Russians Train Troops in Central African Republic; Oligarch Close To Putin Behind Russian Mercenaries
CHURCH: We have more now of CNN's exclusive reporting on a secret private army, doing the bidding of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The kremlin's fears about our investigation became evident as a CNN crew was followed all the way to Africa. Here's chief international correspondent, Clarissa Ward.</s>WARD: This is boot camp, for recruits to a new army in the war-torn Central African Republic. The troops are being taught in Russian. The weapons are Russian too. It's taken months to get access to this camp. Officially, this is a U.N.-approved training mission. But the Russian instructors won't talk to us or even be identified because they are not actually soldiers, they are mercenaries. Sponsored by a Russian oligarch with close ties to the kremlin, they are the sharp end of an ambitious drive into Africa, stoking fears in Washington of Russian expansionism. Valery Zakharov is the man in charge here, a former military intelligence officer, he is now the security adviser to the Central African Republic's president.</s>VALERY ZAKHAROV, SECURITY ADVISOR TO CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC PRESIDENT (through translator): Russia is returning to Africa, we were already present in many countries during the time of the Soviet Union, and Russia is coming back to the same position. We still have connections and we are trying to reestablish them.</s>WARD: That's not the only reason they're here. The Central African Republic is rich in natural resources, golds and diamonds, and the Russians want them. We are on our way to one of seven sites where a Russian company has been given exploration rights. One of the challenges of trying to nail down exactly what the Russians are doing here is that once you get outside the capital, this is still a very dangerous and chaotic country. And just last year, three Russian journalists were actually ambushed and killed while working on a story about Russian mercenaries. The drive is bruising and long, along rodded tracks to a tiny village of straw huts. And then, we have to cross a river, on this hand- pulled ferry. Local teenager, Rodriguez, agrees to show us where the Russians have been active. It's another bumpy ride through the bush. The last part of the journey is on foot. We asked the workers if they have seen any Russians. So, he's saying that earlier this year, there were a lot of Russians here looking for diamonds. Rodriguez says the Russians now employ hundreds of workers on artisanal mines like this, across the area. In the pit, a group of teenagers pan through the sand, in the search for a precious fragment. Whatever they find, they say must be handed over to the Russian's agent.</s>WARD: So, it's interesting, these guys are saying that the Russians who visited this spot actually came from the training camp at Baringo that we visited. It's pretty clear they're doing more than just training troops here. CNN has learned that the mining exploration rights have been given to a company called Lobaye Invest. Lobaye is part of a sprawling business empire owned by this man, Yevgeny Prigozhin, an oligarch close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has been sanctioned by the U.S. for meddling in the 2016 election. And a CNN investigation based on hundreds of documents has established that Prigozhin's companies are also providing the mercenary muscle. He is believed to be the man behind Wagner, Russia's most notorious private military contractor. On our return to town from the mines, we noticed we are being followed. We tried to approach, but the car drives off. We catch a glimpse of four white males. All but one hide their faces from our camera. There is no license plate. Police later confirmed to us that they are Russians. Near our hotel, we spot the vehicle again. We try to get closer, but the men drive off. So, we're back at our hotel now. But a little bit shaken up because that car full of Russians have been following us for quite some time. We don't know why we don't know what they want. Mindful of the murder of the journalists last year, we leave town the next day. But back in the capital, Bangui, Russia's growing influence is impossible to escape. On the streets, even on the airwaves. Radio lingo sango features African music and lessons in Russian. No surprise, perhaps that it is funded by Prigozhin company, Lobaye Invest. The manager tells us the station wants to deepen cooperation between the two nations. And in a country where education and entertainment are in short supply, it seems that plenty of people are listening. American officials say they are greatly concerned by Russia's actions here, and that they undermine security. But with the U.S. shrinking its footprint across Africa, and with minimal official Kremlin involvement, Putin has little to lose. For Russia, this is a straight forward bargain. They provide the weapons in the Kremlin, and in return, they get access to the country's natural resources. And in the process, how to reassert themselves is a major player in this region. It's a campaign for hearts and minds and hard power. And Russia is moving quickly to get a step ahead of its rivals. Clarissa Ward, CNN, the Central African Republic.</s>CHURCH: And CNN has tried repeatedly to get a comment from Yevgeny Prigozhin through his company, Concorde Catering. But our requests have gone unanswered. Prigozhin strongly denies any links to Wagner. The Russian government also denies links to any mercenary groups. Well, for Jeffrey Epstein's accusers, it is another setback.</s>SPENCER KUVIN, LITIGATION DIRECTOR, THE LAW OFFICES OF CRAIG GOLDENFARB, WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: With his suicide -- apparent suicide, you know they've been robbed again of that chance to face their accusers in open court.</s>CHURCH: Coming up, the next legal step on a scandal that began years ago. We're back in just a moment.