Statue of Themis at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. File photoWASHINGTON, Mar 14U.S. authorities have charged Russian businessman Andrey Muravyov with illegally financing the 2018 American election campaigns, the Justice Department said. It claims that Muravyov, along with alleged accomplices, hoped to obtain a license to retail marijuana in this way. «Andrey Muravyov, a Russian citizen, is suspected of trying to influence the 2018 election by colluding to provide $1 million of his overseas assets to candidates and campaigns. He attempted to corrupt our political system to further his business interests,» Attorney Damian Williams said in a ministry press release. US authorities believe the 47-year-old Muravyov is on the loose and hiding in Russia.The court convicted Parnassus of violating election finance laws.» The purpose of these contributions was to garner the support of candidates who could help Muravyov and his co-conspirators obtain cannabis and marijuana licenses. Muravyov's money was used to offset and fund political donations… Florida, Nevada and Texas,» the ministry said. Muraviev also agreed to donate funds to politicians in the states of New York and New Jersey. Among his alleged accomplices, the American authorities name Andrei Kukushkin, Igor Fruman and Lev Parnas, who were previously charged. According to a number of media reports, the headquarters of former US President Donald Trump could also be the recipient of illegal donations. The local press also claimed that Parnassus and Fruman were helping Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani to conduct his own investigation into the activities of current President Joe Biden and his family in Ukraine. />AP releases recording of Trump's talk about Russia-Ukraine confrontation
