FBI has launched an investigation into the Democratic Party lobbyist, Nicolas David Muzin, known as Nik Muzin.
Sources told Top Channel that investigations have started following information on Russian financial resources that went into a network of companies as a payment for lobbyists who a year ago helped the Democratic Party of Albania, local media say.
While the prosecution in the capital is investigating the falsification of forms, as long as it is alleged that the Democratic Party has submitted false financial data to the CEC (Central Commission of Election).Sources from the investigation team say for Top Channel they will address the US by a letter to complite the file where Nik Muz is mentioned that has paid to establish contacts in Washington for the Democratic Party.
During the week, prosecutors asked the Secretary General of the Democratic Party, Arben Ristani, who repeated that stands his official version of the party on the issue.
For an investigation launched mainly since November 2017, Albanian prosecutors have a CEC report on the Democratic Party's funding, but recently in a US article published in "Mother Jones" magazine, Russian businessman also comes to light.
Prosecutors say they will require additional documents from the Treasury's tax branch to verify payments filed by the Democratic Party. The latter says he has paid $ 150,000 for lobbying to "Biniatta Trade" company. But in turn, the American magazine "Mother Jones" presented the funding scheme. According to the Muzin company, which supplemented with additional information its declarations legally binding on the Department of Justice, has received three payments, in the amount of $ 675,000, for its work in favor of the Democratic Party in 2017.
The first payment is dated March 24, 2017, and is made by the company 'Biniatta Trade LP', worth of $ 150,000, the other two payments were made by the Democratic Party, one on March 27, for $ 25,000, and the other on June 9 for $ 500,000.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party says has paid only $ 150,000 for lobbying. Debate and investigations in Washington and Tirana have begun for $ 525,000 and sources of funding, due to statements made by the company of Muzin.
Since the recent presidential election, in the United States, there is a heated debate on the Russian intervention, and long-time investigations into Moscow's intervention in Trump's campaign involving high-level officials have been ongoing. So law enforcement agencies and authorities in the US are so sensitive when it comes to Russia's political or financial intervention.