In his asset declaration worth millions of dollars, the US ambassador openly acknowledged that he had received funds from an associate of Russian oligarch Mikhail Prokhorov. What remains uncertain, however, is the precise nature of the legal services provided by David Pressman to the pro-Putin financier's associates, enabling them to successfully evade sanctions. What is certain, though, is that this collaboration has significantly boosted the diplomat's earnings, despite his consistent criticism of Hungary.
Mysterious legal services
The US diplomat, who recently lectured Hungary for maintaining relations with Russia, may have ties to Mikhail Prokhorov, one of Russia's ten wealthiest individuals. International press reports suggest that Mr Prokhorov is successfully sidestepping the adverse impacts of economic sanctions.
Before his appointment to our country, Hungary, David Pressman spent two years working at the law firm Jenner&Block, which,
according to its website, has extensive experience in international sanctions and export regulations.
Mr Pressman's assets declaration was published after the diplomat's ambassadorial assignment. In it, he revealed that he, as an employee of Jenner&Block, had provided legal services to a woman named Ellen Pinchuk, who is none other than the person in charge of managing Mikhail Prokhorov's US dealings.
In 2010, the Russian oligarch acquired the Brooklyn Nets, a professional NBA team, and it was Ellen Pinchuk, a fluent Russian speaker, who played a pivotal role in organizing Mr Prokhorov's US media appearances and image-building for this deal. Her efforts were so successful that the oligarch has garnered positive exposure, including a favorable spotlight on the renowned American '60 Minutes' program, and a positive profile piece in The New York Times.
Russian dollar carries no scent, either
According to information in the international press,
Mr Prokhorov has skillfully evaded international sanctions aimed at Russian billionaires,
proactively preparing for the tightening and extension of punitive measures initiated in 2014. The tycoon's determination to avoid sanctions is evident, as he recently obtained Israeli citizenship, presumably with a view to eluding such punitive measures. Consequently, it comes as no surprise that there are calls from Ukrainians for Mr Prokhorov to face sanctions from the international community.