A Russian court has confiscated property and several foreign bank accounts belonging to self-exiled oligarch Boris Berezovsky, who died in Britain in March, an unidentified individual close to the situation said Wednesday.
All operations linked to Berezovsky's assets and foreign accounts have been ceased in accordance with the ruling, Interfax reported.
The total value of the assets runs into millions of rubles, the unidentified individual said.
Russia has continued to search for Berezovsky's assets since the businessman's death. In August, a court in Belgrade, Serbia, froze seven enterprises that were reportedly part of Berezovsky's estate at the request of Russian prosecutors.
Berezovsky made his fortune in the early 1990s when Russia went through a period of economic decline following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent privatization of state property. Berezovsky was a staunch critic of Russia's new elite and frequently clashed with Vladimir Putin after the latter was elected president in 2000. He decided to stay in Britain in 2000 after Russia brought a number of charges against him that resulted in asset freezes and a reduction in wealth. He was granted political asylum in Britain in 2003.
His shrinking fortune was slashed further in 2012 when his former business partner Roman Abramovich successfully sued him for $6 billion.
Britain's High Court said in July that Berezovsky may well have been insolvent, but the subsequent asset seizures have cast doubt on that supposition.
The exact makeup of his estate remains unclear and attempts to establish control over it have led to legal wrangling.
On March 23, 2013, Berezovsky was found hanged in his Berkshire home. British police said Berezovsky had committed suicide as that the autopsy showed no signs of violent struggle.
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.
