Thread by @OCCRP

BREAKING: German authorities are raiding the Bavarian home of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, looking for evidence of alleged tax evasion and money laundering.

Our latest with @SZ, @NDR, and @WDR 1/

occrp.org/en/asset-track…

@SZ @ndr @WDR Over a hundred officers have descended on Rottach Egern, a small town on picturesque Lake Tegernsee, where Usmanov and one of his sisters own several homes — including this imposing villa — through convoluted offshore arrangements. 2/

@SZ @ndr @WDR The ultra-wealthy Usmanov has been known for his share of the Arsenal football club, his tech investments, and his charitable giving.

But in 2017, a widely-viewed investigation by Russian opposition leader Navalny alleged he gave a large property to then-PM Dmitry Medvedev.

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@SZ @ndr @WDR And this year, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Usmanov was sanctioned by the EU, US, and Great Britain for his closeness to President Putin.

But today’s raid — and the German investigation behind it — marks a new phase for the Russian oligarch. 4/

@SZ @ndr @WDR Authorities suspect that, as a German resident, Usmanov has evaded taxes on his income, gifts, and use of offshore companies.

He is also suspected of laundering money into his German assets.

If charged and convicted, it could mean years in prison.

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@SZ @ndr @WDR But it’s unclear whether he’ll ever face charges in a German court. Usmanov’s personal Airbus A-340 took off from Munich, heading for Tashkent, on the very day he was sanctioned by the European Union. 6/

@SZ @ndr @WDR For more on Usmanov — and how his use of offshore structures, secret trusts, and Swiss bank accounts made his wealth so difficult to identify and sanction — see our story from earlier this year, part of our #RussianAssetTracker project. 7/

occrp.org/en/asset-track…

@SZ @ndr @WDR Thanks to our partners on this story, @ndrrecherche @sz_investigativ, and @WDRinvestigativ 8/