RAISE COUNTRY RISK ON ANTIGUA AFTER SCANDAL INVOLVING ECONOMIC ENVOY RESIDENT IN RUSSIA NOTWITHSTANDING INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS

"Special Economic Envoy" Kemal Nicolson

Compliance officers kindly take note that a very public diplomatic passport scandal involving KEMAL NICOLSON, a citizen of Antigua & Barbuda, who was officially designated by his country's leader, GASTON BROWNE as "Special Economic Envoy to the Russian Federation," has exposed the fact that Antigua was actively courting Russian investment there, and Citizenship by Investment passport sales, notwithstanding massive and universal international sanctions on Russia, due to the Ukraine invasion.

Nicolson, a self-styled "citizenship expert," is the owner of CINVEST MIGRATION, a Dubai-based Antigua passport sales company who reportedly had a license to sell Grenada CBI passport products, though the legitimacy of of the license has been called into question, allegedly attempted to sell a Grenada diplomatic passport illegally to a dodgy foreign national. Such passports violate the UN treaty on Diplomatic Relations, and should her considered void ab initio. Money was paid, but no passport was ever delivered, according to independent reports from the region. 

As you can from the text below, Nicolson, who resides in Russia, was seeking Russian investment capital for Antigua, as well as applicants for Antigua' CIP ( Citizenship by Investment) passport sales programme. Antigua CBI passports, which can be obtained under English language variations of an applicant's name, which defeats computer searches for compliance purposes, allow Russians to evade international sanctions, purchase dual purpose and military equipment.

Quote from one of Nicolson's websites follows:

"I am a Special Economic Envoy of Antigua Barbuda currently living in Москва, Россия. My interests range from politics to Diplomacy. I am also interested in International Relations."

Readers will recall that Antigua previously conferred the Special Economic Envoy title upon the accused Colombian money launderer, ALEX NAIN SAAB MORAN, who is now awaiting trial in United States District Court in Miami, Florida.

Given that Antigua & Barbuda is actively soliciting Russian business, including passport sales, which could give the Russian Federation the ability to evade international sanctions, on goods and services that are forbidden, the risk level in any transaction involving Antigua, its citizens, government, nationals, financial institutions and commercial enterprises must be increased to HIGH-RISK status. It is suggested that all compliance officers avoid approving any substantial financial transactions (wire transfers) involving the sale of goods, so long as US sanctions against Russia remain in place. Otherwise, there is a substantial risk of the imposition of significant civil fines and other penalties for any sanctions violations that occur due to transactions with any Antigua individual or entity.