This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission.
Police in Germany have raided 24 houses and apartments across the country reportedly linked to Uzbek-born Russian tycoon Alisher Usmanov, who is known as a close ally of President Vladimir Putin.
Police representatives told reporters in Munich and Frankfurt on September 21, that raids were conducted in connection with alleged breaches by a Russian oligarch of sanctions and money-laundering rules. They did not mention the name of the targeted person.
Local media reports said a villa on Lake Tegern belonging to Usmanov had been among the raided buildings.
News agencies quoted sources close to the investigation as saying that the raids were linked to Usmanov and four other people who are suspected of siphoning off several million euros acquired as part of illegal activities, including tax evasion
In March, German media reported that authorities had seized the Dilbar, a 156-meter superyacht worth of $600 million belonging to Usmanov.
Usmanov was ranked at number six in the Sunday Times list of the world’s richest people in 2021.
He is one of dozens of Russian billionaires hit by Western sanctions following the start of the invasion of Ukraine.
