Trump donor leading Caucasus fund has major Armenia holdings, Russia business history
US President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Trans-Caspian Enterprise Fund, a $201 million investment fund in the Caucasus, holds significant telecom and mining interests in Armenia, as well as a history in Russia-focused investment firms. Konstantin Sokolov, a 51-year-old Russian-born businessman, assumed control of the fund in January and owns major stakes in Viva Armenia, the top mobile phone company in Armenia, and purchased the country's second-largest copper and molybdenum mine earlier this year.
A review of similar US enterprise funds showed no directors had major investments in their countries of operation, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Ethics experts questioned whether Sokolov's business ties should warrant a thorough security clearance review to ensure US interests come first in the fund's management.
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