ian businessmen began trying to make inroads into the new
administration. The most senior levels of the Russian government encouraged these efforts.
The Russian Embassy made contact hours after the election to congratulate the
President-Elect and to arrange a call with President Putin. Several Russian businessmen
picked up the effort from there.
</p><!--l. 97--><p class="indent" >   Kirill Dmitriev, the chief executive officer of Russia&#x2019;s sovereign wealth fund, was among
the Russians who tried to mak