Rochdale Conservative Association is to give £2,500 to a Ukrainian cause after accepting a donation for the same amount from a millionaire businessman with links to Russia and Vladimir Putin.
Electoral Commission records show that Mohamed Amersi made the payment in November 2019 and it was reported and published early the following year. Mr Amersi describes himself as a ‘renowned global communications entrepreneur, philanthropist and thought leader’. Together with his Russian partner Nadezhda Rodicheva, he has donated nearly £500k to the Conservative Party since 2018.
But his business dealings have come to the fore recently, with serious questions being asked over his links to individuals with connections to Russia. These include Leonard Bogdan, who has been linked to Vladimir Putin’s security services and Leonid Reiman, said to be a ‘top crony’ of the Russian president.
