CGA’S Galeotti in Russian media over US allegations against Singer
The US Treasury’s decision to take action against Grigory Lepsveridze — better known as Grigory Leps — whom they allege is connected with Russian organized crime has created a furore in Russia, where he is one of their highest-grossing popular musicians. Not only are people wondering why an entertainer whose earnings for this year alone are reportedly $15 million would courier money for drug barons, but the claim that he is connected to a criminal organization called the “Brother’s Circle” (whose existence is questionable and denied by the Russian authorities) has made this a hot political topic. CGA’s Prof. Mark Galeotti, an authority on Russian crime, has been much in demand, including an interview for Russian TV channel NTV’s flagship news program. The concern is inevitably that these allegations will only hinder efforts to improve law-enforcement cooperation between Russia and the USA.