Swiss Vekselberg aide wanted by the FBI rejects accusations
Published: Sunday, Apr 14th 2024, 10:00
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A Swiss advisor to Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg accused of helping to circumvent sanctions has rejected accusations against him. "I am being completely wrongly pilloried by the USA," said Vladislav Osipov in an interview.
"I am taking part in the American proceedings through my US lawyers. And I am defending myself against all accusations there," the Russian-born lawyer told the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper. He defended himself against the claim that he was hiding. "I am neither a fugitive nor in hiding, but continue to live with my family in Herrliberg, as I have done for the last ten years."
The US Department of Justice accuses Osipov of helping Vekselberg to conceal the fact that he is the owner of the yacht "Tango". The aim was to prevent the seizure of the ship. The value of the yacht is estimated at 90 million US dollars. Vekselberg is on the US list of sanctioned persons due to his closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has offered a reward of up to one million dollars for information leading to Osipov's arrest.
Osipov did not want to comment in detail on the allegations. He had learned of the lawsuit against him from the press. It is possible that the USA wanted to use the lawsuit to force him to disclose information about Vekselberg. "One can only speculate, but that would indeed be a possible reason," said Osipov.
"Terrible war"
Vekselberg's project manager distanced himself from Russia and the war against Ukraine. "I have Ukrainian friends and I don't want them to think that I have anything to do with this terrible war." He left Russia over 24 years ago. He had given up his Russian passport and had submitted his application for expatriation before he found out about the charges. According to him, he and his family now only have Swiss citizenship.
Osipov's Zurich-based company has been managing Viktor Vekselberg's private activities within Europe since 2015. This also includes the investor's real estate, yachts and private jets. Osipov also temporarily sat on the Board of Directors of the real estate company Züblin Immobilien Holding.
©Keystone/SDA
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