Andrey Akimov, Gazprombank’s boss, is one of the essential links in Vladimir Putin’s regime. This is evidenced by his attendance at a meeting on February 24, 2022—the day Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began—during which the Russian president made demands from about forty Russian oligarchs. “unity” With the war effort in Ukraine.
Unlike most of the men present in the Kremlin’s Sainte-Catherine room that day, Andrei Akimov escaped having his assets frozen by the European Union (EU): the continent cannot do without its bank to pay for its Russian gas supplies. A cautious man, Mr. Akimov has taken the initiative to offload significant real estate assets held in France in 2022 and 2023, including world Existence revealed as part of joint investigation with Russian media iStories.
Dozens of documents, resulting from leaks of both confidential data and public registers, make it possible to link Andrey Akimov to four prestigious villas, located in the Côte d’Azur, Haute-Savoie and on the island of Saint-Barthélemy, with an acquisition value of over 20 million euros.
The financing of this heritage, in which we find numerous offshore companies, raises the question of the origin of the funds and possible laundering. Sold after the invasion of Ukraine, these properties now seem safe from possible seizure by the courts, even if the reality of Mr. Akimov’s withdrawal raises questions: some of the new owners of the villas are, in fact, connected to oligarchs or the Russian hydrocarbon industry.
When asked, Andrey Akimov refused to answer our questions in detail, believing that he was “unreasonable” And based on that “Guess”. It also makes it clear that it “Reserves the right to protect its interests by all available legal means” In the event of a release of information “false or defamatory”.
Goods resold below purchase price
Andrey Akimov’s footsteps lead first to Villefranche-sur-Mer (Alpes-Maritimes). Officially, it is difficult to associate the oligarch with this 1,600 square meter property, complete with swimming pool and Japanese garden, which was bought in 2009 by a Monegasque company called SCP Barca for 5.5 million euros. On the Rock, it is impossible to access the identity of the owners of civil companies.
But documents filed by a notary at the sale of the villa in July 2022 list two shareholders whose names are not foreign to Gazprombank. Majority shareholder Anna Litvintseva, introduced as a “retiree” and a “private investor,” co-owns several offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands and Cyprus with Mr. Akimov and his former partner, Mariana Chaykina. Another shareholder is Viktor Komnov, a member of Gazprombank’s board of directors. Requested by worldThey did not follow.
You have 65% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
