In Finland, security forces are conducting a search on the island of Kotasaari, which belongs to Russian billionaire Igor Kesaev, writes the Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat.
The head of a special law enforcement unit, Aki Virtanen, told the publication that security forces are looking for documents and inspecting property subject to arrest.
As Iltalehti wrote, Kesaev bought spicy Kotasaari in 2020 for 700 thousand euros. The Belgian publication Euractiv noted that the Russian billionaire used the “golden passport” of Cyprus for this purpose — this is citizenship that is given for investing in the country’s economy. Because of this, the deal did not have to be approved by the Finnish Ministry of Defense. “Large accommodation facilities” and a helipad were built on the island, Euractiv reported, although these were not included in the original plan.
In April 2022, Igor Kesaev came under sanctions from the UK and the EU due to the war in Ukraine. At the same time, the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reported that the Finnish authorities “took control” of the island of Kotasaari.
Kesaev is the president of the Mercury group of companies, co-owner of the largest tobacco distributor in Russia, Megapolis, as well as the Dixie supermarket chain » He ranks 32nd on the Forbes list of the richest Russians, with an estimated fortune of $4.1 billion.
In 2019, Forbes wrote that Mercury, in particular, includes the Degtyarev Arms Plant in Kovrov, which produces small arms, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile weapons. The list of persons affiliated with the plant was last updated in 2021 — it contains the name Kesaev.