The latest tensions around Ukraine, Russia’s ultimatums sent to the United States, the EU and NATO, as well as the Kremlin’s threats to attack some targets in Europe with the aim to make the world recognize Russia’s right to its geopolitical influence zones and the actual revival of the Soviet empire – all this realities made the issue of effective pressure on Russia to ensure security in Europe and prevent Moscow from starting a war in the region as the main priority.
Obviously, Russia’s possible disconnection from the SWIFT system is not an effective measure, since it does not affect the interests of decision-makers directly. Moscow has been evaluating the risks of being disconnected from international payment systems for a long period of time. This very measure should be taken as a part of the complex sanction package because it limits Russian financial potential in defense and technology spheres but its efficiency cannot be seen fast; in addition, this measure does not affect the personal interests of decision-makers. Moreover, permanent focus on sanctioning gives Russia a free hand to speculate on the issue of external pressure and mobilize its supporters.
The most effective mechanisms for sanction pressure is to shut the Russian leaders out of their assets in the United States and Europe, since all of them were acquired through shady schemes on corrupt funds.
In January 2020 LRI analyzed the possibilities of sanctions pressure on the political leaders of hostile states by limiting their access to the services of education systems.
Such personal sanctions are more tangible for Russian decision-makers as they affect their wealth directly.
| Name | Property, location | Power position |
| Vladimir Solovyov | Italy, villa, | Russian TV-propagandist |
| Leonid Slutsky | Turkey, villa #101 at Six Senses Kaplanakaya | Chairman of Russian Parliament Committee on International Affairs |
| Igor Shuvalov | 138A, 138B, Whitehall Court, London, SW1A 2EP. | The first vice-PM, the head of the state Vnesheconombank. |
| Igor Shuvalov | Attersee, Austria. | |
| Alexander Lebedev (via his son Eugeny) | Evening Standard, the Independent, London Live TV. | Businessmen, FSB-affiliated |
| Alexander Mamut | Waterstone’s book-shop, London | businessman |
| Ludmila Putina (Ocheretnaya/ Skrebneva) | Villa Souzanna, 14, avenue du Vallon, Anglet, 64600, France. | Ex-wife of the Russian President Putin. |
| Kirill Shamalov | villa in Biarritz, 9 Avenue du General Mac Croskey 64200 Biarritz, France. | Co-owner of the bank Rossiya, Katerina Tikhonova’s (Putins’ daughter) husband. |
| Sergey Brilev | 71-75, Shelton street, London. WC2H 9JQ, flat. | Russian TV-propagandist |
| Artem Chayka | Potidea Palace Hotel, Pomegranate Wellness Spa. Greece, 40% share in F.T. Conseils, Lozanna, Switzerland, Portes Melathron company, Greece | Son of Yury Chayka,Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to North Caucasus Federal District |
| Igor Lebedev (Zhirinovsky) | Azuline Hotel-Apartamento Rosamar, Ibitza (his son Igor Lebedev). | The Deputy Head of the Russian parliament upper chamber. |
| Igor Lebedev (Zhirinovsky) | Go Evolution International 21 SL, Spain | The Deputy Head of the Russian parliament upper chamber. |
| Igor Lebedev (Zhirinovsky) | Villa Gadea, Partida Villa Gadea, s/n, 03599 Altea, Alicante, Spain. | The Deputy Head of the Russian parliament upper chamber. |
| Igor Lebedev (Zhirinovsky) | Noray, Alicante, Spain 3-floor villa. | The Deputy Head of the Russian parliament upper chamber. |
| Igor Lebedev (Zhirinovsky) | Spanish Destiny Invest SL, tourist company Areir SA, Barcelona, Spain | The Deputy Head of the Russian parliament upper chamber. |
| Igor Lebedev (Zhirinovsky)(via Galina Lebedeva, 72) since 2016 | Hotel Acta Azul, Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes, 327, 08014, Barcelona, Spain | The Deputy Head of the Russian parliament upper chamber. |
