The Russian president claims that over the past six years he has earned almost 700,000 euros and has only one apartment, while “Forbes” magazine estimates his fortune at about 200 billion euros, writes L’Express.

Vladimir Putin Photo: Pavlo Bednyakov / Sputnik / Profimedia

A few weeks before the presidential elections in Russia, the Central Election Commission (CEC) on Tuesday, January 30, published a document revealing the financial assets of Vladimir Putin, the official candidate since January 29.

Apartment 77 m², garage 18 m² in St. Petersburg, two cars GAZ M-21 1960 and 1965, camping 1987, Lada Niva 2009… In addition to these material goods, there is this savings in the amount of 54.5 million rubles (about 560,000 euros), distributed among ten accounts in Russian banks, as well as 230 shares of the St. Petersburg bank, worth 280.49 rubles (2.88 euros) each.

Finally, a document published by Belgian media outlet HLN stated that the Russian president earned 67.6 million rubles (€694,421) over the past six years, including his salary, securities and bank deposits, military and civilian pensions, and sales. properties.

On paper, Putin’s statement is surprisingly modest, as it contrasts with previous surveys and estimates by Forbes magazine in 2022, according to which Vladimir Putin would be one of the richest people in the world, with a fortune of around 200 billion euros.

In 2022, an investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), a consortium of investigative journalists, uncovered hidden elements of the president’s fortune, linking Vladimir Putin to a cooperative of 86 offshore companies. Journalists noticed that these companies used the same domain name for their email address as Banca Rossia, which is run by close associates of the Russian president. The list includes luxury real estate, yachts, airplanes, a ski resort and bank accounts with a total value of about 4.3 billion euros.

Back in 2021, his main opponent, Oleksiy Navalny, stated that the head of the Russian state owns a palace with an area of ​​17,000 m², located on the shores of the Black Sea, with a modest cost of 1.5 billion euros. With vineyards, a hockey rink, and a casino, among other things, this sprawling residence sits on an estate 39 times the size of Monaco.

Alexei Navalny’s anti-corruption fund went further in August 2023, accusing the Russian leader of owning at least two yachts worth a total of €600 million… without being able to prove it.

Officially, the palace belongs to the billionaire and close friend of the President of Russia, Arkady Rotenberg. The 140-meter yacht, named Scheherazade, is registered to Eduard Khudainatov, the former CEO of the Russian state-owned oil giant Rosneft and a close ally of Putin. As for the ski resort located near St. Petersburg, it is now owned by Svitlana Kryvonogykh, a former housekeeper who became a wealthy businesswoman.

We will remind you that in November 2020, an investigation by the Russian independent media investigator “Media Project” revealed the existence of Luiza Rozova, the daughter of Svitlana Kryvonohykh and… Vladimir Putin.

The article was created with the support of Rador Radio Romania