Italian police seize Russian billionaire Fedorichev’s castle at Ukraine’s request (updated)
The Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) has seized the assets of Russian oligarch Alexei Fedorichev totaling 41 million euros.
Among other things, the seizure was imposed on the Torre del Gallo castle in Tuscany, which belongs to Fedorichev, worth 38 million euros, Interfax-Ukraine reports, citing the local edition of tgcom24.
Fedorichev's assets were seized at the request of Ukraine as part of an investigation into crimes he committed in Ukraine, including corruption in the supply of agricultural products worth more than $60 million.
According to the newspaper, the investigation confirmed that Fedorichev's seized assets were purchased with funds he received as a result of illegal activities since 2014, in particular, related to the transportation of coal mined in Donetsk region after its occupation by his own ships.
Later, the seizure of the castle was confirmed by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office.
"At the request of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine for international legal assistance, the Financial Guard of Florence (Italy) seized the property of a businessman of Russian origin, a representative of an international grain trader," the SAPO said.
It is specified that by the decision of the competent Italian authorities, a castle in Florence was seized, which is material evidence in the case of causing more than $60 million in losses to PJSC State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine.
The SAPO notes that the pre-trial investigation established that during July-October 2014, officials of the State Food and Grain Corporation organized the conclusion and execution of foreign economic contracts for the sale of grain products at reduced prices to controlled enterprises.
According to Ukrainian law enforcement, according to the scheme, grain belonging to the state-owned company was delivered to Saudi Arabia through a number of business entities on a postpaid basis, but the money for the grain was never paid.
"As part of the investigation, it was established that part of these funds was used to purchase the castle," the SAPO said.
As reported, Fedorichev is a co-owner of the Ukrainian TIS group together with Andrii Stavnitser and Yehor Hrebennikov. He lives in Monaco.
Ukraine imposed sanctions on Fedorichev in 2019 by a decision of the National Security and Defense Council and a decree of President Petro Poroshenko. However, in 2020, President Zelenskyy canceled them.
