European Center for Geopolitical Analysis (ECAG)

The European Center for Geopolitical Analysis (ECAG) is a Warsaw-based think tank founded in 2007 by Mateusz Piskorski, leader of the pro-Russian Zmiana political party. Piskorski is known for his controversial visits to Crimea to support Russia’s 2014 annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine. Since May 2016, he has been under arrest on suspicion of spying for Russia, though prosecutors have not disclosed the specific allegations. His colleagues at ECAG are known in Poland for promoting Eurasianism, a pan-Slavic movement popularized by Russian political scientist Alexandr Dugin that advances the idea of a conservative “Eurasian” civilization anchored by Russia.

ECAG received €21,000 through Crystalord Ltd., a Laundromat company, for “consulting services” in May 2013, despite the fact that Polish law prohibits the organization from carrying out for-profit business activities.

When questioned about this transaction, Marcin D., the organization’s CEO, refused to confirm the transfer or to be interviewed further. The organization’s former treasurer, Marian S., confirmed the €21,000 transaction and said that the money was transferred to another bank shortly afterwards. The destination of this pass-through payment is unknown.