The Ministry of Justice has decided to freeze assets held by the House of Moscow in Riga, as confirmed by minister Jānis Bordāns at a meeting of Saeima’s Admissions Committee on Wednesday, 6 April.
The House of Moscow, which is located in Riga, Marijas Street 7, is registered as a culture and business centre. Creation and maintenance of this centre was financed by Moscow City Council. The project was conceived during the term of then the Mayor of Moscow Yury Luzhkov and then the ambassador of Russia to Latvia Aleksandr Udaltsov in 2001. The festive opening of the centre took place in May 2004.
The House of Moscow primarily hosts performances, film showings and other cultural events mainly intended for Russian-speaking audience.
The total value of real estate owned by Russian citizens arrested in Latvia due to sanctions exceeds EUR 100 million. It is expected for the value of real estate property may increase, said the minister of justice in a conversation with journalists after a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday, 5 April.
The manager of the House of Moscow Eduards Cehovals said the assets were arrested only because money to the centre was sent through Russian private Alfa Bank.
This bank’s co-owners are Russian billionaires Petr Aven and Mikhail Fridman, who are under European sanctions.
Cehovals stresses that the previously scheduled performances and activities will still happen in the House of Moscow.
The Ministry of Justice reports the administration of courts as the supervisor of the single digital land book has sent in information about 56 pieces of real estate owned, managed or controlled by sanctioned persons. Courts have issued closure notes for 49 pieces of real estate. Courts of law continue evaluating and making decisions on closures.
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Latvian Civil Aviation Agency has marked one helicopter in the civil aviation airship register that it has ties to a sanctioned person.
Sanctions were imposed in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
The base capital of the House of Moscow is EUR 35 550. In 2021 its turnover was EUR 160 000, which is 57% less when compared to 2020. In 2020 The House of Moscow operated with losses of EUR 56 000, according to information Firmas.lv.
The board of the House of Moscow include chairman Jurijs Silovs and board members Aleksejs Bondaruks, Anna Tiurina, Svetlana Zaiceva, Dmitrijs Kožajevs and Gaļina Nikolajenko. The company was registered as a JSC. Owners are not listed and it has not been possible to identify beneficial owners yet.
Latvia freezes House of Moscow assets, which receives money from Russian oligarch’s bank
