Bought Freedom with Millions: Germany Closes Case Against One of Putin's Wealthiest Allies

Germany recently closed a high-profile case against Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, following Usmanov’s agreement to pay a substantial €4 million fine. Despite being under European Union sanctions, Usmanov opted to settle this matter, which centered on alleged money laundering in Germany, rather than prolonging the legal battle.

The news was reported by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, which referenced Frankfurt's public prosecutor's office. However, as clarified by the prosecutor, Usmanov’s settlement should not be viewed as an admission of guilt. Instead, the German authorities cited several factors for closing the case. Primarily, they found no evidence of financial harm caused to any German parties. Additionally, the age of the alleged crimes played a role in the decision. Money laundering was only recognized as a standalone criminal offense in Germany in November 2015, prior to which it was penalized solely as an auxiliary action to primary tax-related offenses. This shift in legal standards effectively rendered the case less enforceable.

Usmanov's legal team advocated strongly for case closure, characterizing the allegations as "fictitious" and viewing the fine as a matter of "procedural efficiency" rather than guilt. From their perspective, paying the fine was a strategic decision to avoid a drawn-out legal process rather than an admission of wrongdoing.

A notable development in the case involved the Frankfurt Regional Court, which deemed several searches in the investigation against Usmanov as unlawful. The court criticized the initial grounds for suspicion, ruling that allegations of Usmanov's wealth originating from criminal activities in Russia were overly vague and unsupported by evidence.

Earlier in October 2024, Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption High Court's Appeals Chamber upheld a previous decision to confiscate Usmanov's Ukrainian assets. This ruling followed appeals filed by two third-party entities connected to Usmanov—Metalloinvest Trading AG and Nexay JSC—seeking to overturn the asset seizure.

As tensions between the EU and Russia continue to escalate, cases like Usmanov’s underscore the complex legal and political landscape surrounding Russian oligarchs’ assets within Europe.