Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, this is one of the worst penalties imposed by the French judicial system. On October 30th, Alexey Kuzmichev was taken into police custody first thing in the morning. The National Financial Prosecutor's Office verified the report, saying that "various places" had been examined, including the oligarch's "Parisian home" in the 7th arrondissement of the city, which he owns and which is located between the National Assembly and the Musée d'Orsay. According to Le Monde, his Saint-Tropez mansion was also searched.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the billionaire, who owns boats and residences in France, has been hit with sanctions.
European authorities view Kuzmichev, a stakeholder in the Alfa Group consortium that runs Alfa Bank, as "one of the most influential people in Russia" with "well established connections with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin." Even though European sanctions are supposed to prevent people from being on European territory, a source close to the billionaire claims that Kuzmichev was already in France when he was added to the sanctions list and that he also had "family ties" there.
Authorities from the Central Office for Combating Corruption and Financial and Fiscal Offenses (OCLCIFF) led the 60-person search party. The vast, over two-hectare property in the Var region was guarded by about 40 special police officers from RAID and BRI. There were wads of cash discovered at the site.
Kuzmichev, who is 61 years old, has a net worth of $6.4 billion, making him the 61st richest person on the planet, as ranked by Forbes. /BGNES
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