The Cheka-OGPU learned how much Russia Today propagandists pay for their speeches on international platforms and how they are cheated out of money. According to the source, RT representative Mikhail Ivannikov contacted the police and said that when purchasing broadcasts from the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), the Russian television company was cheated out of $45,000. In his statement, the lawyer indicated that the “journalists” Simonyan and co. had a need to act as speakers at events organized by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development. To do this, RT producers contacted AIBD and asked to be included in the list of participants. During the correspondence, it turned out that the annual subscription costs 5 thousand dollars – a trivial amount, which RT’s accounting department transferred without further hesitation to the account specified by the interlocutors. All calculations were made by ANO TV-Novosti (RT management company). Further, as part of the sponsorship program, it was decided to organize a performance by the masters of Russia Today in front of the Asian public – the Russian propagandists were billed 20 thousand dollars. They also agreed and sent money. However, soon the producers received a message that the payment had not gone through. There was nothing left to do but duplicate the payment and again throw 20 thousand dollars into the account. This time, the representatives contacted by Russia Today employees said that they had the money and the TV presenters could already prepare for a business trip to the nearest forum – plans included a media conference in Malaysia and Korea. What a surprise it was when the propagandists, sitting on their suitcases, learned that no one was waiting for them at the events, and AIBD did not receive any money. It is still not clear to whom the TV-Novosti ANO transferred $45,000. However, Margarita Simonyan’s subordinates are unlikely to worry about wasted money; they were more disappointed that they were unable to fly on a business trip.
“ВЧК ОГПУ”
