Russian law enforcement agencies are conducting a witness survey into alleged acts described as corrupt, involving Anatoly Chubais, the former head of Rosnano, and his circle. This information was relayed to TASS by a source tied to the power structures of the Russian Federation. The inquiry appears to be part of a broader check for potential criminal signs, with multiple law enforcement units interviewing possibly involved individuals and reviewing documents obtained prior to the formal probe. The agency source did not specify the exact nature of the alleged corruption being investigated.
At the time of reporting, no official comments had been provided to journalists. A few days earlier, on May 28, TASS reported that information about alleged European bank accounts connected to Chubais, who left Russia, would be confirmed soon. The source suggested the sums held abroad could reach several billions in foreign currency, but again did not disclose which European banks were involved or the exact nature of the alleged illicit gains. The account details were framed as information for the purposes of the investigation.
According to unofficial updates from TASS, Anatoly Chubais is currently believed to be in Italy, though there is no plan to return to Russia to be questioned regarding property alleged to have been misappropriated. He departed Russia aboard a private jet via Turkey shortly after Russia began its military operation in Ukraine. A May 6 statement from Chubais representatives denied that he had visited Italy in recent months and asserted that he does not possess a private plane or foreign real estate abroad. It was noted that he subsequently visited Turkey and Israel to discuss cooperation with several universities. The Kremlin has stated that there is no intention or opportunity for the presidency to monitor Chubais’s movements or actions. The official line was described as having no immediate plans to pursue the matter further.
In late March, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree removing Chubais from the post of special representative for relations with international organizations in charge of sustainable development goals. Following his departure from Russia, Chubais also stepped down from Rosnano’s board and from the board of the portfolio company Elektrozavod, while continuing to serve as co-chairman of the Renewable Energy Development Association. In mid-April, Sergei Kulikov, the then head of Rosnano, filed a request with the Prosecutor General’s Office to scrutinize the company’s activities during Chubais’s tenure. Kulikov pointed to a period when the company’s liabilities appeared to exceed its asset value and signs of potential bankruptcy were evident. He also noted that Rosnano had issued dividends to the government on two occasions, even as the net asset value remained below the authorized capital.
The evolving situation underscores ongoing questions about governance, asset management, and compliance within key state-connected entities, as authorities continue to scrutinize past practices while monitoring current leadership actions and financial health. Observers note that the case highlights the sensitive interplay between state interests and private sector activity, as well as the international dimension of asset movements and corporate governance during periods of political and economic stress. Analysts caution that information from official channels may be selectively released, and that further official statements could reshape public understanding of the alleged issues and their implications for Russia’s industrial and financial landscape.