The Reuters news agency on Tuesday said it had identified one of the daughters of Russian President Vladimir Putin and claimed that she and her husband controlled assets worth about $2 billion, including a seaside villa in Biarritz, France, estimated to be worth about $3.7 million.
A senior executive at a state-owned Russian bank told Reuters that Putin's younger daughter, whose identity has been shielded from the press, used the surname Tikhonova. The report said Katerina, 29, was the “spouse” of Kirill Shamalov, son of Nikolai Shamalov, a banker and longtime friend of the president.
According to Reuters, the foundation of the couple's wealth is a stake in a major gas and petrochemical company that Kirill acquired from Gennady Timchenko, another longstanding friend of Putin.
The pair's villa in Biarritz was also bought from Timchenko, Reuters said.
The revelations undermine claims by Putin's supporters that while some of his acquaintances may have amassed fortunes during his 15 years in power, the president has not abused his position to enrich himself and his family.
According to Reuters, Katerina Tikhonova is working in academia and running publicly funded projects at Moscow State University. Her sister Maria is a graduate of the university.
Both Katerina and Kirill Shamalov declined to comment to Reuters.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.