Sanctioned oligarch Alisher Usmanov is believed to have fled to his palatial sanctuary in his native Uzbekistan.
A former major Arsenal shareholder who has been facing asset forfeiture in Europe since Putin’s rule. invasion of Ukraine it is believed that he escaped from one of his houses in Germany earlier this week.
Flight tracking system records show that his personal Airbus A340-300 took off on Monday evening from Munich International Airport for Tashkent, the capital of impoverished Uzbekistan.
Alisher Usmanov photographed his wife arriving at the re-opening ceremony of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow in 2011.
The plane took off at 7:20 pm CET, about five hours after sanctions were supposed to limit Usmanov’s travel to the European Union.
Russian sources suggest Usmanov, 68, has a lavish palace in Tashkent where he can relax, knowing the home can never be taken over by Western governments.
MailOnline has discovered a video that allegedly shows the luxurious interiors and exteriors of a mansion in his homeland.
It is believed that the estate is located in the steppes of an authoritarian and poor Central Asian country, whose richest heir is Usmanov.
Russian sources suggest Usmanov, 68, has a lavish palace in Tashkent where he can relax knowing it is a home that will never be taken over by Western governments.
It features huge domed ceilings, curved staircases, a set of giant reception rooms, arched doorways, a large indoor pool, gym, massage room, sauna, steam room, movie theater and conference rooms.
It is lavishly furnished with ornate stucco, antique and gilded furniture, tasteful nude paintings, sumptuous sofas, crystal lamps, treasure display cases, and sumptuous carpets on tiled floors.
In the underground garage there is parking for Mercedes cars, and on the territory there are wide terraces with balconies.
Sources say the criticized billionaire Usmanov has recently lived in his Tashkent mansion more often than in his homes in the UK, Germany and Russia, where he has close ties to the Putin regime.
It is known that recently he has increased his investments and charitable activities in Uzbekistan.
He even reportedly lent a private jet to his friend Shavkat Mirziyoyev, 64, the country’s president.
The news website arstechnicca.com, which found evidence of Usmanov’s plane flying, said: “The plane may have been empty except for the crew, although it may have contained a passenger who wanted to get out of the city quickly.”
The brown-and-white plane called Burkhan belongs to Alisher Usmanov, who is known to have visited resorts in the Bavarian Alps.
“At the time of takeoff, the Russian oligarch was banned from entering the European Union five hours earlier.”
It is believed that the estate is located in the steppes of an authoritarian and poor Central Asian country, whose richest heir is Usmanov.
The metals and minerals magnate Usmanov is believed not to have been seen at his £48 million Beechwood House in Highgate, north London, or at his 16th-century estate at Sutton Place, Surrey, for some time.
Rumors have swirled in recent weeks that he is looking for a private buyer for Beechwood House as he is threatened with sanctions if Putin continues his invasion of Ukraine.
On Thursday evening, the UK government imposed a total asset freeze and travel ban on Usmanov and fellow oligarch Igor Shuvalov because of their “close ties to the Kremlin.”
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: “Our message to Putin and his allies was clear from day one – an invasion of Ukraine would have serious and devastating economic consequences.
“The imposition of sanctions against Usmanov and Shuvalov sends a clear signal that we will hit the oligarchs and individuals closely associated with the Putin regime and its barbaric war.
“We will not stop here. Our goal is to paralyze the Russian economy and starve Putin’s war machine.”
Usmanov is said to be a close business ally and aide to Putin, and in the past has spoken of his pride in his friendship with the Russian leader, saying “The fact that everyone dislikes him is not Putin’s problem.”
Usmanov’s shell company bought the second-class listed Beechwood House from the Emir of Qatar for a cut price of £48 million in 2008 after it was listed for sale for £65 million. The purchase was shrouded in mystery and only one published photograph of the estate was released.
MailOnline dug up a video that allegedly shows the luxurious interiors and exteriors of a mansion in his homeland.
One real estate expert, commenting at the time, said, “It’s great.”
Land registry records show that the 1840 Regency mansion has been owned by an Isle of Man-registered company called Hanley Limited since March 2008.
According to company documents, the Douglas-listed firm was dissolved last October, obscuring actual ownership of the eight-bedroom home.
His ties to Putin go beyond business as his wife, gymnastics coach Irina Viner, 73, helped Putin’s alleged lover Alina Kabaeva win a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics.
It is believed that Irina, who has long been known as the elder of Russian rhythmic gymnastics, stayed at Beechwood House last November.
She was there with Usmanov’s nephew Sarvar Ismailov, 26, director of FC Everton, until he resigned in November “due to personal and health reasons”.
The Ismailov assault case was dropped in December ahead of a hearing in Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Kabaeva heads a large pro-Kremlin media holding and there are unconfirmed suggestions that she has a young family.
Earlier, Putin said: “I have a personal life in which I do not allow interference. He needs to be respected.” He deplored “those who, with their snotty noses and erotic fantasies, climb into someone else’s life.”
Kabaeva officially stated that she met a man whom she “loves very much.”
She said, “Sometimes you feel so happy that you’re even afraid.”
The plane took off at 7:20 pm CET, about five hours after sanctions were supposed to limit Usmanov’s travel to the European Union.
Her confidant Irina said: “When Alina finds the right time, she herself will tell about it. I’m just happy for her.”
Usmanov has been heavily criticized by the Russian media for repeated attempts to link him to Dmitry Medvedev, the former Kremlin president and former prime minister who is now deputy head of Russia’s Security Council.
Usmanov has repeatedly denied any illegitimate connections. According to the latest case, one of the three houses associated with it on the banks of the picturesque lake Tegernsee in the Bavarian Alps belonged to the former first lady of Russia, Svetlana Medvedeva, wife of the ex-president.
One house on the lake, described as his personal property, with its own boathouse, was bought through Tegernsee (IOM) Limited (Isle of Man) and rebuilt for 20 million euros, according to the VChK-OGPU channel.
The channel said: “According to the neighbors of the oligarch, he is usually accompanied by 7 or 8 bodyguards, as well as drivers, servants, [and] cooking.
“Usmanov did not want to live with them in the same house and bought a villa for servants nearby (on Forellenstrasse) for 6.5 million euros.
“The house had to be demolished and replaced with a new building.”
According to the channel, this is the third house in which Medvedev’s wife was seen. The VChK-OGPU channel also reported that the European authorities faced “big problems” trying to connect Usmanov’s real estate in the EU with him.
The source said: “His yacht, plane, three houses in Germany are registered offshore, and even if you “dig up” all the chains of companies for which the data “leaked”, there is a direct connection with Usmanov and his company.
Usmanov (pictured) has been heavily criticized by the Russian media for repeated attempts to link him to Dmitry Medvedev.
“Officially, Usmanov rents houses, a yacht and a plane from these offshore companies. He has all the necessary documents.
“All such issues will be decided in the courts and I doubt they will be easy for the European authorities.”
Everton suspended all of its commercial and sponsorship activities with companies in which Usmanov was the majority shareholder; USM and Megafon, Sky Sports reported.
It also includes Yota, the Russian smartphone company that sponsored Everton Women and is part of the MegaFon group.
Usmanov has been considered a powerhouse at Everton since longtime business partner Farhad Moshiri bought a 49.9% stake six years ago.
The 68-year-old’s company, USM Holdings, paid £12m a year to sponsor the club’s training facility and announced a £30m deal in 2020 for a future naming rights option for a new stadium at Bramley Moor Dock. will not open until at least 2024.