Mikhail Fridman, co-founder of Alfa Group and LetterOne holding, was detained at his own villa in London. TASS Quote from a billionaire source.
“Friedman was detained by the police,” the source said, adding that he knew nothing about the reasons for his arrest.
“However, according to the information we have, he has been released on bail for the time being,” the source added.
“Rich Russian businessman”
National Crime Agency reported December 3, about the arrest of a “rich Russian businessman”. His name was not given, but the prisoner’s age matched that of Fridman. The businessman is suspected of a number of crimes, including money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the Ministry of Interior and conspiracy to make false statements.
Along with the “rich businessman”, two more people, aged 35 and 39, were detained. Their names were also not disclosed. All three were released on bail.
About 50 agency employees and police officers participated in the operation.
“The NCA anti-kleptocracy cell created this year has made significant progress in investigating potential criminal activities by oligarchs, their supporters, and those linked to the Russian regime,” NCA CEO Graham Biggar said in a statement. Said.
“We will continue to use all the forces and tactics at our disposal to eliminate this threat,” he promised, adding that the NCA plans to explore “less traditional” ways to hide wealth, such as selling high-value assets through auction houses.
“Everything is going well”
The press service of Alfa-Bank did not confirm the information about the detention of Fridman.
“We don’t know who this news is about, Mikhail Fridman is in his home, not a prisoner. “It has nothing to do with this story,” the lender said in a statement.
Friedman himself agreed to speak with the magazine forbesbut when asked to confirm or deny the arrest, he evasively replied: “I’m fine, I’ll meet up with friends on the weekends.”
Embassy’s response
The Russian Embassy in the United Kingdom has requested that the country’s authorities immediately notify diplomats of the reasons and circumstances of the detention of a Russian citizen.
“The Russian Embassy in London has requested clarification from the British authorities in connection with the NCA’s information regarding the alleged detention of a Russian national in London. The diplomats demanded that the reasons and conditions of our citizen’s arrest, where he is and the conditions of his detention be immediately reported to the embassy.” quotes TASS interpretation of the diplomatic mission.
The embassy also requested the British authorities to grant access to the detainee to lawyers as well as consular staff.
EU sanctions and revenue cuts
Following Russia’s special operation in Ukraine, the European Union imposed sanctions on Russian officials, businessmen and journalists. Blacklisted like his colleague Pyotr Aven, Fridman immediately resigned from Alfa-Bank’s board of directors.
Since the beginning of the year, the cumulative wealth of the richest billionaires in Russia decreased RIA Novosti calculated $75.1 billion based on data from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which includes 23 Russians. As of December 1, 2022, their total wealth is $296.03 billion.
The richest Russian oligarch is Vladimir Potanin, one of the main owners of Norilsk Nickel (+ $ 92.6 million, up to $ 31 billion). The second place is occupied by Leonid Mikhelson, owner of Novatek, whose fortune decreased by $5.07 billion to $27.4 billion.
Friedman is in tenth place. He has lost $2.59 billion since the beginning of the year, his fortune is estimated at $11.4 billion.