German justice temporarily suspends legal proceedings against Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov in exchange for a payment of 10 million euros.

The German judiciary has decided to provisionally suspend the legal proceedings against the Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, who is under European sanctions due to his properties in Bavaria. In exchange for a payment of 10 million euros, Usmanov has agreed to conclude these proceedings, according to the Munich Public Prosecutor's Office. It is important to note that this amount does not represent a fine or a criminal sanction, and the presumption of innocence remains intact. Usmanov, a close associate of Vladimir Putin, is targeted by sanctions imposed by the West following the invasion of Ukraine. The proceedings, initiated in 2022, concerned two real estate properties in Bavaria, suspected of being monitored by security companies. Usmanov has also been accused of omissions in his asset declarations, including jewelry and works of art. Of the total amount, 8.5 million euros will be allocated to the German state, and 1.5 million euros will go to Bavarian foundations to assist victims.