German prosecutors have agreed to drop an investigation into billionaire Alisher Usmanov in exchange for a €10 million payment, officials and the tycoon’s lawyers

confirmed Tuesday.

The probe, conducted in Bavaria, centered on allegations that Usmanov, a Russian-Uzbek citizen subject to EU sanctions, violated foreign trade laws. Authorities investigated a €1.5 million payment for security at two lakeside properties in Rottach-Egern between April and September 2022, as well as claims that Usmanov failed to declare jewellery, paintings, and wine to Germany’s export control office, BAFA. Usmanov has denied any wrongdoing.

Lawyers for the 18.8-billion-dollar billionaire, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, said he had no ownership or control over the properties or companies involved and that EU sanctions did not directly apply to the case.

Prosecutors said the full payment would allow them to formally discontinue proceedings, with €8.5 million going to Bavaria’s treasury and €1.5 million to the state’s prisoner welfare association. They emphasized that once the payment is made, the case cannot be reopened on the same allegations.

Usmanov’s legal team described the payment as a measure to save time and resources, clarifying that it should not be considered a fine or punishment. This follows a similar arrangement in November 2024, when German authorities ended a money laundering investigation against Usmanov under comparable terms. Photo by Kremlin.ru, Wikimedia commons.