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Ike Kaveladze
House Intelligence Committee
November 2, 2017
Ike Kaveladze
House Intelligence Committee
November 2, 2017
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KAVELADZE:
Between the time I became a student of the Moscow Finance Academy and the graduation, I was drafted into the military. So I had 2 years in the Soviet military. The years were 1983, 1985
KAVELADZE:
Between the time I became a student of the Moscow Finance Academy and the graduation, I was drafted into the military. So I had 2 years in the Soviet military. The years were 1983, 1985
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KAVELADZE:
Yes, it is. So after graduation I spent 2 years working with a company called Crocus International, C-r-o-c-u-s, International. I believe I joined them around 1989 and I quit in 1991. It was Mr. Agalarov's company.
KAVELADZE:
Yes, it is. So after graduation I spent 2 years working with a company called Crocus International, C-r-o-c-u-s, International. I believe I joined them around 1989 and I quit in 1991. It was Mr. Agalarov's company.
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KAVELADZE:
Well, it was 1991 when I decided to continue my education in the
United States. I did -- I became a student City University of New York, Baruch College. In 1992, got married and that kind of delayed my return back to Russia, and apparently I decided to stay here
KAVELADZE:
Well, it was 1991 when I decided to continue my education in the
United States. I did -- I became a student City University of New York, Baruch College. In 1992, got married and that kind of delayed my return back to Russia, and apparently I decided to stay here
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KAVELADZE:
This idea was brought by the agent of Mr. Emin Agalarov, Mr. Rob Goldstone approached Emin Agalarov with a proposal, and it
materialized. Actually, we signed a set of documents on that Las Vegas -- during that Las Vegas meeting.
KAVELADZE:
This idea was brought by the agent of Mr. Emin Agalarov, Mr. Rob Goldstone approached Emin Agalarov with a proposal, and it
materialized. Actually, we signed a set of documents on that Las Vegas -- during that Las Vegas meeting.
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Q: Had you ever met Donald Trump at the time of the pageant?
KAVELADZE: Not at the time of the pa -- before the pageant in Vegas I met him.
Q: Had you ever met Donald Trump at the time of the pageant?
KAVELADZE: Not at the time of the pa -- before the pageant in Vegas I met him.
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SWALWELL: When was the next time you saw Donald Trump?
KAVELADZE: Next saw I saw Donald Trump was during the Miss
Universe Pageant in Moscow, November 8, 2013.
SWALWELL: Where did you see him in Moscow?
KAVELADZE: I saw him at Mr. Agalarov's birthday party.
SWALWELL: When was the next time you saw Donald Trump?
KAVELADZE: Next saw I saw Donald Trump was during the Miss
Universe Pageant in Moscow, November 8, 2013.
SWALWELL: Where did you see him in Moscow?
KAVELADZE: I saw him at Mr. Agalarov's birthday party.
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KAVELADZE:
The first time I met Ivanka was, I believe it was sometime in February 2014. I walked into Emin's office to discuss some business, and then his secretary called and said that Ivanka is at the reception, and he said to let her in and so she walked in.
KAVELADZE:
The first time I met Ivanka was, I believe it was sometime in February 2014. I walked into Emin's office to discuss some business, and then his secretary called and said that Ivanka is at the reception, and he said to let her in and so she walked in.
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SWALWELL: When you did see her next?
KAVELADZE: I saw her on June 9, 2016, when we walked out of the
meeting room, we were greeted by her. She was at the reception area. She said, hello and passed by us.
SWALWELL: When you did see her next?
KAVELADZE: I saw her on June 9, 2016, when we walked out of the
meeting room, we were greeted by her. She was at the reception area. She said, hello and passed by us.
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KAVELADZE:
This is when my recollection is kind of spotty, and I explain to you why, I don't remember -- like I read of newspapers articles about Jared actually leaving the meeting room earlier, but that's something I don't have a recollection of.
KAVELADZE:
This is when my recollection is kind of spotty, and I explain to you why, I don't remember -- like I read of newspapers articles about Jared actually leaving the meeting room earlier, but that's something I don't have a recollection of.
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ROONEY: Purposes of meeting was to discuss Magnitsky Act, which deals with Russian adoption. Your understanding of this meeting was supposed to be?
