In an order dated Wednesday, the Paris Court of Appeal quashed the minutes for irregularities. Close to Vladimir Putin, the oligarch Alexei Kouzmitchev obtained the lifting of the freezing of one of his yachts which had been immobilized since March in Antibes (Alpes-Maritimes).
“The court confirms that the customs had carried out a visit in defiance of the applicable rules, reacted his lawyer Me Philippe Blanchetier. This decision is the triumph of law over improvisation, dictated by obscure political considerations. »
Another contested immobilization in Cannes
Customs for their part did not wish to react or specify what this decision concretely implied for this ship called “La Petite Ourse”, 24 meters long and estimated at 4 million euros according to a source familiar with the matter. .
The oligarch also challenged the freezing of “La petite Ourse II”, 16.5 meters long and worth 1.2 million euros, immobilized since March 21 in Cannes. A decision from the Rouen Court of Appeal is awaited on this subject.
Alexei Kuzmitchev “is a major shareholder in the Alfa Group conglomerate, which includes Alfa Bank, one of Russia’s largest taxpayers”, according to the European Union, which placed him on the list of people targeted by sanctions on March 15. Aged almost 60, he “is considered one of the most influential people in Russia, with well-established ties to the Russian president”, according to the EU.