“I proposed, as a return favor, two conferences in Moscow & rdquor ;. The person referred to by the Russian businessman based in Barcelona Alexander Dmitrenko before the judge Joaquin Aguirrewho investigates the alleged Russian plot of the ‘procés’, is the historian Josep Lluis Alayhead of the office Carles Puigdemont. Dmitrenko, who was denied citizenship by the Spanish government for his alleged links with the Russian intelligence services (which he denies), accompanied Alay to the Russian capital on both occasions, with whom he is linked, in his words, by a relationship ” friendly”, while at the same time thanking him for his intermediation in achieving accreditation as ambassador of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce in Russia. According to an international journalistic investigation, Alay took advantage of the trips to gather support for the ‘procés’.
The answer about Moscow went to questions from the prosecutor Fernando Maldonado and after questioning him thoroughly by the judge about his intermediation in a purchase and sale of liquefied gas between a Chinese and a Russian company, which, according to the investigators, could be a cover to achieve financing for the ‘procés’. Both the magistrate and the prosecutor expressed their surprise that Alay’s cell phone contained a conversation in which Dmitrenko announced to the head of Puigdemont’s office that “the €295,000” to Russia as a “guarantee payment & rdquor; of that business, to which he added: “Congratulations to all of us, first big step made & rdquor ;. “Very important & rdquor ;, the businessman answers.
In his statement, Dmitrenko denied that Alay had “no interest & rdquor; in this operation, but he assured that he wanted to explain it to her because he is his friend and considered that it was important for the “promotion & rdquor; of the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona. The businessman clarified that the 295,000 euros were a guarantee, but that the business amounted to $20 million. The alleged buyer was the Hong Kong company Gulf Energy Limited, which, moreover, did not have permission to import liquefied gas. In the end, the sale did not bear fruit and the 295,000 euros were kept by the Russian firm Intek Brokel. “I acted as an intermediary & rdquor ;, insisted the accused. “What relationship did Alay have with all this?” asked the judge. “None & rdquor ;, answered the Russian businessman, who appeared as a defendant.
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Dmitrenko reported that it was planned that the commission he should receive would be deposited in a current account in Russia of Artem Lukoyaniuv (who founded the AA Pluus Wealt Management company in London with him), “adopted son”, affect the agents, of Vladislav Surkovnicknamed ‘the gray cardinal’, an influential and mysterious former personal adviser to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. “It was easier to get paid in Russia. Artem, being my friend, gave additional impetus to the business because I expressed to the Chinese side that it was important in Russia” because “he is the adopted son of Surkov & rdquor ;, detailed Dmitrenko. “I thought that Artem would make the business more solvent and the Russian side would not do reckless things.” The judge reproached that all of this “lacks business logic”.
Alay explained to Puigdemont himself in July 2020 that Dmitrenko had been chosen as ambassador of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, at the same time that he qualifies him as “our contact with there and that you know in Geneva”. He also tells her that this election “opens up many things for us in Moscow.” The businessman underlined in his interrogation that he had nothing to do with the financing of the ‘procés’”. “Did you launder money from Russia through your companies?” the judge asked. Dmitenko was blunt: “Never & rdquor ;.