Suleiman Kerimov returned to France

Suleiman Kerimov returned to Nice after a weekend visit to Russia. In France, a member of the Federation Council is suspected of tax evasion and money laundering, according to a court decision, he must be in Nice.

• The French authorities allowed Kerimov to come to Russia for the weekend due to the illness of a relative. During this time, he met with the chairman of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko. He said he did not consider himself guilty and hoped to return to Russia.
• The billionaire was arrested at Nice airport on November 20. He is accused of buying up luxury real estate on the Cote d'Azur at a reduced price in order to evade taxes. The amount of transactions in total amounted to €400 million.
• According to investigators, Kerimov also secretly transported to France in suitcases from €500 million to €750 million in cash.
• The billionaire is under house arrest and can leave France only with the permission of the court. He paid €40 million for bail.
• The Kerimov family owns 82.4% of the Polyus gold mining company and the Makhachkala airport. Kerimov takes 21st place in the list of 200 richest businessmen in Russia according to Forbes. His fortune is estimated at $6.3 billion.

What do I get from this?

Assuming that Kerimov could have stayed in Russia so as not to risk criminal prosecution in France, this would show that the Russian elite has finally given up on the West. But this did not happen - and thank God.

Marina Bocharova, The Bell