Geoana campaign allegations – Controversy with Russian businessman involved in pro-war propaganda (press)

Political strategist Rareș Mănescu, a former coordinator of Mircea Geoană’s campaign team—who is running for the Romanian presidency—has become involved in a controversial business partnership. Shortly after leaving Geoană’s campaign team, Mănescu registered a new company with Russian businessman Aleksei Kozlov, an aquaculture specialist with a controversial background tied to pro-Russian propaganda.Kozlov, who describes himself as a fishing fanatic, appears to be hiding a secret identity. Under the name Alex Krepchinsky, he was identified as a fervent propagandist, active after the 2014 invasion of eastern Ukraine, promoting pro-Russian sentiments and acting against Ukrainian interests. According to journalistic investigations, Krepchinsky was involved in recruiting activists for the Russian cause and even offered rewards for collecting information on Ukrainian citizens. The Connection Between Mănescu and Kozlov Rareș Mănescu has avoided answering questions about his business partner’s propaganda activities. However, documents obtained through a public information request show that Mănescu and Kozlov established their company on May 31, just months after Mănescu stepped down from Geoană’s campaign.Although Geoană stated that Mănescu "was never my campaign manager," internal documents from his organization reveal that Mănescu played an active role in the preparatory phase of the campaign. An email dated April 5 referred to Mănescu as a coordinator in Bucharest, and on April 13, he was scheduled to speak with activists about the progress in creating the campaign’s organizational structure. Despite this evidence, Mănescu claims he left the campaign in May, coinciding with the time when he entered into the business venture with Kozlov.Kozlov, aka Krepchinsky: A Double Identity? Although Kozlov denies using the alias Krepchinsky, substantial evidence suggests otherwise. Dozens of photos, news articles, interviews, and social media comments have been analyzed by organizations such as Truth Hounds, which confirmed that Kozlov and Krepchinsky are the same person.Among Krepchinsky’s activities were the promotion of pro-Russian ideas in eastern Ukraine and participation in Russian propaganda broadcasts. In a 2016 interview with Vesti FM, a Russian state radio station, Krepchinsky described his visits to the war-torn Donbas region in Ukraine. Additionally, travel documents show that Kozlov visited Crimea multiple times between 2015 and 2020, further strengthening suspicions of his dual identity. Dangerous Connections: Business with a Dubious Partner The business partnership between Mănescu and Kozlov through their company, Beluga Ventures, raises numerous concerns given Kozlov’s past. Under his Krepchinsky identity, Kozlov was involved in pro-Russian propaganda activities, while publicly presenting himself as an aquaculture expert. In previous interviews, Kozlov said that his passion for fishing eventually turned into a business, and Moldova, where he established another aquaculture company, Noida Group SRL, became his base for expanding into Romania and the rest of the European Union.Questions remain regarding the connection between Mănescu and Kozlov, especially given the latter’s ties to dubious figures, including mercenaries involved in the Ukraine conflict and individuals associated with organized crime. An Unresolved Mystery Despite evidence suggesting that Kozlov and Krepchinsky are the same person, the Russian businessman continues to deny any involvement in pro-Russian propaganda activities. “I am a peaceful person with a humane profession,” Kozlov stated, adding that the images showing him as Krepchinsky were fakes created by "fraudsters" who extorted and blackmailed him.

Geoana campaign allegations – Controversy with Russian businessman involved in pro-war propaganda (press)

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