Ukraine’s justice ministry targets Russian billionaire Usmanov’s assets
Source: Ukraine’s justice ministry
Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice said on Thursday it is taking decisive action to seize the assets of Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov and his associates, all of whom are linked to the USM group. This high-stakes move is viewed as part of Ukraine’s strategy to cripple Russian economic influence.
The Ministry has filed a lawsuit with the High Anti-Corruption Court, invoking sanctions outlined in the Law of Ukraine “On Sanctions.” The legal action will target not only Usmanov but also Andrey Skotch, Vladimir Skotch, Varvara Skotch, and Vladimir Streshinsky.
Alisher Usmanov is ranked eighth among Russia’s billionaires with a staggering net worth of $14.4 billion, owns the media powerhouse “Kommersant.” Known for its pro-Kremlin leanings, “Kommersant” plays a key role in spreading Russian narratives.
The USM Group owner also wields significant control over vital sectors of the Russian economy. This includes metallurgy, mining, telecommunications, and digital technologies, with prominent companies like “Metalloinvest” and “MegaFon” under their umbrella.
Ukrainian officials argue that USM provides “considerable support” to Russia’s war effort through its hefty tax and fee contributions to the Russian state budget and telecommunications services to Russian law enforcement and military units.
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