French police arrest Russian billionaire – Aleksey Kuzmichev is reportedly being held in custody over alleged tax evasion and money laundering
French authorities have detained one of Russia’s richest men, Aleksey Kuzmichev, on suspicion of tax evasion and money laundering, according to media reports. Kuzmichev, who has an estimated net worth of $7.6 billion, is the co-founder and major shareholder of Alfa Group, a diversified conglomerate with interests in banking, oil, telecom, and retail.
Kuzmichev was arrested on Tuesday at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, as he was about to board a private jet to Moscow. He was taken to a police station in the French capital, where he is expected to face questioning by anti-corruption investigators. His lawyer, Jean Veil, said that his client denies any wrongdoing and will cooperate with the authorities.