KAVELADZE: The meeting was about Magnitsky Act. It does not
deal with Russian adoption bill. It is two different topics.
ROONEY: Purposes of meeting was to discuss Magnitsky Act, which deals with Russian adoption. Your understanding of this meeting was supposed to be?
KAVELADZE: The meeting was about Magnitsky Act. It does not
deal with Russian adoption bill. It is two different topics.
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KAVELADZE:
Sergey Magnitsky was representing the Bill Browder, Bill Browder had some issues with Russian government. He left the country.
Russian government arrested Sergey Magnitsky, and he -- Sergey Magnitsky uncovered some schemes or...
KAVELADZE:
Sergey Magnitsky was representing the Bill Browder, Bill Browder had some issues with Russian government. He left the country.
Russian government arrested Sergey Magnitsky, and he -- Sergey Magnitsky uncovered some schemes or...
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KAVELADZE:
I suggested to go Mr. Agalarov the meeting should not be with these people but with attorneys. Since she -- since Natalia is attorney, I think the right thing would be to discuss this matter with someone -- attorneys from Trump Organization or somebody.
KAVELADZE:
I suggested to go Mr. Agalarov the meeting should not be with these people but with attorneys. Since she -- since Natalia is attorney, I think the right thing would be to discuss this matter with someone -- attorneys from Trump Organization or somebody.
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KAVELADZE:
I was not concerned. When I walked into the meeting I knew it's going to be about Magnitsky Act, because prior to the meeting I met with Ms. Veselnitskaya, and she gave me a synopsis of what she's going to be talking about. It was all about Magnitsky Act.
KAVELADZE:
I was not concerned. When I walked into the meeting I knew it's going to be about Magnitsky Act, because prior to the meeting I met with Ms. Veselnitskaya, and she gave me a synopsis of what she's going to be talking about. It was all about Magnitsky Act.
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KAVELADZE:
He listened to a presentation. One of them -- I'm not sure if it was Donald Trump Jr., maybe it was Kushner -- somebody said, do you have anything on Hillary? Rinat Akhmetshin answer was, no, why don't you do your own research on that.
KAVELADZE:
He listened to a presentation. One of them -- I'm not sure if it was Donald Trump Jr., maybe it was Kushner -- somebody said, do you have anything on Hillary? Rinat Akhmetshin answer was, no, why don't you do your own research on that.
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KAVELADZE: The thing which was in that synopsis, whatever they
distributed, was something which was not directly related to Magnitsky Act but could be qualified as something else, was the fact that Bill Browder's company in Russia is owned by a company called Ziff Brothers
KAVELADZE: The thing which was in that synopsis, whatever they
distributed, was something which was not directly related to Magnitsky Act but could be qualified as something else, was the fact that Bill Browder's company in Russia is owned by a company called Ziff Brothers
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ROONEY: So Rob Goldstone emailed you that there was going to be
this meeting, that your understanding was it was going to be about the act, but Rob Goldstone also at some point told Roman that there was also going to be a discussion about Hillary?
KAVELADZE: Correct.
ROONEY: So Rob Goldstone emailed you that there was going to be
this meeting, that your understanding was it was going to be about the act, but Rob Goldstone also at some point told Roman that there was also going to be a discussion about Hillary?
KAVELADZE: Correct.
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KAVELADZE:
Exactly, yeah. Because [Mr. a
Agalarov] did call me afterwards and asked me how the meeting went, and I gave a little report
![18\\KAVELADZE:Exactly, yeah. Because [Mr. aAgalarov] did call me afterwards and asked me how the meeting went, and I gave a little report](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EYxMGwLXsAItihK.jpg "18\\KAVELADZE:Exactly, yeah. Because [Mr. aAgalarov] did call me afterwards and asked me how the meeting went, and I gave a little report")
KAVELADZE:
Exactly, yeah. Because [Mr. a
Agalarov] did call me afterwards and asked me how the meeting went, and I gave a little report
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ROONEY: Who is [REDACTED]
KAVELADZE: That's [REDACTED]
ROONEY: There's an email from HER, June 15th, "How was the meeting with the Trump people? What happened?" I assume you had let her know beforehand that you were having this meeting with the Trump folks?
