Former Russian President and Putin Ally urges Texas to leave US and become independent country and form Texas/Russian Relations

[Polds4OSU]

Putin’s top crony has crazy plans for US state to separate from country and he is calling it "Texit"​

‘The Texas People’s Republic’? Though this may sound like a joke over a Lone Star after watching a Matthew McConaughey film, it is a narrative pushed by one of Vladimir Putin’s top allies. Former president of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, who is famous for maniacal public statements, has now endorsed a ‘Texit’ - the separation of Texas as an independent state from the US

In January, he warned of what might come as a result of the White House’s ‘total inability to cope with the migration crisis’ in one of the largest states. Medvedev has now doubled down on his claims, suggesting a friendship between ‘The Texas People’s Republic’ and Donetsk People’s Republic, formed of occupied Ukrainian territory

We are all waiting for the conclusion of an agreement on friendship and cooperation between the TPR and the DPR – the Texas People’s Republic and the Donetsk People’s Republic Medvedev said

In an interview with Russian state media, Medvedev said that Texas is a ‘wonderful place’ and recalled that he was there at George Bush’s ranch. ‘Speaking seriously, 20 years ago this would have seemed nonsense,’ he added. ‘The US is a very strong country. But now it is completely discussed'

This is not the first time that allies of Putin have endorsed the breakup of states. Russia has also supported independence movements in Catalan, Scotland, and the Republika Srpska, which seeks to secede from Bosnia

Although Medvedev’s claims were previously dismissed by the US Department of State as ‘standard Kremlin nonsense,’ they appear to be part of a broader mission to diminish Western unity

 

[milehighpoke]

I would love nothing more. I've even come up with a great new name: "Gilead".

 

[CowboyJD]

I would love nothing more. I've even come up with a great new name: "Gilead".

Alabama has already trademarked that for their state.....

 

[Polds4OSU]

Russian national with ties to Vladimir Putin arrested in Austin​

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Vadim Wolfson, a Russian national and current U.S. legal permanent resident, was arrested earlier Thursday in Austin by local federal task force officers, according to court records.

Documents state Wolfson is the founder of Bank Otkritie, formerly one of the largest privately-held banks in Russia, before he moved to the U.S. around 2018.

Among those assets were a luxury home in Aspen, Colorado, which was primarily used by Wolfson, and two luxury superyachts valued at over $135 million, according to the Department of Justice.

In 2018, Kostin was sanctioned and designated a Specially Designated National and put on the Blocked Persons list (“SDN List”) by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”).

“Unless otherwise authorized or exempt, transactions conducted by U.S. persons, including U.S. financial institutions, or occurring in the United States are prohibited if they involve transferring, paying, exporting, withdrawing, or otherwise dealing in the property or interests in property of an entity or individual listed on the SDN List,” documents state.

According to court records, Kostin was made aware that the U.S. was likely going to impose new sanctions that would target Russian oligarchs as a result of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.


A news report cited in the court documents state Kostin was aware there was “a high risk his name would be added to a new U.S. list of people close to Vladimir Putin, but that he was unfazed by the prospect.”

The indictment states Wolfson moved to New York around 2018 where he resided at the time but does not specifically reference why Wolfson was in Austin.

KXAN found two property records in Austin listing Wolfson as the owner, a nearly 4.5-acre ranch in southwest Austin purchased by Wolfson in 2020, and a home in west Austin’s affluent Tarrytown neighborhood purchased by Wolfson in 2022.

The two properties are valued at nearly $10 million, according to property records.

According to the DOJ, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:

“As alleged, sanctioned oligarch Andrey Kostin and his co-defendants flouted U.S. sanctions to support his exceptionally lavish lifestyle. Through complex schemes involving shell companies and illicit transactions, Kostin and his associates allegedly laundered funds and illegally made transactions with U.S. currency for the maintenance and enhancement of Kostin’s superyachts and luxury Aspen home, blatantly disregarding U.S. law. This investigation highlights the collaborative efforts of this Office and our law enforcement partners around the globe to uphold critical sanctions put in place to support our national security goals and hold accountable those who seek to undermine them.“