Poisoner-in-chief

3-13-2018   Ivan Kivelidi, a senior banker who headed Russia's business round table, died in 1995 after being poisoned by what was until now an unidentified substance.  "It was one of its first versions, the base for Novichok, less toxic," said Vladimir Koshelev, a former officer in the GRU military intelligence agency who is now a colonel in its reserves.   Kivelidi's death was the result of "a drop, a milligram divided by 10, [that] was placed onto his phone," Koshelev told Euronews in an interview in Moscow . He added that despite the nerve agent being less potent than subsequent versions, not only was the target killed but so was his secretary and the pathologist who examined the body.  

-Vladimir Koshelev

http://www.euronews.com/2018/03/13/novichok-nerve-agents-were-used-in-1995-killing-ex-russian-agent-says       

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3-8-18   "Those who serve us with poison will eventually swallow it and poison themselves....We are a great power, and no one likes competition," the Great Poisoner said.
https://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/russias-foes-will-be-served-poison-putin-36682387.html
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6. (C) XXXX told us that Moscow's ethnic criminal groups do business and give paybacks. It is the federal headquarters of the parties, not the criminal groups, who decide who will participate in politics. XXXX argued that the political parties are the ones with the political clout; therefore, they have some power over these criminal groups.

9. (S) XXXX told us everyone knows that Russia's laws do not work. The Moscow system is based on officials making money. The government bureaucrats, FSB, MVD, police, and prosecutor's offices all accept bribes. XXXX stated that everything depends on the Kremlin and he thought that Luzhkov, as well as many mayors and governors, pay off key insiders in the Kremlin. XXXX argued that the vertical works because people are paying bribes all the way to the top. He told us that people often witness officials going into the Kremlin with large suitcases and bodyguards, and he speculated that the suitcases are full of money. The governors collect money based on bribes, almost resembling a tax system, throughout their regions. XXXX described how there are parallel structures in the regions in which people are able to pay their leaders. For instance, the FSB, MVD, and militia all have distinct money collection systems. Further, XXXX told us that deputies generally have to buy their seats in the government. They need money to get to the top, but once they are there, their positions become quite lucrative money making opportunities. Bureaucrats in Moscow are notorious for doing all kinds of illegal business to get extra money.

10. (S) According to XXXX, Luzhkov is following orders from the Kremlin to not go after Moscow's criminal groups.12. (C) According to many observers, the lawless criminal climate in Russia makes it difficult for businesses to survive without being defended by some type of protection. XXXX explained how bribes work in Moscow: a cafe owner pays the local police chief via cash through a courier. He needs to pay a certain negotiated amount over a certain profit. The high prices of goods in Moscow cover these hidden costs. Sometimes people receive "bad protection" in the sense that the "krysha" extorts an excessive amount of money. As a result, they cannot make enough of a profit to maintain their businesses. If people attempt to forego protection, they will instantly be shut down. For example, officials from the fire or sanitation service will appear at the business and invent a violation. According to XXXX, everyone has bought into the idea of protection in Moscow, so it has become a norm. In general, Muscovites have little freedom to speak out against corrupt activities and are afraid of their leaders.

13. (C) XXXX explained that Moscow business owners understand that it is best to get protection from the MVD and FSB (rather than organized crime groups) since they not only have more guns, resources, and power than criminal groups, but they are also protected by the law. For this reason, protection from criminal gangs is no longer so high in demand. Police and MVD collect money from small businesses while the FSB collects from big businesses. According to XXXX the FSB "krysha" is allegedly the best protection. He told us that, while the MVD and FSB both have close links to Solntsevo, the FSB is the real "krysha" for Solntsevo. This system is not an incentive for smaller businesses and nobody is immune; even rich people who think they are protected get arrested. According to Transparency International's 2009 survey, bribery costs Russia USD 300 billion a year, or about 18 percent of its gross domestic product. XXXX argued that the "krysha" system has led to an erosion of police internal discipline. For instance, young police officers spend their money buying luxury vehicles that a normal worker could never afford.                -US Ambassador to Moscow John Beyrle   12 February 2010

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SIPDIS 

EO 12958 DECL: 02/11/2020    https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/248674

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