Russian court seizes assets worth $13 million from ex-deputy defence minister

A Moscow court has seized assets valued at roughly 1.2 billion rubles ($13 million) from Timur Ivanov, the former Russian Deputy Minister of Defence, following a lawsuit filed by the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The Presnensky District Court partially upheld the government’s claim, transferring to the state a vast portfolio of property linked to Ivanov and several associated individuals, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The confiscated assets include: a luxury home in the elite Razdory settlement outside Moscow; a historic estate in the Kalyazinsky district of Tver region, including a 2,617-square-meter residence on the Volga River; 22 cars and 14 motorcycles; nearly all of 2.5 kilograms of jewelry set with diamonds and emeralds; more than 40 high-end watches; and 26 pieces of rare weaponry.

One item—the 2004 Bentley Continental GT—was ordered returned to Ivanov’s former wife, Svetlana Zakharova.

Throughout the proceedings, Ivanov maintained that all his assets were legally acquired and properly declared, and he argued that the property held by other defendants did not belong to him.

Ivanov was previously declared bankrupt, though the court declined a request from his representative to include the bankruptcy-appointed financial manager as a third party in the case.

In July, Ivanov was sentenced to 13 years in prison on charges of bribery and money laundering.

By Sabina Mammadli