However, between 2014 and 2016, Cambridge Analytica repeatedly communicated and held at least three business meetings with representatives of the Russian oil giant Lukoil. The Russians specifically
requested and received from Cambridge Analytica information regarding the use of social media and data to target American voters.
While the SCL Group, a British political and defense contractor, and its affiliate Cambridge Analytica denied the talks were political in nature, a company founder told the New York Times, Lukoil was interested in “data to tailor messaging to American voters.”
Lukoil has been on the U.S. list of Russian entities targeted for Ukraine-related
sanctions since September 2014.
In November 2000, Lukoil acquired
Getty Petroleum Marketing and its 1,300 gas stations in the United States.
In early 2000's, Lukoil was the target of a
criminal investigation involving a multi-million-dollar cash smuggling scheme using the U.S. financial system.
Lukoil’s president,
Vagit Alekperov, is #37 on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest people. He is also known for his
loyalty to Russian President Vladimir
Putin.