Konev

Pushwoosh's founder, Max Konev, told Reuters in a September email that the company had not tried to mask its Russian origins.

He said he had nothing to do with Pushwoosh and had only agreed to allow Konev to use his address to receive mail.

Konev said Pushwoosh had begun using the Maryland address to "receive business correspondence" during the coronavirus pandemic.

Konev acknowledged the accounts were not genuine.

The Kensington house is the home of a Russian friend of Konev's who spoke to a Reuters journalist on condition of anonymity.