This is Madagascar. A jewel in the Indian Ocean. It just had a key presidential election. But there have been rumours of outside influence and suspicion of foreign funding on a large scale.pic.twitter.com/bL8yqwzn41
Show this thread
THREAD In the lead-up to Madagascar’s 2018 Presidential elections, teams of Russian 'tourists' and 'observers' were spotted on the island. Who were these Russians? What were they doing in the country? And who was backing them? #BBCAfricaEye investigates.pic.twitter.com/k4Hz6BJ2Ka
-
-
-
It all started with the arrival of a group of Russians in March last year, 8 months before the election. Most stayed in La Residence Ankerana, a secluded hotel in a quiet part of the capital Antananarivo.pic.twitter.com/DeH0OSpB8M
Show this thread -
Some Russians claimed to be 'tourists'. Others came to Madagascar to 'observe' the elections. So who were the men behind the suits and tourist clothing?pic.twitter.com/PxFsBXOG7I
Show this thread -
Many were political strategists. We identified four of them: Andrei, Roman, Vladimir, and Maxim. Back home, Andrei Kramar has strong political connections. Roman Pozdnyakov is a businessman. And Vladimir Boyarishchev has a history in the diamond trade.pic.twitter.com/lfwIZwIYyE
Show this thread -
Maxim Shugaley entered Madagascar as an election observer. But in Russia, Maxim is a veteran political strategist. A gun for hire for candidates in multiple elections back home.pic.twitter.com/BQJT0z3Lvf
Show this thread -
So what were these Russians doing in Madagascar, far from their home? Andrei, Roman and Vladimir quickly made friends with Pastor Mailhol, founder of the Church of the Apocalypse. He was a presidential candidate, claiming to have 1.5 million followers.pic.twitter.com/QoRJ7fm6V1
Show this thread -
The three Russians came to Pastor Maihol bearing gifts. A case filled with cash. They also paid his deposit to enter the presidential election.pic.twitter.com/NE6bFku1rr
Show this thread -
Of the 36 candidates, at least six were offered money by Russians. One of the others targeted was Jean-Omer Beriziky, a former Prime Minister running for President for the first time. The Russians promised him about $2 million, he says.pic.twitter.com/mNL4t9pmDm
Show this thread -
Maxim Shugaley was leading the team working with Beriziky. Onja Rasamimanana, Beriziky's campaign manager, met him 4 months before the election. Far from acting as an impartial observer, Maxim was apparently seeking to control the candidate’s campaign.pic.twitter.com/OyAFuES106
Show this thread -
Russian influence on the island had grown in the years leading up to the elections. Lucrative trade ties were discussed in Moscow and high-level military accords have been signed in Madagascar.pic.twitter.com/elCtUST9B6
Show this thread -
Back on the campaign, it wasn’t just money on offer. The Russians were promoting events to help get their candidates' messages across. At one of them, there was a special guest: Kemi Seba. A controversial but popular figure. A leading campaigner for a united Africa.pic.twitter.com/G5LXmY5dBk
Show this thread -
In the meantime, a front-runner was emerging in the election race. Andry Rajoelina, candidate number 13. He had been president once before, brought to power in a military coup in 2009.pic.twitter.com/mg0KoUBTTp
Show this thread -
Up until now, the Russians had supported a number of candidates. But with a clear front-runner emerging, it was time to cut ties with some. On the eve of the elections, there was bad news for Pastor Mailhol.pic.twitter.com/S4RDX4qCDJ
Show this thread -
The Pastor refused to pull out. He’d been hearing rumours. And his Russian bodyguard, Konstantin, had been transferred to the campaign favourite.pic.twitter.com/FDV06LniFM
Show this thread -
Things weren’t looking good at the Beriziky campaign either. The team was beginning to feel sidelined and then the Russians asked them to withdraw and support another candidate.pic.twitter.com/AcTm0WmKFM
Show this thread -
Beriziky wouldn't tell us who the other candidate was. But his campaign manager did. The answer was Andry Rajoelina, the candidate now poised to win.pic.twitter.com/1CsUgV812R
Show this thread -
Who was behind the Russian political strategists operating in Madagascar? We don't know. But unconfirmed media reports claim it is this man, Yevgeny Prigozhin.pic.twitter.com/fwGP62PHB4
Show this thread -
Mr Prigozhin is close to President Putin and was indicted in the US for alleged criminal interference in the 2016 presidential election - a charge which he denies.pic.twitter.com/82Txwyi2lN
Show this thread -
In several African countries, Mr Prigozhin is said to be financing similar teams in forthcoming elections. This is what his office told the BBC in response to those allegations:pic.twitter.com/ekkX4LYQWD
Show this thread -
Andrei, Roman, Vladimir, and Maxim did not respond to requests to comment. Oleg Zakhariash, a member of the Russian group insisted that no candidates had withdrawn from the election. He also said that he was in Madagascar to study the social and economic situation.pic.twitter.com/YTxKlNAYxC
Show this thread -
Kemi Seba responded to the allegations about his involvement with the Russians in an interview with our reporter
@Galaelle.pic.twitter.com/KBbFKU3m4uShow this thread -
It’s the last days of the campaign. Andry Rajoelina is completing his tour of the country by helicopter. And we’ve come to ask whether candidate number 13, on the verge of the presidency, is his own man.pic.twitter.com/9hHrPKekU1
Show this thread -
Andry Rajoelina certainly won the support of his own people. On January 19 he was sworn in as president. The country’s new leader is already a wealthy man, and there’s no evidence he accepted any Russian money.pic.twitter.com/QEXsEu4TLF
Show this thread -
But teams of Russians did seek to shape these elections, and weak laws in Madagascar seemed to have opened the door to foreign interference.pic.twitter.com/GCyrbAe3cH
Show this thread -
Watch the full Madagascar investigation on
@youtube here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wH64iztZM0 …Show this thread -
#BBCAfricaEye investigation led, filmed, produced, and edited by@Galaelle ,@nicksturdee,@BERTINET5, and@Yaolri. With key contributions from@Soshnikoff,@Emmawells1,@skazal_on,@CapteursO,@BenDoBrown,@y_vdw,@christogrozev and many others!#NothingStaysHiddenForeverShow this thread End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.