US intelligence agent inquired into confidential details of real estate deals, Turkish newspaper reports
The Central Intelligence Agency has « openly » threatened Turkish businessmen for doing business with Russia, interfering in their real estate transactions for fear of possible evasion of US sanctions, the daily Yeni Safak reported on Friday.
The newspaper has learned that the head of the CIA office in Turkey allegedly called high-ranking employees of a construction company, inquiring about transactions and other confidential details of recent property purchases involving entities or individuals. Russians.
According to the report, the CIA officer interrogated businessmen under the guise of monitoring anti-Russian sanctions imposed by the United States. He was interested in knowing the exact number of « houses sold to Russianswhich channels and currency were used for transactions, and whether payments were made through a bank or cash on hand.
Another example of what has been described by Turkish media as « meddle in matters that are out of [US authorities’] to have towas a letter reportedly sent by US Assistant Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo to the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD) on August 22.
According to the media, Adeyemo had threatened to impose sanctions on TUSIAD members involved in business relations with Russia. The association confirmed the letter without disclosing its contents, adding that it had shared it with the Turkish ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance.
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It comes amid growing concerns among Western countries over Turkey’s expanding trade and energy cooperation with Russia and deepening ties between the two nations that could help Moscow circumvent US-imposed sanctions. and the EU on the conflict in Ukraine.
Last week, Adeyemo had a telephone conversation with Turkish Deputy Finance Minister Yunus Elitas, during which he « rraised concerns that Russian entities and individuals are trying to use Turkey to evade sanctions put in place by the United States and 30 countries,said the U.S. Treasury Department minutes.
Turkey responded by saying it would not allow the « violate“US sanctions, while maintaining its”balance» position on the Ukrainian conflict.
Although Turkey has condemned the Russian military operation in Ukraine, it remains the only NATO member that has not imposed sanctions on Moscow or closed the airspace to Russian flights.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had previously positioned himself as an intermediary between Ukraine and Russia. Turkey hosted ultimately unsuccessful peace talks in March but later helped broker a deal to resume Ukrainian grain shipments to world markets via the Black Sea.
