Italian authorities confiscated the assets of Lanfranco Cirillo, a businessman and architect who holds Russian citizenship and has long resided in Russia. Cirillo is credited with designing several buildings in Russia, including a resort complex near Gelendzhik.
According to Il Messaggero, Cirillo faced investigations over taxes, money laundering, and a formal transfer of assets that did not reflect his declared income. Investigators allege that between 2013 and 2019 he did not declare tens of millions of euros in income and appeared to simulate residence in another country.
The newspaper reports that the confiscated property is valued at more than 140 million euros. The seized items encompass real estate, bank accounts, jewelry, art by masters such as Picasso, Cezanne, Kandinsky, and De Chirico, as well as a helicopter registered in Russia. The assets were located in the Brescia province and the helicopter was not cleared during the operation.
Investigators are pursuing clues that reveal wealth not proportionate to the declared taxable income, a line of inquiry that has guided the inquiry so far.
Cirillo’s lawyer told Reuters that his client’s assets were indeed detained. The Moscow-based architect reportedly purchased luxury real estate and artwork in Italy and entrusted some of it to his wife and daughter, fueling speculation that he may have relocated abroad.
“Italian craftsmanship in the homes of powerful people”
Cirillo obtained a Russian passport in August 2014. The legal foundation cited for granting citizenship was a provision allowing the President of Russia to handle citizenship matters and grant asylum when appropriate.
In Italian media, Cirillo has been dubbed “Putin’s architect.” Republic reported that he built a villa in Gelendzhik, furnished with furnishings from top Italian brands and evoking Silvio Berlusconi’s Certosa villa.
An investigation by the anti-corruption group led by Alexei Navalny, associated with the Open Russia network, suggested the Gelendzhik complex belonged to Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokespeople have repeatedly denied these claims. A Kremlin aide characterized the rumors as unfounded, and Putin later responded to questions on the matter stating that no property linked to him or his close circle exists.
During an interview with the Italian channel La7 in April, Cirillo acknowledged that he designed the building in question himself but emphasized that the client was a private company. He suggested that it would be surprising for the president of a major nation to commission a private palace for personal use.
About a year earlier, Cirillo had told La Repubblica that beyond Brescia, he owned residences in Dubai, five villas in Moscow, and a notable house in New York near Costa Smeralda. He also denied that a nearby plot was designated for the Gelendzhik project.
In a February interview with Giornale di Brescia, Cirillo highlighted the role of Italian craftsmanship in Russia, noting that several prominent projects had been completed there. Earlier reporting by New Times mentioned Cirillo’s work on the Krasnopresnenskaya embankment for the IFD Kapital financial group and interiors in notable Rublevka homes, underscoring his influence in design circles and among wealthy clients.