The French Financial Prosecutors’ office confirmed on Tuesday that Russian oligarch Alexey Kuzmichev had been detained for questioning in France over accusations of tax evasion, money laundering, and breaches of international sanctions. The investigation included searches conducted on Monday at Kuzmichev’s residence in Paris and in the Mediterranean Var region, as reported by French daily Le Monde.
While Kuzmichev remained under detention on Tuesday, he has not yet faced any charges in connection with the case. Last year, French customs agents seized the oligarch’s 27-meter yacht “La Petite Ourse,” leading to a legal dispute between Kuzmichev and the authorities. Notably, Kuzmichev is known as one of the principal shareholders of Russia’s Alfa Bank.