MOSCOW (Agency): A legal review in Germany examining alleged foreign trade law violations linked to Alisher Usmanov has been formally concluded. Legal representatives acting on behalf of the businessman stated that prosecutors agreed to close the proceedings after assessing the available material. The matter related to questions over payments and declarations tied to property use and asset reporting in Germany during 2022. The closure brings an end to a process that had remained under examination for more than two years within the German legal system.
The review was handled by prosecutors in Germany and focused on activities connected to two residential properties in the Bavarian lakeside area of Rottach Egern. The period under consideration ran from April to September 2022. Authorities examined whether payments linked to security services at the locations complied with foreign trade law requirements. The case also considered whether certain items were properly declared to the national export control authority as required under existing regulatory rules. Usmanov denied any breach of applicable laws throughout the process.
Financial records reviewed by investigators included a payment totaling 1.5 million euros associated with security arrangements at the two properties. Prosecutors also examined the handling of high value personal items, including jewellery, artwork, and wine collections, in relation to export control filings. Legal representatives stated that Usmanov had no ownership or controlling interest in the properties referenced in the inquiry. They also indicated that he had no direct connection to the companies involved in the security payments assessed by authorities.
Usmanov is listed among the world’s wealthiest individuals, with an estimated net worth of $18.8 billion as recorded by international wealth rankings. He has been subject to restrictions imposed by the European Union and the United States since 2022, including limits on travel. His legal team stated that these measures were not the basis of the German legal review and were not applied directly in the evaluation of the foreign trade law questions examined by prosecutors.
As part of the arrangement leading to the closure of the case, Usmanov agreed to make a payment of 10 million euros. The amount is to be divided between the German state budget and selected charitable organizations within Germany. His lawyers stated that the payment was not classified as a fine or penalty and did not involve any admission of wrongdoing. They added that the decision to close the matter was taken to conserve time and administrative resources.
The conclusion of this case follows a separate decision by German authorities in November 2024 to discontinue a money laundering investigation involving Usmanov under similar conditions. Legal representatives stated that the current closure was coordinated with prosecutors and that no further legal steps are pending in Germany in relation to the reviewed matters. No additional proceedings have been announced based on the facts examined in the concluded review.
