Eight million euros. This is the amount that the Russian oligarch, Alexei Kuzmitchev, close to Vladimir Putin, had to pay for his deposit. He was indicted this Wednesday in Paris in particular for laundering aggravated tax fraud and presumption of money laundering, and was placed under judicial supervision.
He was arrested Monday in Saint-Tropez (Var) and placed in police custody as part of a preliminary investigation by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF). Searches were carried out on Monday “in several places, notably in the Var and at the Parisian home of Mr. Kouzmitchev,” a judicial source reported on Monday.
Jewelry and cash seized from his home in Saint-Tropez
Alexei Kuzmitchev, 61, is presented as “a large shareholder of the Alfa Group conglomerate, which includes the Alfa Bank, one of the largest taxpayers in Russia”, according to the European Union which classified him on the list of people targeted by sanctions on March 15, 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The oligarch “is considered one of the most influential people in Russia, with well-established ties to the Russian president: Vladimir Putin’s eldest daughter, Maria, led a charitable project, Alfa-Endo, which was financed by Alfa Bank,” the EU underlined in a document detailing the list of people sanctioned.
The search of his house in Saint-Tropez lasted a whole day. “Cash and jewelry were seized,” said the judicial source.
Ban on leaving the territory
Alexei Kuzmitchev was then transferred this Tuesday to Nanterre, to the Anti-Corruption Office (Oclciff) responsible for investigations. At the end of 48 hours in police custody, he was presented this Wednesday to Parisian financial investigating judges who indicted him for “laundering of aggravated tax fraud, presumption of laundering and execution by an organized gang of “concealed work”, indicated the PNF.
The latter had requested his placement in pre-trial detention, but Alexeï Kuzmitchev “was finally placed under judicial supervision with in particular” the obligation “to pay a deposit in the amount of 8 million euros” and the ban “on leaving the national territory,” said the PNF.
According to a second source close to the matter, Alexei Kuzmitchev has initiated proceedings with the EU to have his inclusion on the sanctions list canceled. The decision is expected on November 15. His lawyer did not wish to speak.