Germany closes case against Russian billionaire after €10 million payment

Germany has reached an agreement with billionaire Alisher Usmanov to close investigations into his alleged foreign trade law violations, provided the EU-sanctioned Russian-Uzbek citizen pays 10 million euros ($11.77 million), prosecutors and his lawyers in Germany said.

In separate statements, his lawyers and prosecutors confirmed that Usmanov had agreed and instructed that the full amount be paid, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.

The probe focused on an alleged payment of 1.5 million euros for security at two homes in the Bavarian lakeside community of Rottach-Egern between April and September 2022.

Prosecutors also alleged that Usmanov failed to declare jewellery, paintings, and wines to Germany's export control office, BAFA, in accordance with European Union sanctions rules. Usmanov has denied any wrongdoing.

Usmanov, whose net worth is $18.8 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, is subject to EU and US sanctions and a travel ban imposed after the start of the war in Ukraine.

His lawyers stated that he had no connections to the companies involved in the alleged payments, nor did he own or control the properties in question, noting that the EU sanctions were "not directly applicable to the probe."

Munich prosecutors said that once payment is received, they would discontinue proceedings.

"(After payment) there is no possibility to reopen an investigation against him on the basis of the same suspected incident," the Munich prosecutors said in a statement.

They added that 8.5 million euros would go to Bavaria's treasury, while about 1.5 million euros would go to the state's association for prisoner welfare.

His lawyers emphasised that the case was closed to save time and resources, clarifying that the payment was "neither a fine nor a form of punishment."

In November 2024, German prosecutors had dropped a money laundering investigation against Usmanov on similar terms.

By Jeyhun Aghazada