Italy police seize assets from architect linked to Russia – source

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Italy police seize assets from architect linked to Russia – source

8:29 CAT | 03 Aug 2022

Members of Italy's tax police stand by a display of money seized during an operation involving assets worth over 141 million euros ($144 million), which a source familiar with the matter said were seized from an architect linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin who is accused of allegedly breaking Italian tax rules, in Brescia, Italy, in this picture released on August 3, 2022. [Photo: Guardia di Finanza/Handout via Reuters]

Italy’s tax police have seized assets worth over 141 million euros ($144 million) from an architect who has been linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

The tax police sent a statement earlier on Wednesday saying it had seized the assets from a “well-known professional” in Brescia, a town in northern Italy, citing alleged tax offences. It declined to name the person when contacted by Reuters.

The source said the assets belonged to Lanfranco Cirillo, who had designed a grand estate on the Black Sea in Russia that became known as “Putin’s palace” after a businessman alleged the estate was built for Putin.

The Russian president has in the past denied any link to the luxury property.

A lawyer for Cirillo did not respond when contacted by Reuters.

In an interview with Italian televison earlier this year, Cirillo said he had designed the building but said it was commissioned by a private group and he had had no dealings with Putin.

($1 = 0.9822 euros)

There is a big difference between seizing the assets worth more than 141 million euros of architect Lanfranco Cirillo because he is connected to Russian President Vladimir Putin and tax avoidance! Especially in Italy! https://t.co/vZ2tUYoviG

— Murekar Paula (@murekar) August 3, 2022

Maxi sequestro da 141 milioni di euro,tra beni mobili e immobili,eseguito dalla Gdf di Brescia nei confronti di,Lanfranco Cirillo,imprenditore,di 63 anni,per 20 anni a Mosca, conosciuto come “l’architetto di Putin”e di altri 44 oligarchi. E’ accusato di reati fiscali e tributari. pic.twitter.com/pokysnWnsZ

— Franco Scarsella (@FrancoScarsell2) August 3, 2022