Archive · 31 Dec 2025
German Probe of Usmanov Ends with 10M Euro Payment
A very rich man named Alisher Usmanov, who is from Russia and Uzbekistan, was being investigated by German officials.
They said he might have broken some rules about trading and not telling them about some of his valuable things like jewelry and paintings.
Usmanov said he didn't do anything wrong.
To make the investigation stop, Usmanov agreed to pay 10 million euros.
This money will go to the German government and a group that helps people in prison.
This is not the first time Usmanov has paid money to end an investigation.
He is also not allowed to travel to many countries because of some rules called sanctions.
German prosecutors agreed to end an investigation into Alisher Usmanov's alleged foreign trade law violations upon payment of 10 million euros.
Usmanov is accused of failing to declare jewelry, paintings, and wines to Germany’s export control office, BAFA, in accordance with EU sanctions rules.
Usmanov denies any wrongdoing and his lawyers state he has no links to the companies involved in the alleged payments.
The payment will be distributed with 8.5 million euros going to Bavaria’s treasury and 1.5 million euros to the state’s association for prisoner welfare.
This is the second time in 2024 that German prosecutors have dropped an investigation against Usmanov on similar terms.
- Who
- Alisher Usmanov, a billionaire subject to EU and U.S. sanctions
- What
- German prosecutors ending an investigation into alleged foreign trade law violations
- When
- The investigation was ongoing between April and September 2022, and the agreement was reached on December 30, 2024
- Where
- The alleged violations occurred in the Bavarian lakeside community of Rottach-Egern, Germany
- Why
- Usmanov agreed to pay 10 million euros to close the investigation, saving time and resources
- Amount Paid
- 10 million euros
- Alleged Violations
- Foreign trade law and undeclared assets
- Usmanov's Net Worth
- $18.8 billion
- Sanctions
- EU and U.S. sanctions, travel ban
- Payment Distribution
- 8.5M to Bavaria's treasury, 1.5M to prisoner welfare
- Previous Investigation
- Money laundering probe dropped in November 2024
