German police raided several properties, including a lakeside villa, belonging to Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, as part of investigations into suspected violation of sanctions, tax evasion and money laundering.
A special unit of about 250 officers searched the oligarch’s estate in Bavaria, Germany’s Der Spiegel reported.
The prosecutor general’s office in Frankfurt said in a statement that raids had targeted a Russian businessman suspected of having used his “extensive and complex network of companies and corporations” to disguise the origins of several transactions between 2017 and 2022, without naming Usmanov.
The Munich state prosecutor also confirmed that raids were carried out at the residence of a Russian citizen and four other suspects, without reference to Usmanov. Usmanov does not currently reside in Germany, according to local media.
The 69-year-old, who has a reported net worth of $14.6 billion, made his fortune in mining and investments and is a former shareholder in Arsenal football club. He is considered to have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
After the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, Usmanov was added to the European Union’s sanctions list.
Earlier this month, Hungary had pushed to remove Usmanov from the EU sanctions list along with two other Russian oligarchs.
