Got any evidence to disprove this testimony, kane?
MR. QUIGLEY: So did you ever serve with the GRU?
MR. AKHMETSHIN: No, sir.
MR. QUIGLEY: Any other Russian intelligence service?
MR. AKHMETSHIN: No, sir. My active military service was between ages 18 and 20, and I really kind of was still a kid.
MR. QUIGLEY: Any communication with any Russian intelligence service?
MR. AKHMETSHIN: No, sir.
MR. QUIGLEY: Any of their attempts to communicate with you?
MR. AKHMETSHIN: No, sir.
MR. SWALWELL: What were some of the intermediate goals (of the Trump Tower meeting)?
MR. AKHMETSHIN: First, to bring attention to U.S. Congress to the fact that original story of Mr. Magnitsky is a false story.... So one of the goals is just to expose that Mr. Browder is a liar.
MR. SWALWELL: And it's fair to say this is also the belief of Russia's President, Vladimir Putin. Is that right?
MR. AKHMETSHIN: I cannot speak for Mr. Putin, but it was definitely my belief, sir.
MR. CONAWAY: So, getting back to the meeting at Trump Tower, Donald Jr., it has been reported in the public media that one of the triggers for — one of the incentives for getting the meeting was that Natalia, her group, you, others, would provide the Trump campaign with opposition research on Hillary Clinton. Were you aware of that?
MR. AKHMETSHIN: I'm not aware of that, sir.
MR. CONAWAY: You're not aware that that was the meeting, or you're not aware of the public reporting after that?
MR. AKHMETSHIN: I — no, no, I read news stories. Sadly, it was in many of them. I did not do any research, opposition research on Hillary Clinton or anyone else from the campaign. ...It was not about repealing sanctions, as it's continuously being reported by the media.
MR. SCHIFF: The only connection between any of this and adoptions is that after the Congress passed the Magnitsky Act, Putin retaliated by cutting off the adoptions by Americans of Russian children, correct?
MR. AKHMETSHIN: Correct. It was cowardly act. I personally find it disgusting.
MR. SCHIFF: And so, when you say you're working to facilitate the reinstatement of American adoptions, it's really working to repeal the Magnitsky Act, is it not?
MR. AKHMETSHIN: No, sir.
MR. SCHIFF: Did you ever tell Steve Levine, an editor for Axios, that you were an officer in the Soviet GRU?
MR. AKHMETSHIN: Never.
MR. SCHIFF: So if Mr. Levine was quoted as saying that you, quote, "openly described his meeting, your years as an officer in the Soviet GRU, the military intelligence arm, serving in Afghanistan," that would be a false statement by Mr. Levine?
MR. AKHMETSHIN: It was an inaccurate statement by Mr. Levine, which he later adjusted, and he has published recently an article where he addressed that...there is zero accuracy to this reporting. And it is very hurtful and unfortunate.