![19\\ROONEY: Who is [REDACTED]KAVELADZE: That's [REDACTED]ROONEY: There's an email from HER, June 15th, "How was the meeting with the Trump people? What happened?" I assume you had let her know beforehand that you were having this meeting with the Trump folks?](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EYxNLK9X0AAy05H.jpg "19\\ROONEY: Who is [REDACTED]KAVELADZE: That's [REDACTED]ROONEY: There's an email from HER, June 15th, \"How was the meeting with the Trump people? What happened?\" I assume you had let her know beforehand that you were having this meeting with the Trump folks?")
ROONEY: Who is [REDACTED]
KAVELADZE: That's [REDACTED]
ROONEY: There's an email from HER, June 15th, "How was the meeting with the Trump people? What happened?" I assume you had let her know beforehand that you were having this meeting with the Trump folks?
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ROONEY: And your response was, "Meeting was boring. The Russians did not have any bad info in Hillary." I assume you meant on Hillary. Is that correct?
KAVELADZE: Yeah.
ROONEY: And your response was, "Meeting was boring. The Russians did not have any bad info in Hillary." I assume you meant on Hillary. Is that correct?
KAVELADZE: Yeah.
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KAVELADZE:
No. But my daughter -- I mean, she's and. everything, but she was a Hillary supporter, and so she felt bad about someone producing dirt on Hillary. So I kind of calmed her down. There's nothing bad happened and was boring meeting.
KAVELADZE:
No. But my daughter -- I mean, she's and. everything, but she was a Hillary supporter, and so she felt bad about someone producing dirt on Hillary. So I kind of calmed her down. There's nothing bad happened and was boring meeting.
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SWALWELL: On June 6th, you were in Huntington Beach, by your boss, Mr. Agalarov, that on June 9th you needed to be in New York.
KAVELADZE: He told me to jump on a plane and fly to New York as soon as possible. Yeah.
SWALWELL: Did it seem urgent?
KAVELADZE: It did.
SWALWELL: On June 6th, you were in Huntington Beach, by your boss, Mr. Agalarov, that on June 9th you needed to be in New York.
KAVELADZE: He told me to jump on a plane and fly to New York as soon as possible. Yeah.
SWALWELL: Did it seem urgent?
KAVELADZE: It did.
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SWALWELL: You principally told him that in your June 7th conversation with Roman that you believed that at the meeting dirt on Hillary Clinton would be conveyed. Is that right?
KAVELADZE: That is correct. Roman is a childhood friend of Emin.
SWALWELL: You principally told him that in your June 7th conversation with Roman that you believed that at the meeting dirt on Hillary Clinton would be conveyed. Is that right?
KAVELADZE: That is correct. Roman is a childhood friend of Emin.
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SWALWELL: Okay. When did you talk to Mr. Agalarov when the
meeting wrapped up? How soon did you get back to him?
KAVELADZE: When the meeting wrapped up, I would say within 25
to 30 minutes, yeah.
SWALWELL: How did you communicate with him?
KAVELADZE: He called me
SWALWELL: Okay. When did you talk to Mr. Agalarov when the
meeting wrapped up? How soon did you get back to him?
KAVELADZE: When the meeting wrapped up, I would say within 25
to 30 minutes, yeah.
SWALWELL: How did you communicate with him?
KAVELADZE: He called me
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KAVELADZE:
Jr.'s side is that companies like Ziff
Brothers, they contribute to all parties. They're not only Democratic contributors, they contribute to both Republicans and Democrats, and it's not -- kind of the message was he was trying to convey that it's not important
KAVELADZE:
Jr.'s side is that companies like Ziff
Brothers, they contribute to all parties. They're not only Democratic contributors, they contribute to both Republicans and Democrats, and it's not -- kind of the message was he was trying to convey that it's not important
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KAVELADZE:
Well, Rinat approached Manafort he was busy texting or typing some messages on his phone. Rinat approached him, I think, prior to the meeting. Actually, when he walked into the room he saw Manafort and he says -- he said hello.Remember we met at some DC event.
KAVELADZE:
Well, Rinat approached Manafort he was busy texting or typing some messages on his phone. Rinat approached him, I think, prior to the meeting. Actually, when he walked into the room he saw Manafort and he says -- he said hello.Remember we met at some DC event.
