Russian businessman Alexei Kuzmichev was detained on Monday morning after searches in France, Le Monde newspaper reports.
According to the newspaper, he is suspected of money laundering.
A BBC source confirmed the information about the searches and noted that dozens of police officers had arrived at various addresses linked to Kuzmichev. The BBC source believes that the searches of Kuzmichev's house are also related to the accusation of circumventing sanctions.
Le Monde writes that during the searches, which took place, among other things, in the businessman's Paris home and his villa in St. Tropez, wads of money were found.
Kuzmichev was included in the EU and US sanctions lists along with other Alfa Group founders. According to Le Monde, Kuzmichev was already in France when the sanctions came into effect in March last year. In addition, he has family ties in the country.
Last year, in December, the London mansion of another Alfa Group founder, Mikhail Fridman, was searched. The businessman was suspected of conspiracy to circumvent sanctions, money laundering, and perjury.
In September 2023, the British National Crime Agency (NCA) closed its investigation into Friedman. The businessman later told The Times that the NCA, which searched his home, acted "unjustifiably."
The lawyers admit that the raid was illegal, so Friedman should be compensated for the illegal entry into the house, pay court costs, and return the seized cash, The Times reported.
Background. As a reminder, Rogozin asked to check Friedman, who returned to Russia, for possible financing of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.