Money Laundering Update Continued

Vladimir Kuznetsov, who we previously discussed here and here, pleaded not guilty to charges that he conspired to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars from foreign companies seeking lucrative UN contracts.^[1] Bail was set at $1.5 million, but Mr. Kuznetsov’s lawyer said that it was unlikely that bail could be arranged this week.^[2]

UN deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe, referring to the fact that the indictment does not name the procurement officer with whom Mr. Kuznetsov is alleged to have worked, stated that the charges against Mr. Kuznetsov do stem from an internal investigation of Alexander Yakovlev, who pleaded guilty to money laundering nearly a month ago.^[3]

Ms. Okabe also clarified something that we mentioned in our last post about Mr. Kuznetsov. When the story first came out, it was stated that “Vadim Kouznetsov” had been arrested. It turns out that he is a different Russian who works in the Department of General Assembly Affairs, but he has no connection with this case.^[4]

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[1] Pat Milton, Russian Envoy Pleads Not Guilty to Charges, Wash. Post, Sept. 3, 2005, available here.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.