Received money from the Kremlin for “protecting” Russian-speakers: the Rada has launched an investigation into consultant Salmina – media

Journalists have established that Yana Salmina, who works as the chief scientific and expert consultant at the Verkhovna Rada Office, received funds from the Russian government for pro-Russian projects in Ukraine before taking office.

This is stated in the investigation of “Schemes” (Radio Liberty).

Journalists learned about Salmina’s activities from the “Pravfond” – an organization created by Putin that provides grants for “compatriots abroad.”

As it turned out, the official was attracting money from the Russian Federation to work in the Verkhovna Rada to spread narratives about the “need to protect Russian-speaking people on the territory of Ukraine.” She had been doing this since 2012.

In November 2016, Salmina organized a roundtable in Kyiv on the protection of the rights of national minorities, primarily Russian-speaking ones.

Half a million rubles of funding, which came from Russia, was allocated for the roundtable and analytical study on “protection of minority rights.” The projects were implemented by the organization “Center for the Protection of Minorities,” which Salmina has headed since its founding.

In addition, journalists are convinced that the woman also worked as a lawyer and project manager at the NGO “Russian-Speaking Ukraine”, where, according to documents, she was a lawyer and project manager.

However, it turned out that the official was responsible for attracting funding from the Pravfond – preparing grant applications and creating approved projects.

It is noted that Salmina could have traveled to Russian territory at least three times after the Kremlin’s aggression began. She made trips to Moscow by air via Belarus or by land transport, crossing the border in Sumy region.

The purpose of the visits was probably to meet with the curators.

“Schemes” called Salmina, however, after hearing questions about funds from the Russian “Pravfond” for the implementation of projects in Ukraine, she hung up and did not respond to subsequent attempts to communicate with her. Journalists sent the civil servant a message with a list of questions. However, at the time of publication, they had not received a response,” the investigation states.

Among other things, journalists have established that the civil servant’s father is a citizen of the Russian Federation. He works for the Russian military-industrial complex, and the weapons he produces are used, in particular, against Ukraine.

It is now known that the Verkhovna Rada’s Office has begun verifying the facts about Salmina made public as part of the investigation. They have ordered an internal audit and have contacted the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Security Service of Ukraine.

“The apparatus adheres to the principles of zero tolerance, in particular to any threats to national security. Given the information contained in your appeal, the apparatus sent copies of it to the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption to verify the facts set forth within their competence,” the Council’s response stated.

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