The View From Ukraine: Here’s The Backstory Behind The Crimes That Landed Manafort In Court

Paul Manafort has seven years of prison ahead of him.

But what was the real gravity of his crimes?

During two trials, prosecutors focused in on wrongdoing that emanated from his time working for exiled Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his wealthy backers.

I covered elements of Manafort’s time in Ukraine while working as a journalist there, an experience that gave me a good sense of the kind of government Manafort was abetting, and where the tens of millions of dollars he received came from. (Hint: the regime is accused of stealing $40 billion.)