Filenews 31 May 2022 - byVassos Vassiliou
Explanations for four Russian oligarchs, close associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who are alleged to have been naturalized Cypriots and controlled in various countries for their activities, asks MP Alexandra Attalidou.
Among other things, Mrs. Attalidou asks to be informed whether the seizure of their assets in Cyprus will be considered, whether they will be stripped of their Cypriot citizenship and, in general, whether these cases are being examined by the authorities.
According to information and reports cited by Ms. Attalidou, one allegedly bought an island in Finland, the second bought a villa in Sardinia, the third who is being investigated in four countries allegedly bought €3m worth of real estate. in Cyprus, while the fourth allegedly set up companies in Cyprus and other countries and against him is being examined possible money laundering.
More specifically, the Member of Parliament for Ecologists also records the following:
-I have been informed that a Russian oligarch using his Cypriot citizenship managed to fool the Finnish authorities and bought a large island in a strategic area in the east of the country.
This oligarch allegedly controls about 70% of the Russian cigarette market, accused of having close ties with the mafia and the Russian security forces FSB (Federal Security Service) and GRU (Central Intelligence Directorate). Due to the tense situation between Russia and Finland, the latter's Defence Ministry controls the island's market, in view of the possibility that it could be used in the event of a war between the two countries.
Mrs. Attalidou asks to be informed whether the Republic of Cyprus has proceeded to freeze access to the assets of the person in question and whether it intends to consider the removal of his nationality on the basis of the above or other information."
-I have been informed that the Italian authorities have seized a villa in Sardinia, owned by a certain Russian/Uzbek oligarch, a close associate of the Russian President, who is said to have been naturalized as a Cypriot. He is said to have registered companies in the Republic of Cyprus (he was allegedly naturalized as a Cypriot).
Mrs. Attalidou asks to be informed if he has indeed applied for naturalization and if the answer is positive, through which body she submitted the application.
-I have been informed that the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has published a new article on pandora-papers in which reference is made to a Russian oligarch, a close associate of the Russian President, who is currently under investigation by the competent authorities in Belgium, Spain, Greece and the United States of America. Both he and his wife and two children allegedly obtained Cypriot citizenship through the Cyprus citizenship scheme, under which he purchased €3m worth of real estate on the island.
The same publication also refers to another oligarch and his wife, as well as the ways in which they set up a very large number of companies, both in Cyprus and in other countries, through which, allegedly, billions of euros were laundered.
