Several real estate properties of Russian oligarchs were seized in Savoie and Haute-Savoie in preliminary investigations for money laundering, several sources told AFP this Tuesday, October 24, confirming information from the newspaper Le Monde.
French justice recently seized several assets of two Russian oligarchs, for a total amount of 59 million euros, in two preliminary investigations for money laundering carried out in Paris, corroborating sources indicated this Tuesday, October 24, confirming information from the World.
A preliminary investigation, led by the National Jurisdiction for the Fight against Organized Financial Crime (Junalco), concerns the conditions of acquisition of several real estate assets of Alexander Pumpyansky, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office requested by AFP.
Among these real estate properties is a Haute-Savoie chalet, without further information being given on its location. “By orders of June 30 notified on July 3”justice has seized “shares in companies and debts relating to two wine estates, in Hérault and Jura, as well as various building plots and real estate, including a chalet in Haute-Savoie, for a total amount provisionally estimated at around 35 million euros”. Contacted, Alexander Pumpyansky’s lawyer did not respond to AFP’s requests.
Another investigation, open since 2022, concerns the financing of a luxurious chalet called Apopka, in the upscale resort of Courchevel (Savoie), which belongs to Russian businessman Nikolaï Sarkisov, himself in conflict with his former Corsican partner in this operation.
“A property in Courchevel” of a “estimated value of 24 million euros”was seized “by order of September 25”indicated the prosecution. “All these allegations are baseless and absurd”Nikolai Sarkisov’s lawyer, Me Antonin Lévy, told AFP. “The seizure, which is a precautionary measure, was carried out without any questions being asked beforehand of Mr. Sarkisov” And “is the subject of an appeal”continued Me Lévy.
“Regarding the alleged opacity, no less than eight court decisions in France (including four appeal court judgments) have already ruled in favor of Mr. Sarkisov, declaring his real estate transactions fully legal”he added.
The lawyer stressed that Nikolai Sarkisov, who resides in Dubai, and his family were “for around fifteen years major partners of Axa, one of the main European insurers, within the framework of a leading insurance joint venture”.
He explained that the “main source of wealth of the family” stemmed from a “public transaction” with Axa. At the beginning of September, the first information on suspicions of money laundering already concerned Nikolai Sarkisov. The financial arrangements around several real estate properties, particularly in connection with billionaire Bernard Arnault, were already of interest to investigators.