A recent Facebook post by Major General Alnur Musayev, the former head of Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee (KNB), has drawn widespread attention after he claimed that the KGB recruited U.S. President Donald Trump in 1986 under the codename “Krasnov” (a Russian family name, derived from the word “krasniy,” an adjective meaning “red”). The post apparently referenced Trump’s hair color in assigning him the pseudonym. Given Musayev’s checkered background, in Kazakhstan, the post was largely taken as satire – though it remains unclear whether it was meant as such. However, the claim was taken literally by several media outlets, particularly in Ukraine, where journalists and commentators circulated the story as fact. As a result, the post evolved into a larger media narrative.

Falsehoods in Musayev’s Account

Musayev’s version of events contains several factual inaccuracies that contradict both his own professional history and the operational structure of the KGB. Musayev began his post with the statement: “In 1987, I served in the 6th Directorate of the USSR KGB in Moscow.”

However, official records indicate that between 1986 and 1989, Musayev was assigned to the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs, where he held senior positions in its 8th Main Directorate, overseeing Soviet law enforcement. He had no known connection to the 6th Directorate of the KGB.

Musayev further stated: “The most important area of work of the 6th Directorate was the recruitment of businessmen from capitalist countries.” This is also inaccurate. The 6th Directorate of the KGB, formed in 1982 from the former Directorate P of the 2nd Main Directorate, was not involved in foreign recruitment. Its primary responsibilities were: Industrial espionage – gathering intelligence on Western technology and economic developments, and Counterintelligence within the Soviet economy – protecting industrial assets from foreign espionage.

The recruitment of foreign nationals, including businessmen, fell under the jurisdiction of the First Main Directorate (FMD) of the KGB, not the 6th Directorate.

Finally, Musayev concluded with his most sensational assertion: “In that year, our Directorate recruited a 40-year-old businessman from the United States, Donald Trump, under the pseudonym Krasnov.”

While the pseudonym appears to be a play on Trump’s hair color, Musayev made no effort to clarify that his story was fabricated, allowing it to be widely circulated as a legitimate claim.

Analysis from Kazakh Experts

Kazakh political analyst Daniyar Ashimbayev dismissed Musayev’s statement as baseless, writing on his Telegram channel: “The global circus show continues. The former KNB (National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan) chairman, who is wanted for treason and enjoys portraying himself as a man with ‘inside knowledge,’ now claims that Donald Trump was recruited by the KGB’s 6th Directorate.”

Ashimbayev also pointed out that Musayev had failed to specify whether he personally recruited Trump, or if it was done by someone else. More importantly, he reaffirmed that the 6th Directorate was never responsible for recruiting foreigners.

Musayev has a history of controversial intelligence claims. In the late 1990s, while serving as head of the KNB, he accused then-Kazakh Prime Minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin of being a KGB agent. In response, Kazhegeldin countered with an equally improbable assertion that he had been a covert businessman for the KGB and knew the whereabouts of hidden Soviet Communist Party funds.

Musayev’s Background and Controversies

Musayev briefly led the KNB in the late 1990s before aligning himself with Rakhat Aliyev, the influential but later disgraced son-in-law of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Musayev was implicated in various political and criminal activities, including corruption, torture, and an alleged coup attempt.

By 2008, both Musayev and Aliyev had fled Kazakhstan, later becoming political opponents. Their relationship deteriorated, with Musayev later accusing Aliyev of ordering assassination attempts against him.

Aliyev was arrested in Austria in 2014 and was found hanged in his Vienna prison cell in 2015. Musayev, however, was acquitted of all charges in 2015.

Motivations Behind the Fabrication

Ashimbayev has speculated that Musayev’s motives for fabricating the Trump recruitment story could stem from a desire for attention or potential external influence.

“Apparently, Alnur Alzhaparovich decided to play an old game and remind the world of his existence, or perhaps he was encouraged by his European contacts. He is not residing in Europe without reason.”

While Musayev’s claim may have started as an attempt at satire, its rapid spread and misinterpretation highlight the volatility of today’s information landscape. As seen in this case, fabricated stories can quickly gain traction, even among mainstream media outlets, reinforcing the importance of verifying historical claims before amplifying them.