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Billionaire Russian senator under investigation in France

PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk 23.11.2017 10:57
French authorities are investigating a Russian senator and billionaire over suspected tax evasion, according to reports.
Suleiman Kerimov, pictured in 2012. Photo: EPA/YURI KOCHETKOVSuleiman Kerimov, pictured in 2012. Photo: EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV

Suleiman Kerimov, whose interests the Kremlin has pledged to defend, is being investigated in a probe into suspected laundering of tax fraud proceeds, and could face a prison term of up to 10 years, the Reuters news agency reported.

Kerimov, 51, one of Russia's richest men, was arrested late on Monday night in Nice, southern France, and then released under strict conditions, the BBC reported.

Russia protests

Russia called in a French diplomat in Moscow to protest at the detention, the BBC said, adding that a Kremlin spokesman had insisted that Kerimov had diplomatic immunity.

French news agency AFP reported that Kerimov made his fortune during privatisation deals following the collapse of the Soviet Union, with interests at various times in energy, banking and mining firms.

The BBC cited Russian state news channel Rossiya 24 as reporting that Kerimov denied wrongdoing.

Until last year, Kerimov owned Russia’s Anzhi Makhachkala football club, the BBC added.

(pk/gs)

Source: BBC/Reuters

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