German prosecutors in Frankfurt have closed a money-laundering investigation against Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov failing to establish the facts of the crimes attributed to him.
The investigation was terminated in line with Section 153a of the German Code of Criminal Procedure, to which Frankfurt am Main General Public Prosecutor’s Office obtained the billionaire’s written consent in accordance with the conditions and wishes he had voiced.
As part of the latter, Usmanov made the decision to make a voluntary contribution to charity of 4 million euros. On Monday, the prosecutors announced that 1.5 million euros would go to charitable organisations, while the remainder will be allocated to the state treasury.
Usmanov’s lawyers asserted that after over two and a half years, the investigation failed to substantiate the main accusations against him, including money laundering.
“We have always maintained our client’s innocence,” stated Uwe Lehmbruck and Markus Gotzens from the law firm Wannemacher & Partner, emphasising that this outcome is important in protecting Usmanov’s reputation.
