Russia launches probe into terrorism funding involvement of US, NATO officials

MOSCOW -- The Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case on the suspected involvement of Western officials in terrorism financing, it said in a statement Tuesday.

The criminal case was initiated following the request from Russian lawmakers and other officials to investigate the financing of terrorist activities by senior officials of the United States and NATO countries, according to the statement.

The committee said it has found that funds received through commercial organizations, in particular, the Ukrainian-based oil and gas company Burisma Holdings, have been used in recent years to carry out terrorist acts in Russia.

The investigation is examining the sources and the flow of funding "in the amount of several million US dollars," as well as the involvement of specific Western officials and individuals from commercial and public organizations, it added.