Russian police today arrested billionaire Vadim Moshkovich, founder of the agricultural conglomerate Rusagro, for fraud, state media reported.
The arrest of a prominent business figure has been a rare occurrence in Russia in recent years, after Vladimir Putin's first years in power in the 2000s were marked by the arrest of oligarchs disloyal to the Kremlin.
Vadim Moshkovich was detained today on charges of large-scale embezzlement and abuse of official position, state news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing his lawyer.
The TASS news agency and several Telegram channels close to Russian security services also reported his detention, citing sources in the security forces, but did not provide details of the charges against him.
Authorities previously searched several offices of Rusagro, the statement said.
The European Union imposed sanctions against Moshkovich in 2022, accusing him of being one of several dozen businessmen who attended a meeting with Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on the day Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine.
According to the EU, his presence at that meeting is proof of his closeness to the Russian president because he "supports or implements actions or measures that undermine or threaten human rights."
Forbes magazine estimated Močković's fortune at around $2,7 billion (€2,5 billion).
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