Simeon Boikov, a pro-Russian activist living in Australia and known online as the “Aussie Cossack,” received financial support from a controversial Russian organization. This group, named Pravfond, is reportedly connected to Russian intelligence services. Documents now show that Pravfond helped pay for Boikov’s legal expenses while he hid inside the Russian consulate in Sydney to avoid arrest.
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Boikov had fled to the consulate in December 2022 after being convicted for assaulting a protester who supported Ukraine. At the time, Boikov was already on parole after serving four months in jail for breaking a court order. This order prevented him from naming a person accused of a serious crime. His actions led to another arrest warrant, but instead of facing the police, Boikov took shelter inside the Russian consulate.
Newly obtained emails, including around 50,000 internal messages from Pravfond, were shared with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and media partners, including Australia’s ABC News. These emails reveal that Pravfond gave thousands of dollars to Boikov’s legal team. His wife had applied multiple times to Pravfond for financial help, seeking money to cover court cases and negotiations with police. One application from late 2022 asked for over $36,000 in Australian dollars. Another, submitted in 2023, requested more than $30,000.
The emails show that a law firm in Sydney, Sydney City Crime, received these funds. Invoices show specific amounts, such as $11,000 and $28,600, paid for Boikov’s legal representation. Despite this, Boikov’s lawyer, Mark Davis, told the media he had no dealings with Pravfond and said all bills were paid by Boikov or his wife directly. He also noted that his firm no longer represents Simeon.
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Pravfond’s Shocking Ties to Russian Intelligence
Pravfond, short for the “Foundation to Support and Defend the Rights of Compatriots Living Abroad,” was created in 2012. While its public mission is to protect the rights of Russians living overseas, intelligence agencies across Europe say the organization is actually used by the Russian government to spread its influence. Officials from Estonia and Latvia described Pravfond as an extension of Russian intelligence. They claim the group works undercover to run operations targeting foreign countries.
Previous reports have shown that Pravfond provided support to some of Russia’s most infamous figures. These include Viktor Bout, a convicted arms dealer, and Vadim Krasikov, a Russian assassin found guilty of killing a man in Berlin in 2019. Several high-ranking Pravfond officials, including its deputy director Vladimir Pozdorovkin, are believed to be former intelligence officers.
For Simeon, Pravfond’s involvement went beyond just money. The foundation reportedly lobbied on his behalf and even tried to get Russian officials to intervene in his legal troubles. Boikov admitted that the idea to apply for Pravfond’s help likely came from someone at the Russian embassy. He claimed this was a rare gesture of sympathy, as he had not received support from the embassy before.
Boikov told reporters that his legal troubles were exaggerated and politically motivated. He called his sentence harsh and unfair, describing it as punishment for simply being outspoken in support of Russia.
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Boikov’s Propaganda Work and Russian Citizenship
While staying at the consulate, Simeon continued his pro-Russian media work. He used Telegram, a social media app, to share Russian propaganda with over 90,000 followers. He was officially employed by Russia Today (RT), a state-owned media group, and his job included creating news content for audiences in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
In one of the emails, Boikov asked Pravfond to help him expand his studio inside the consulate. He said his broadcasts were the most active Russian information effort in the English-speaking world. Pravfond also helped him obtain Russian citizenship. A decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2023 confirmed this. Boikov later thanked the foundation, saying receiving his passport was one of his happiest moments.
The emails further reveal that Boikov and his wife complained about poor treatment inside the consulate. They accused Consul General Igor Arzhaev of locking Boikov inside an apartment, limiting his communication, and making threats. Boikov compared the treatment to being in prison. Pravfond responded by contacting senior Russian officials and promised to continue helping Boikov.
In a later message, Simeon said he feared the Consul General might hand him over to Australian police. He expressed a strong desire to be sent directly to Russia instead and made it clear that he would not agree to be arrested or face Australian authorities.
Boikov’s link to Pravfond paints a larger picture of how Russian-backed groups are operating globally. Despite the serious nature of the charges he faced, Boikov used his time at the consulate to grow his media presence and build stronger ties with Russian authorities. Pravfond’s support not only helped him stay out of jail longer but also boosted his status as a Russian citizen and propaganda voice abroad.