French police detained EU-sanctioned Russian billionaire oligarch Alexey Kuzmichev on Monday, citing money laundering charges and a possible violation of EU sanctions.
Following Russia’s war in Ukraine, and more specifically since 15 March 2022, Kuzmichev has been subject to EU sanctions for his alleged links to the Russian regime and is banned from entering EU soil.
He has now been arrested and placed in custody by French police, with the National Financial Prosecutor’s office confirming the several charges, including tax fraud, money laundering and sanctions violations to Le Monde.
Around 60 police officers were mobilised for his arrest and search of several of his homes, including his Paris mansion and Saint-Tropez villa, Le Monde also reported.
France already had its eyes set on the oligarch, as the authorities froze two of his yachts in the south of France last year, but one order was overturned in October 2022 on procedural grounds.
One of Russia’s most influential men
Kuzmichev “is a major shareholder of the Alfa Group conglomerate, which includes Alfa Bank, one of Russia’s largest taxpayers”, according to EU authorities. Forbes magazine estimates his fortune at nearly $6.5 billion and ranks him 387th wealthiest in the world.
To justify sanctions against him, the EU also said, “he is believed to be one of the most influential persons in Russia”.
“He has well-established ties to the Russian president” and “Vladimir Putin rewarded Alfa Group’s loyalty to the Russian authorities by providing political help to Alfa Group foreign investment plans”, the sanctions decision against him writes.
Kuzmichev was also “actively supporting materially or financially and benefitting from Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea or the destabilisation of Ukraine”, the European Union decision on sanctions adds.
The Alfa group, which has interests in oil, gas, telecoms, banking and insurance, is also “involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation”, the same EU decision writes.
(Davide Basso | Euractiv.fr)
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Source: euractiv.com
