HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019741.jpg
1.55 MB
Extraction Summary
6
People
2
Organizations
5
Locations
2
Events
3
Relationships
4
Quotes
Document Information
Type:
Book excerpt / congressional oversight production
File Size:
1.55 MB
Summary
This document is page 253 from a book (likely by Edward Jay Epstein, based on the filename) regarding the author's pursuit of an interview with Edward Snowden in Moscow. The text details a conversation with Oliver Stone, the difficulties faced by journalist James Bamford in securing access, and the author's hiring of a Moscow 'fixer' named Zamir Gotta to navigate Snowden's lawyer and gatekeeper, Anatoly Kucherena. The page contains a Bates stamp 'HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019741', indicating it was part of a congressional document production.
People (6)
| Name | Role | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Edward Snowden | Subject |
Subject of the book being written; living in Moscow.
|
| Oliver Stone | Filmmaker |
Had dinner with the author; discussed the author's book and Snowden.
|
| Anatoly Kucherena | Lawyer |
Identified as Snowden's gatekeeper and lawyer in Moscow.
|
| James Bamford | Journalist |
Interviewed Snowden for Wired in 2014; described the difficulty of setting up the meeting.
|
| Zamir Gotta | Fixer / TV Producer |
Retained by the author to arrange a meeting with Snowden in Moscow.
|
| Author (Narrator) | Writer |
Writing a book about Snowden; seeking an interview. (Likely Edward Jay Epstein based on filename 'Epst' and context).
|
Organizations (2)
| Name | Type | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Wired |
Magazine that published James Bamford's interview with Snowden.
|
|
| Hotel National |
Hotel in Red Square where the author was advised to stay.
|
Timeline (2 events)
2014
Locations (5)
| Location | Context |
|---|---|
|
Russia; where Snowden is located and where the author is traveling.
|
|
|
Location Bamford traveled to while trying to set up an interview.
|
|
|
Location Bamford traveled to twice.
|
|
|
Location Bamford traveled to multiple times.
|
|
|
Location of the Hotel National in Moscow.
|
Relationships (3)
Kucherena is described as Snowden's lawyer and gatekeeper.
Author retained Zamir Gotta as a 'fixer'.
They had dinner and discussed the author's book.
Key Quotes (4)
""What is it about?" Stone asked me."Source
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Quote #1
"He said that I "might want to speak to Anatoly [Kucherena].""Source
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Quote #2
""I have been trying to set up an interview with him [Snowden]—traveling to Berlin, Rio de Janeiro twice, and New York multiple times to talk with the handful of his confidants who can arrange a meeting," Bamford recounted in Wired."Source
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Quote #3
""There is only one door to Snowden," Zamir wrote to me. "His name is Kucherena.""Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019741.jpg
Quote #4
Full Extracted Text
Complete text extracted from the document (2,285 characters)
Off to Moscow | 253
expressed concern to him about the direction of the book I was writ-
ing. "What is it about?" Stone asked me.
ing. "What is it about?" Stone asked me.
I was taken aback. I had no idea that Snowden was aware of my
book. (I had not tried to contact him.) I told Stone that I considered
Snowden an extraordinary man who had changed history and was
intentionally vague in my description of my book's contents. Stone
seemed to be reassured, so I asked him about the possibility of my
seeing Snowden in Moscow. He said that I "might want to speak
to Anatoly [Kucherena]." Kucherena, it seemed to me, was clearly
Snowden's gatekeeper.
book. (I had not tried to contact him.) I told Stone that I considered
Snowden an extraordinary man who had changed history and was
intentionally vague in my description of my book's contents. Stone
seemed to be reassured, so I asked him about the possibility of my
seeing Snowden in Moscow. He said that I "might want to speak
to Anatoly [Kucherena]." Kucherena, it seemed to me, was clearly
Snowden's gatekeeper.
In Snowden's two years in Moscow, he, or his handlers, had granted
only a handful of face-to-face press interviews. Most of these were
with the journalists who had published his story, but one was with
James Bamford for his 2014 Wired piece. According to Bamford, it
took nearly nine months to arrange the meeting. "I have been try-
ing to set up an interview with him [Snowden]—traveling to Ber-
lin, Rio de Janeiro twice, and New York multiple times to talk with
the handful of his confidants who can arrange a meeting," Bamford
recounted in Wired. After my dinner with Stone, I hoped to find a
quicker route.
only a handful of face-to-face press interviews. Most of these were
with the journalists who had published his story, but one was with
James Bamford for his 2014 Wired piece. According to Bamford, it
took nearly nine months to arrange the meeting. "I have been try-
ing to set up an interview with him [Snowden]—traveling to Ber-
lin, Rio de Janeiro twice, and New York multiple times to talk with
the handful of his confidants who can arrange a meeting," Bamford
recounted in Wired. After my dinner with Stone, I hoped to find a
quicker route.
I was advised by a Moscow-based journalist that I needed a
"fixer," the curious term that journalists commonly use to describe a
local intermediary who arranges appointments in foreign countries.
I retained Zamir Gotta, a highly respected TV producer in Mos-
cow, who I was told had helped "fix" the Bamford interview with
Snowden.
"fixer," the curious term that journalists commonly use to describe a
local intermediary who arranges appointments in foreign countries.
I retained Zamir Gotta, a highly respected TV producer in Mos-
cow, who I was told had helped "fix" the Bamford interview with
Snowden.
"There is only one door to Snowden," Zamir wrote to me. "His
name is Kucherena." Zamir said Kucherena rarely saw journal-
ists, but he had a contact in his office. He further told me Kucher-
ena required any journalist seeking an interview with Snowden to
submit his questions to the lawyer two weeks in advance and, if
approved, to sign a document stating he would not deviate from the
questions. Next, my questions had to be translated from English to
Russian (even though Snowden does not speak Russian) and then
vetted by Kucherena's staff. Zamir also suggested I stay at the Hotel
National in Red Square because Snowden had gone there for pre-
name is Kucherena." Zamir said Kucherena rarely saw journal-
ists, but he had a contact in his office. He further told me Kucher-
ena required any journalist seeking an interview with Snowden to
submit his questions to the lawyer two weeks in advance and, if
approved, to sign a document stating he would not deviate from the
questions. Next, my questions had to be translated from English to
Russian (even though Snowden does not speak Russian) and then
vetted by Kucherena's staff. Zamir also suggested I stay at the Hotel
National in Red Square because Snowden had gone there for pre-
Epst_9780451494566_2p_all_r1.indd 253 9/30/16 8:13 AM
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