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SCHIFF: To your knowledge, does Mr. Agalarov know Mr. Chaika?
KAVELADZE: To my knowledge, yes.
SCHIFF: Have you ever been in a meeting with Mr. Agalarov and
Mr. Chaika?
KAVELADZE: No.
SCHIFF: To your knowledge, does Mr. Agalarov know Mr. Chaika?
KAVELADZE: To my knowledge, yes.
SCHIFF: Have you ever been in a meeting with Mr. Agalarov and
Mr. Chaika?
KAVELADZE: No.
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KAVELADZE:
Roman said he overheard Mr. Goldstone talking about that
meeting being on the dirt. He also -- yeah, he definitely -- Mr. Goldstone
mentioned that to Roman, and Roman shared it with me.
KAVELADZE:
Roman said he overheard Mr. Goldstone talking about that
meeting being on the dirt. He also -- yeah, he definitely -- Mr. Goldstone
mentioned that to Roman, and Roman shared it with me.
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SCHIFF: If Mr. Putin, or someone close to Mr. Putin had requested
him to set up this meeting, would Mr. Agalarov have done it?
KAVELADZE: Again, my assumption, I guess he would.
SCHIFF: If Mr. Putin, or someone close to Mr. Putin had requested
him to set up this meeting, would Mr. Agalarov have done it?
KAVELADZE: Again, my assumption, I guess he would.
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SWALWELL:
But you did turn over to us an expense report that had a
$4,221.49 booking on July 4 to Aeroflot. Is that right? I can show it to you.
SWALWELL:
But you did turn over to us an expense report that had a
$4,221.49 booking on July 4 to Aeroflot. Is that right? I can show it to you.
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SWALWELL: Okay. So approximately six to ten times in 2016, you
went over to Russia on behalf of the work you were doing for Mr. Agalarov. Is that right?
KAVELADZE: Yes. But I really need to check my records.
SWALWELL: Okay. So approximately six to ten times in 2016, you
went over to Russia on behalf of the work you were doing for Mr. Agalarov. Is that right?
KAVELADZE: Yes. But I really need to check my records.
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Q: October 27 in The New York Times entitled, "Talking Points Brought to Trump Tower Meeting Were Shared With Kremlin." You've described throughout this interview the - some documents that Ms. Veselnitskaya provided to you
KAVELADZE: They look pretty close
June 9, 2016
Q: October 27 in The New York Times entitled, "Talking Points Brought to Trump Tower Meeting Were Shared With Kremlin." You've described throughout this interview the - some documents that Ms. Veselnitskaya provided to you
KAVELADZE: They look pretty close
June 9, 2016
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Q: Are you familiar -- do you know who Glenn Simpson is?
KAVELADZE: Well, now I know from the media. I didn't know
Q: And when did you first -- so you first learned about him from media
reports?
KAVELADZE: Yes.
Q: Are you familiar -- do you know who Glenn Simpson is?
KAVELADZE: Well, now I know from the media. I didn't know
Q: And when did you first -- so you first learned about him from media
reports?
KAVELADZE: Yes.
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SWALWELL: How about Boris Goldstein?
KAVELADZE: Boris Goldstein.
SWALWELL: Or Baruc Goldstein?
KAVELADZE: Boris Goldstein was the representative of Commercial
Bank of San Francisco. In early '90s, we've attempted to conduct some
business with him. last year 2000
SWALWELL: How about Boris Goldstein?
KAVELADZE: Boris Goldstein.
SWALWELL: Or Baruc Goldstein?
KAVELADZE: Boris Goldstein was the representative of Commercial
Bank of San Francisco. In early '90s, we've attempted to conduct some
business with him. last year 2000
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Boris Goldstein Commercial Bank
The practice of layering can make it virtually impossible for a depository institution in the United States that receives (layered) funds ... from tracing back the beneficial owner of the account,” said Jonathan Winer https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/san-francisco-bank-linked-to-laundering-probe-at-bank-of-new-york/
Boris Goldstein Commercial Bank
The practice of layering can make it virtually impossible for a depository institution in the United States that receives (layered) funds ... from tracing back the beneficial owner of the account,” said Jonathan Winer https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/san-francisco-bank-linked-to-laundering-probe-at-bank-of-new-york/
