This is from Lucian Kim, NPR's International Correspondent based in Moscow, Audio Interview with: Alexander Paraschiy, the Chief of Research at the Ukrainian investment Bank Concorde CapitaLand and Daria Kaleniuk is the head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, an Advocacy Group in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Despite Advertising as One of Ukraine's Biggest Independent Gas Producers, Burisma, where Joe Biden's Son Hunter sat on the Board, is Registered in Cyprus and is Invisible in Kyiv.
Hunter Biden served for about Five years on the Board of a Burisma. For part of that time, his Father, Vice President Joe Biden, was the Obama Administration's Point Man on Ukraine. That led President Trump to Call for a Ukrainian Investigation into the Bidens. And that now we got to the Impeachment Inquiry.
Practically All of Ukraine's Powerful Businessmen have Natural Gas Interests, Mykola Zlochevsky Founded the Company Burisma. It grew into One of Ukraine's Largest Private Natural Gas Producers while Zlochevsky served as Ukraine's Environment Minister in Charge of Handing Out Drilling Licenses.
During his time of being a Minister, he had a Lot of Power. And he was able to Consolidate some Small Companies which were Producing Natural Gas.
After the Bloody Revolution on Kyiv's Streets Five years ago, Mykola Zlochevsky, like many other Government Officials, Fled the Country.
That Started a Burisma Money Laundering Investigation and Questions over How it had Obtained its Licenses.
So hiring some Reputable Guys with Recognition in the World is one of the Easiest and maybe Cheapest ways to Protect your Business in Ukraine. Burisma Appointed Hunter Biden to its Board of Directors, and he did receive $50,000, when he Attended Meetings. A Former President of Poland also Joined the Board.
One of the reasons Burisma and Zlochevsky were Inviting People with such Names was to Whitewash Burisma's Reputation and to present themselves as the Company which is doing Legitimate Business in Ukraine.
Daria Kaleniuk is the Head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, an Advocacy Group in Kyiv. He said
I haven't seen any evidence of Hunter Biden doing something illegal in Ukraine or outside of Ukraine. I think what he did was unethical, for sure.
In other words, the Appearance of a Conflict of Interest arose because Hunter Biden's Father, Joe Biden, was Responsible for U.S. Policy on Ukraine as Vice President. But Joe Biden, like many other Western Leaders, was Criticizing Ukraine exactly because it Failed to Convict a Single High-Level Official for Corruption, including Mykola Zlochevsky, the Owner of Burisma.
As for Burisma, the Company has continued to try Burnishing its Reputation. In 2017, it added another American to its Board, Cofer Black, a former CIA Official and a Foreign Policy Adviser to Mitt Romney's Presidential Campaign.
But for a Company with Global Ambitions, it's hardly Transparent. Burisma is Registered in Cyprus and keeps a Low Profile in Kyiv. Nobody knows where its Owner, Mykola Zlochevsky, lives. But behind the Scenes, he's Continuing to Buy Influence.
Burisma supports the Atlantic Council, a Washington Think Tank, and Hosts an Annual Energy Conference on the French Riviera attended by the Prince of Monaco and Former European and U.S. Government Officials.
Hunter Biden No longer Works at Burisma. He Left the Company earlier this year as his Father was Launching his Presidential Campaign.
I am 25% Ukrainian, my Mother's Mother was born in Kyiv.
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