German prosecutors to drop probe of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov after multimillion-euro settlement |
German prosecutors are set to terminate an investigation into Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov after he agreed to make payments totaling approximately €10 million to the German public treasury and charitable organizations, marking a significant development in one of Europe’s most closely watched sanctions-related cases since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
Usmanov, a prominent oligarch who has long been regarded by Western authorities as part of Russia’s economic elite, confirmed through his representatives that he had paid €8.5 million to Germany’s public treasury and pledged an additional €1.5 million to German charities. Once the funds are fully transferred, prosecutors will formally close their probe into alleged money laundering and violations of European Union sanctions-allegations that Usmanov has consistently denied.
Importantly, Usmanov’s legal team stressed that the payment does not constitute an admission of guilt. “The payment does not represent a fine or other type of measure similar to punishment,” his representatives said in a statement, emphasizing that the agreement is procedural rather than punitive. German prosecutors have not publicly characterized the settlement as a conviction or penalty, underscoring the legal nuance of the arrangement.
The investigation into Usmanov emerged in the wake of sweeping sanctions imposed by the European Union following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Usmanov was among dozens of Russian businessmen targeted under EU measures aimed at exerting economic pressure on individuals believed to have close ties to the Kremlin.
In its sanctions notice, the EU described Usmanov as a figure with “particularly close ties” to Russian President Vladimir Putin. This characterization placed him firmly within the category of individuals deemed........