All articles tagged with #russian oligarch
Kushner's wife, Vanessa, has disclosed that a Russian oligarch partially funded her wedding celebration. This revelation adds to scrutiny over the Trump family's ties to Russian interests, particularly following the 2016 campaign meeting with Russian attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya. The AP report highlights the financial connections and the ongoing investigation into potential coordination with Russia.
ProPublica reports that Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev, a close associate of Vladimir Putin, secretly paid for hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses for Donald Trump Jr.'s May 2026 wedding in the Bahamas. The funding, which covered private island rentals and fireworks, came from an IBA-affiliated entity in Dubai. While Trump Jr.'s spokesperson called Kremlev a personal friend, national security experts warn the financial support creates a precarious obligation for the president's son. The revelation highlights a deepening, previously unreported financial and social link between the Trump family and a key figure in Putin's inner circle, raising concerns about potential influence and access to the U.S. government.
The US government has spent around $20 million to maintain a luxury superyacht seized from Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, who allegedly violated US sanctions. The monthly costs to maintain the yacht total roughly $922,000, prompting federal prosecutors to seek permission to sell the vessel, which has been docked in San Diego. The yacht's recent appraisal values it at $230 million, and while potential buyers have come forward, a legal battle over its ownership and potential sale continues.
The U.S. government is seeking permission to sell a $230 million yacht seized from Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, citing nearly $1 million monthly maintenance costs. The legal battle over the yacht highlights the challenges of seizing and selling assets owned by Russian oligarchs, with similar disputes involving other billionaires' assets. The government alleges that Kerimov disguised his ownership of the yacht through shell companies, while attorneys for another ex-Rosneft CEO claim ownership and object to the rushed sale. The proceeds from any potential sale would be held while the ownership and forfeiture battle continues in court.
The Sotheby's art fraud trial concluded with the jury unanimously finding that Sotheby's had not played a role in any fraud, clearing the auction house of accusations made by Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev. The trial shed light on the inner workings of the art market and featured testimony from Rybolovlev, who accused a Swiss art dealer of cheating him. The dealer, Yves Bouvier, was not a defendant in the case and expressed feeling vindicated after the verdict. Rybolovlev's interest in art was described as having begun almost accidentally, stemming from a need to fill empty walls.
Sotheby's wins a federal jury trial against Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, who accused the auction house of defrauding him in art sales, including the purchase of "Salvator Mundi" attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. The jury ruled in favor of Sotheby's, stating it had no knowledge of any deception by Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier, and rejected Rybolovlev's claims of inflated prices. The case sheds light on transparency issues in the art market and has been one of the highest-profile art fraud disputes in recent years.
A federal jury in New York ruled in favor of Sotheby's, rejecting Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev's claim that the auction house had assisted a Swiss dealer in defrauding him of tens of millions of dollars in high-end art sales. The jury found that Sotheby's was unaware of any scheme and focused on selling art at the highest possible price to the buyer, whom they believed to be the dealer. Sotheby's stated that the verdict reaffirmed its commitment to integrity and professionalism, while the trial provided insight into the inner workings of the art trade.
"Patriots," a play by Peter Morgan, is set to transfer to Broadway in April, featuring Michael Stuhlbarg as Russian oligarch Boris A. Berezovsky, who helped Putin rise to power but later fell out with him. The drama, well-received in London, will add international intrigue to Broadway's spring season and is directed by Rupert Goold, with Sonia Friedman as lead producer. The play's Broadway debut comes amid a challenging season for producers and investors due to higher production costs and lower ticket sales post-pandemic.
Russian oligarch Dmitry Tsetkov, the ex-husband of the socialite reportedly romancing Tom Cruise, has warned the actor to keep his wallet "wide open" due to his ex-wife's expensive and luxurious tastes. Tsetkov, who made his fortune in diamonds and mining, revealed that his three-year divorce cost him nearly $200 million and forced him to sell off assets to pay her. Cruise and the socialite were spotted canoodling at a party in London, with witnesses describing them as inseparable.
Former FBI special agent Charles McGonigal has been sentenced to over four years in prison for providing information to a Russian oligarch, in violation of US sanctions. McGonigal, one of the highest-ranking FBI officials to be convicted of a crime, supplied information to Oleg Deripaska to help him sink a business rival. He received a payment of $17,500, which was laundered through various accounts. McGonigal's actions were deemed to have jeopardized national security, and he faces a second sentencing for hiding payments from a former Albanian intelligence officer.
Former top F.B.I. agent, Charles F. McGonigal, has been sentenced to over four years in prison for conspiring to launder money and violate U.S. sanctions targeting a Russian oligarch with ties to President Vladimir V. Putin. McGonigal, who served as chief of counterintelligence for the F.B.I. in New York, pleaded guilty to working on behalf of the Russian aluminum magnate, Oleg V. Deripaska, in violation of sanctions. He is one of the highest-ranking F.B.I. officials ever to be convicted of a crime. The judge emphasized the seriousness of his crimes, which endangered national security, and fined him $40,000. McGonigal also faces sentencing in a separate case in Washington, D.C.
Charles McGonigal, former head of counterintelligence for the FBI's New York field office, has been sentenced to just over four years in prison for working for Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska after leaving the government. McGonigal pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate US sanctions and money laundering. The judge acknowledged his distinguished career but emphasized the seriousness of his actions, which undermined US national security interests. McGonigal expressed remorse and asked for a second chance. Prosecutors argued for a five-year sentence, highlighting the risk to national security, while the defense requested no prison time. McGonigal also pleaded guilty in a separate case and is scheduled to be sentenced in February.
Former top FBI agent Charles McGonigal has been sentenced to over four years in prison for conspiring to launder money and aiding a Russian oligarch in an attempt to remove him from a US sanction list. McGonigal, who pleaded guilty in August, is one of the highest-ranking FBI agents to be charged with a crime. He is also accused of hiding payments from an Albanian agent while working for the FBI. Despite expressing remorse, the judge called his crimes "extraordinarily serious." McGonigal has been ordered to surrender to authorities in February 2024.
Former FBI counterintelligence chief, Charles McGonigal, is set to be sentenced after pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge. Prosecutors are seeking a five-year prison term, accusing him of secretly working for a sanctioned Russian oligarch, Oleg Deripaska, and providing impermissible services. McGonigal's defense argues for no prison time, highlighting his "extraordinary service" during his 22-year career. McGonigal also faces sentencing in a separate case for concealing a payment from an Albanian intelligence official. Defense attorneys concede his wrongdoing but argue that the work he agreed to do was consistent with U.S. foreign policy.
Russian oligarch Alexei Kuzmichev has been detained by French police.