Jan Marsalek's Wildest Schemes: Espionage, Warlords, and Disinformation

Kian Kleinmith's Unconventional Life

• 💡 Kian Kleinmith, a former UN official, reveals his involvement in one of Jan Marsalek's most outlandish schemes.
• 🌍 Kian's life has been unconventional, from goat farming and roofing to stunt work and extensive humanitarian and peacekeeping roles in dangerous conflict zones.
• ⚠️ A violent home invasion in Uganda in 1991, where he was beaten and threatened, profoundly impacted Kian, leading him to intentionally immerse himself in violent environments.
• ⚡ He describes working in war zones like South Sudan, Somalia, and Zaire, transforming from a "soft goat keeping hippie guy" into a tough manager, experiencing adrenaline highs that felt like an addiction.

The Humanitarian-Business Nexus

• 🤝 After three decades with the UN, Kian left in 2014 to start an aid consultancy, finding himself in demand due to the migrant crisis.
• 💰 He felt disillusioned by the focus on fundraising and short-term solutions, believing business could play a larger role in stabilizing regions.
• 🇦🇹 An Austrian lobbyist introduced Kian to Jan Marsalek, COO of Wirecard, who expressed interest in funding humanitarian projects in Libya.

Marsalek's Grand Ambitions and Russian Ties

• 🧐 Kian initially researched Marsalek, finding Wirecard to be a significant DAX company, lending credibility to the venture.
• ✈️ Marsalek boasted of his experiences in Syria, claiming to have been with the Russian Wagner Group, even showing photos of himself in military gear.
• 🗺️ Marsalek proposed a plan to Kian to create a military force in Libya to train and equip border guards, aiming to control migrant flows and influence political stability.
• 💰 Kian was promised €200,000 for a feasibility study on stabilizing Libya, but the money never materialized, and invoices were directed to a non-existent "Libyan Russian Institute" in Moscow.

Escalating Suspicion and Danger

• 🏠 A meeting at Marsalek's Munich villa revealed his boredom with Kian's humanitarian plans and his excitement about graphic video footage of Russian mercenaries killing prisoners.
• ⚠️ Marsalek's stated goal of converting militia men into border guards in Libya, funded and controlled by him, was a key moment where Kian realized something was seriously wrong.
• 🇷🇺 A military contact later confirmed Marsalek's close ties to Russian intelligence, specifically the GRU, solidifying Kian's fears.
• 🚨 Kian attempted to raise concerns with the Austrian ambassador to Libya, who cryptically warned him to be careful, suggesting potential danger.

The Wirecard Collapse and Aftermath

• 💥 In June 2020, Wirecard collapsed due to a €2 billion fraud, and Jan Marsalek vanished, reportedly flying to Manila but actually escaping via a private plane from Austria to Belarus.
• 🕵️ Kian went public with his testimony to a German parliamentary committee investigating Wirecard, despite ongoing fears and financial struggles.
• ❓ The revelations about Marsalek's activities in Libya, coupled with the Wirecard fraud, raised further questions about his exclusive allegiance to Russia and the extent of his involvement in the fraud.