrepreneur Arron Banks again became the object of attention of the media that tend to adhere to the version of Russia's intervention in the campaign. The Observer publication received information that the businessman met with the Russian ambassador to the kingdom Alexander Yakovenko, more often than before, which Banks himself recognized. Journalists claim that they have documents indicating that there were 11 such meetings.

In addition, as specifies The Guardian with reference to its own sources, the meetings took place before the referendum and within two months after it. At the same time, it is argued that the Russian embassy sent Banks four more invitations, but it is not completely clear whether he accepted them or rejected them.

Recall that in early June The Sunday Times reported that the businessman and the Russian Federation’s connections were “further and deeper” than previously considered. Then the official London said that there is no evidence of the Kremlin’s intervention in the campaign or voting on Brexit. However, after publications, Banks nevertheless admitted that he met Yakovenko a couple of times.

“I have never seen such a confusing story in my life. Yes, I had lunch with the Russian ambassador twice and we had business contacts. And what?" He said in response to questions from journalists.

However, this answer was not arranged by the National Agency for Crime Crime, which stated that he would study the connections of Arron Banks with Moscow. It must be recalled that back in November last year, a special commission studying the possibility of Russia's interference in a referendum began an investigation into a businessman in order to find out the origin of funds donated to the Brexit advertising campaign. In particular, Banks Better for the Country introduced £ 2.36 million, he gave 6 million on his own personally as an individual. According to the law, it was possible to use only the money received within the country in the advertising of the UK exit from the EU.

It must be added that Banks does not deny meetings with the Russians. The first of them was held in November 2015 In the residence of the ambassador of the Russian Federation in London on the initiative of the Russian side. The businessman even wrote about her in his book Brexit Boys, saying that the parties discussed the prospects for Britain’s exit from the European Union, Donald Trump and a transaction with gold mining assets in Russia.

Later The Bell wrote that at the same time Yakovenko tried to reduce Banks with entrepreneur Siman Povarenkin for the deal to buy six gold deposits in Siberia for a transaction.

“He was presented at one of the meetings at the embassy as a major investor who is interested in investments in Russia and, in particular, in the golden sector. We made for him a brief overview of the Russian Golden Market, medium and large private and public companies that work on it, and he disappeared. Never directly, nor indirectly, nor in writing, no transaction with this citizen was discussed, ”the businessman The Bell himself explained.

Experts compare the situation with Brexit in the UK with history in the US presidential election, when Russia was accused of interfering in election processes.

“This (investigation against Banks) also occurs outrageously late and solipsist. British commentators and persons responsible for making decisions are aware of Russian atrocities in the US policy, where the investigation of Robert Muller, dedicated to interference in the elections, is ominously moving forward. Some lines of this investigation relate to the action in the UK, ”writes Edward Lucas in the Postimees column in the Center-Policy Analysis column in the Center-Policy Analysis column.

The fact that Banks’s connections with Russia are indisputable, the American press also claims. Oil is added to the fire by the fact that he is married to Russian Ekaterina Paderina.

“It impresses that Banks, married to the daughter of one Russian state building, may have been looking for business recommendations in the eastern areas. At least once Russian ambassador to Britain Alexander Yakovenko volunteered to help him invest money in some gold mines in Siberia. Banks denies that at least something came out of this proposal, ”says Anne Applum, the observer of The Washington Post .

Brexit supporters accuse the opponents of the UK exit from the European Union of trying to undermine the confidence in the 2016 referendum, declaring Russia's intervention, and thus achieve a second vote. Note that representatives of the Russian authorities have repeatedly denied any involvement in the results of the referendum in the kingdom.