Following the implementation of EU and US sanctions against Russia, more than EUR 11 million has been frozen in Latvian banks.
As reported by TV3 programme Nekā personīga, Dmitry Mazepin, Aleksey Mordashev and other Russian billionaires are beneficial owners in enterprises that make up a major part of Russian state capital in Latvia. Friendship with Putin has allowed them to become billionaires.
Latvia has frozen not only most of those enterprises’ accounts but has also closed down more than 40 pieces of real estate owned by Russian businessmen in the country. Nekā personīga, however, is aware that the homes owned by multiple families of Russian oligarchs have managed to avoid sanctions.
Russian billionaire and once Vladimir Putin’s party member Dmitry Mazepin has banned from entering EU member states, UK included. All of his assets in those sanctions should be frozen in accordance with the Law on Sanctions.
NP notes: «The owner of mineral fertilizer production company Uralchem is one of Putin’s closest associates. Mezepin supports Russia’s activities and policy, and his companies contribute a great deal of income for Russia.»
«The day Russia started a war in Ukraine, Mazepin was among 37 businessmen who attended an audience with Putin in the Kremlin.»
According to data from Lursoft, Dmitry Mazepin is the beneficial owner in four enterprises registered in Latvia, with the biggest one being Uralkali Trading. This company had a turnover of nearly EUR 2 billion in 2020. Mazepin also receives wealth from LLC Ventamonjaks, where shares are also indirectly owned by Aivars Lembergs’ son-in-law Jāņis Austriņš.
Also Mazepin owns LLC Riga Fertilizer Terminal at Riga Commercial Port, which is associated with Andris Šķēle and Ainārs Šlesers families.
All accounts of these companies are currently frozen in Latvian banks, as conformed by the Finance and Capital Market Commission.
Real estate located in Riga, Ulriekstes Street and Ventamonjaks’ five-storey building in Ventspils, Dzintari Street is also arrested following a verdict from a court of law.
Mazepin’s close relations with Putin have also affected his son. F1 team HAAS has refused Mazepin’s company as a sponsor and Nikita Mazepin has lost his place in Formula-1 competition.
Nekā personīga also found out that in 2015 Nikita Mazepin purchased an apartment in Riga, Elizabetes Street 3. The 100 m2 apartment was purchased for EUR 707 000.
Because Mazepin Jr. is included on EU sanctions, the court of law in Latvia has also put under arrest his owned property in the Quiet Centre.
On 3 March the EU added the so-called steel baron Aleksey Mordashev to the list of sanctions.
«He too participated in the meeting in Kremlin on 24 February, despite him saying he has nothing to do with the ongoing geopolitical tension,» NP reports.
Mordashev is the owner of Russia’s largest steel production plan Severstal.
There is no information about if the USD 500 million Nord yacht with a helicopter landing platform is still able to freely sail near the Seychelles, where it was spotted for the last time. There is also no information about the location of Mordashev’s aircraft – Bombardier Global 6 000. However, Forbes reports that Mordashev’s second yacht – Lady M – is located in Italy, where it remains under arrest. The value of this vessels is estimated around EUR 27 million.
In Latvia Mordashev is the beneficial owner of Severstal Distribution. Ten years ago Mordashev was awarded with Latvian Cross of Recognition by then the President of Latvia Andris Bērziņš.
On 9 March 2022 this award was taken away from Mordashev.
The latest financial account indicates Mordashev’s company Severstal Distribution in Latvia operates with turnover of EUR 700 million and about 200 employees. In 2020 the company’s profits reached EUR 29 million. According to information from FKTK, this company’s accounts in Latvia are frozen.
Sanctions also include Russian Alfa Bank’s owner Pyotr Aven. The grandson of Latvian red rifleman has no enterprises in Latvia. However, in 2012 he did acquire Latvian citizenship, though allegedly through dubious means. To take it away, it is necessary to amend the law.
Aven has private interests in Madona. The Russian billionaire owns enormous territories near the Small and Large Klauģu lake. Five years ago an exclusive apartment and leisure complex was built there – Klauģu Manor. The value of the property is about EUR 11 million.
All accounts associated with Madona-based companies (LLC Klauģu Manor RE, LLC Klauģu Manor and Ezermaļu mežu īpašumi) are frozen.
A ban has been imposed on flights of Aven’s indirectly owned Bell 429. It was previously used for Aven’s personal transportation and commercial flights.
NP also reports that together with Aven, the US and EU have imposed sanctions on the other Alfa Bank owner Mikhail Fridman. «He is on the British list of sanctions. It should be said Fridman stays there the most often. He told Bloomberg that he is provided with USD 3 000 a month for living expenses and he needs to ask the parliament for permission to spend money.»
In Latvia Fridman owns a luxury apartment home in Jurmala, Majori, through a Cyprus-based company. Two years ago Fridman invested about half a million euros into real estate located on Ērgļu Street.
Additionally, LLC Seagul Investment accounts in Latvia have been frozen.
However, no bans will apply to another one of Putin’s associates – the villa owned by Alisher Usmanov’s family in Jurmala, NP found.
The building located on Kāpu Street 51 in Melluži was purchased by the billionaire’s wife Irina Vinere and her son Anton for EUR 4 million. According to Russian media, Anton was adopted by Usmanov. Vinere’s Instagram account has photos and videos taken on the territory of Usmanov’s family in Latvia. The Ministry of Justice stresses: «Because the names of Usmanov’s wife and adopted son are not on the sanction lists, they are not applied with sanctions. To prove the house is used or managed by the person under sanctions, we need evidence.»
NP journalists say that no prohibitions or sanctions are applied on the property owned by Boris Rotenberg. The luxury villa Safiri not far from Baltezers in Ropaži is owned by IMNI, which was written off to Rotenber’s son Roman after the annexation of Crimea. The firm was founded in 2012 with base capital of EUR 700 000. A day later the house was purchased, NP reports.
«The 40-year-old Rotenberg is on the US list of sanctions.»
He is the vice-president of Gazprombank. He is responsible for customer attraction. He is also the vice-president of SKA ice hockey club. Roman Rotenberg holds Finnish citizenship.
Programme: property owned by families of two of «Putin’s friends» avoid sanctions
