Dutch prosecutors have seized land near Amsterdam belonging to Vladimir Putin’s former son-in-law, a joint investigation by The Guardian, Follow the Money and Russian investigative website Proekt Media has revealed.

The land in Duyvendrecht belongs to Jorrit Faassen, a Dutch businessman who was married to Maria Vorontsova, the eldest daughter of the Kremlin leader.

Data from the Netherlands Land Registry show that the land was confiscated on May 12 by the national prosecutor’s office for financial, economic and environmental crimes. This institution is responsible for enforcing sanctions.

Dutch cadastral documents show that the land was confiscated as part of a criminal investigation.

According to Helen Over de Linden, a lawyer and sanctions expert, the land confiscation suggests that Faassen is likely under investigation, although the exact reason for the confiscation cannot be determined from the open documents, and Dutch prosecutors declined to comment.

Putin’s former son-in-law lives in Moscow

Faassen, who lives in Moscow, was allegedly questioned by authorities at Schiphol airport after he recently flew to the Netherlands, Proekt Media reported on Thursday, citing a source who knows Faassen.

According to the person, investigators questioned Faassen on suspicion of “sanctions evasion” and seized his laptop and mobile phone. He quickly returned to Moscow, the person said.

Faassen did not respond to phone calls or emailed questions from The Guardian about the land grab or the alleged Schiphol incident.

Daughters of Putin, under EU and US sanctions

Both of Putin’s adult daughters, Maria and Kateryna, were placed on EU and US sanctions lists in April 2022, shortly after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On the other hand, Faassen is not subject to any sanctions in the US, EU or UK.

Faassen married Vorontsova in 2008, but they seem to have split up. The couple has a 10-year-old son, Russian media reported.

In March, the U.S. said it was launching a new campaign to crack down on countries and individuals involved in sanctions violations, with a wide range of measures that could range from diverting banned imports to Russia to promoting the financial interests of sanctioned Russians abroad.

Russia circumvents sanctions

Russia has used sanctions relief networks and other solutions to avoid economic isolation, and activists complain that the families of sanctioned Russian officials continue to live in Europe despite the war.

The land outside Amsterdam and its connection to Faassen is well known to the public. Shortly after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, protesters hung placards at the site asking Putin to “release Navalny” and Vorontsov to tell his father to end the war in Ukraine.

Otherwise, the 1,432 square meter lot at Molenkade 28 in Duivendrecht, a neighborhood located southeast of Amsterdam, stands out enough.

Putin’s former son-in-law wanted to build buildings on confiscated land

Although the lot is now empty, in 2021 Faassen applied for a permit to build a house and six small office buildings on the land.

In March 2022, the municipality stopped the authorization procedure on the grounds that Faassen has “close ties” to Putin. (news.ro)

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