| Igor Lebedev (Zhirinovsky)(via Galina Lebedeva, 72) since 2018 | AzuLine Hotel – Apartamento Rosamar, Huelva, 14-18 – Cala de Bou, 07839 San Antonio Bay, Spain | The Deputy Head of the Russian parliament upper chamber. |
| Igor Lebedev (Zhirinovsky) | 440 sq.m. Flat in Botanica Toweris,UAE | The Deputy Head of the Russian parliament upper chamber. |
| Dmitry Frolov | 11, MonteZeda, Stresa, Italy | Colonel, Ex-deputy head of FSB “K” Department |
| Olga Golodets | 20, via RRossini, studio, 2, Galerea del Corso, Milan, Italy | the Vice-prime-minister of Russia |
| Olga Golodets | 2, via Santa Maria alla porta, Milan, Italy. | the Vice-prime-minister of Russia |
| Azamat Mahotlov | Praha Pitterova 2855/7, Czech Republic | Deputy head of energy parliament Committee |
| Sergey Sopchuk | K Sídlišti 1728, 140 00 Praha 4-Nusle, Czech Republic | Russian MP. |
| Sergey Kravtsov (Braun) | Waldertova 670/6, Drahovice, 360 01 Karlovy Vary | The head of the Federal education and science supervisor service. |
| Sergey Kravtsov (Braun) via ALLA KRAVTSOVA, via ULTRA computers s.r.o. | Gagarinova 510/21, Drahovice, 360 01 Karlovy Vary | The head of the Federal education and science supervisor service. |
| Nykolay Mihailov | Karlovy Vary Krále Jiřího 1224/23 | Deputy minister of defence, Russia |
| Nykolay Mihailov via his son Evgeny | Kováků 3280/5, Smíchov, 15000 Praha 5 865/19299 | Deputy minister of defence, Russia |
| Svetlana Tyagachova via MENAKO ALFA s.r.o. | Karlovy Vary Křižíkova 2126/4 | The wife of ex-president of Russian Olympic Committee. |
| Salaf Zaynalabidov via NAGAMA company s.r.o., since 2015. | Mariánské Lázně Ibsenova 183/3 | Owner of 711 Voenproekt, Russian MoD contractor. |
| Vyacheslav Timchenko via nter – Veka s.r.o., via his daughter Katerina. | Římov K Hlubině 282 | Senator in Russian Parliament. |
| Pavel Fedyaev via Lichtenstein firm Besthold. | Sandrainstrasse 17, 9010, Sankt Gallen, nSwitzerland. | MP |
| Gennady Timtchenko via his wife Elena and son Ivan. | Chemin de Planta 45, Rampe de Cologny 10 | Owner of Gunvor company, Rosneft exporter. |
| TubyornTernkvist | Chemin de Ruth 83, Chemin de la Blonde 34 | Gunvor oil trade owner, Rosneft exporter. |
| Nikolay Valuev | 470 sq.m. house, 2 76 sq.m. flats in Germany and 1 villa in Spain. | MP |
| Ahmet Palankoev | 3477 sq.m. land and a house 926,92 sq.m. house in Spain. | Senator |
| Andrey Galushko via his wife. | 7800 sq.m. land and 498 sq.m house in Mougins, France. | Senator |
| Alexander Remezkov | 1211 sq.m.land and a 76 sq.m. flat Austria. | MP |
| Sergey Darkin | 51 sq.m. flat, Monaco. | Deputy minister of regional development |
The list does not include about 60 Russian regional politicians from the ruling party, as well as former deputies and officials who lost their positions but still owns foreign real estate and assets they acquired while being in power.
The Russian elite’s foreign assets are the reason why Moscow will not resort to a preemptive nuclear strike and start war against NATO member countries. The above list mentions individuals who have repeatedly stressed on nuclear strikes against the United States and its allies in Europe. The propagandist Vladimir Soloviev and the politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky are among them. However, their property in European countries makes them deeply interested in keeping these assets.
Villa Souzanna, France.
Thus, the targeted dispossess of the illegally acquired property will influence Russian decision-makers’ policy more effectively. In addition, it will also show to the Russian population that, despite criticizing Western countries, Russian political elites use budget funds to enrich and buy luxury real estate in Europe.
Russian politicians own foreign property illegally, both from the point of view of Russian legislation forbidding public servants to get foreign assets, and according to the European Union laws since the owners’ financial declarations do not show legal income for purchasing assets worth several million euro.
Read also: Carrots and sticks
