The bankers began to extensively donate to, and work with, ACF.

Leonid Volkov told Financial Times that starting in 2021, Leontiev had been donating $20,000 a month, or $240,000 a year, to ACF. He may have been donating before 2021, but this data was not revealed. Currently, ACF is not reporting these donations.

Besides, Zheleznyak, Probusinessbank’s former chairman of the board, founded ACF’s U.S. branch. He was and still is the organization’s CFO. ACF has various titles registered across the U.S. But public records see him mentioned as either vice-president or CFO or principal officer.

Here is an example of Zheleznyak signing the important documents on behalf Anti-Corruption Foundation Inc. On behalf of the foundation's New York branch, Zheleznyak authorized the incorporation of ACF's affiliate into the Virginia jurisdiction.

ACF’s public support of the bankers makes the political persecution narrative a compelling case both for the courts and for the public opinion.