Russian President Putin announced his support for referendums in separatist districts in Ukraine (Photo: Reuters)
The 58-year-old Russian-Israeli oligarch Mikhail Friedman was arrested in Britain on Thursday on suspicion of money laundering - according to a statement issued last night (Saturday) by the British National Crime Agency (NCA), who did not name him, and a report by the Russian news agency Taas, which indicated that Friedman was involved, on Pi is close to him, and claimed that he is suspected of violating sanctions imposed on him.
According to the British police report, Friedman was arrested by the investigators of the unit dealing with the fight against governmental corruption, who raided his residence in London.
About 50 authorities participated in the operation.
A daycare worker, a 35-year-old man was arrested when he tried to leave the premises with a bag containing thousands of pounds in cash.
A 39-year-old man, an ex-girlfriend of Friedman's current partner, was arrested at his home.
All three were questioned and released.
Mikhail Friedman (photo: official website, photo: Wikipedia)
Taas writes that on February 28, the European Union imposed personal sanctions on the owners of the Alpha Group Corporation, Mikhail Friedman and Piotr Owen, as well as other Russian officials and businessmen, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The following day it was reported that Friedman and Evan resigned from the Alfa Bank board of directors.
Friedman is the main financier of the Genesis Foundation for Strengthening the Jewish Identity of Russian-Speaking Jews and sponsors the Genesis Prize, which it announced with the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency in June 2012, when Friedman accompanied President Putin on his visit to Israel.
He is also one of the sponsors of the monument to the Red Army's victory over the Nazis in World War II that Putin inaugurated in Netanya.
The head of the NCA, Graeme Bigger, said in reference to the operation that "the anti-corruption unit is having significant success in investigating possible criminal activity of oligarchs, the professional service providers that support and enable them and those connected to the Russian regime".
He promised, "We will continue to use all the forces and tactics at our disposal to disrupt this threat."
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