a Russian oligarch taken into police custody in France

Russian oligarch Alexei Kuzmitchev was taken into custody on Monday, October 30, by police officers from the anti-corruption office, franceinfo learned from the national financial prosecutor’s office, confirming information from the newspaper The world (article reserved for subscribers). Several of his residences were also searched.

Under sanction due to the war in Ukraine, Alexei Kuzmitchev, 61, considered close to Vladimir Putin, must be heard as part of an investigation opened for “laundering of tax fraud” and “violation of sanctions”, added this source.

According to a source close to the matter, suspicions of money laundering concern several tens of millions of euros. The home of Alexeï Kuzmitchev – located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris – as well as a second home in Saint-Tropez, were searched on Monday by investigators from the Central Office for the Fight against Financial and Tax Offenses (OCLCIFF) , assisted by police officers from the Raid and the BRI.

A fortune valued at more than 6 billion euros

Alexei Kuzmitchev is one of the founders of the “Alfa group” consortium. His fortune is assessed by the magazine Forbes to more than 6 billion euros, making him one of the 400 richest men in the world. The European Union considers it “one of the most influential people in Russia”of which “the links with the president [Poutine] are established”.

Brussels placed him on the list of sanctioned people from the start of the war in Ukraine, which Alexei Kuzmitchev disputes. In 2022, two of his yachts were immobilized by customs on the Côte d’Azur, before the Russian businessman obtained the annulment of this measure by the courts.

The investigation targeting him is one of three investigations opened by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office targeting Russian oligarchs.