Russian Government Seizes Assets from Wealthy Businessmen Amid Anti-Corruption Efforts

In 2025, Russia seized 1.1 trillion rubles (approximately S$19 billion) in assets as part of anti-corruption cases, according to the Moscow-based law firm Nektorov, Saveliev & Partners. This amount is about eight times higher than in 2024 and represents roughly a third of total asset confiscations that year. Wealthy Russians, including Vadim Moshkovich, founder of Ros Agro, have faced asset seizures due to allegations of corruption and abuse of political positions. Moshkovich's 49% stake in his company was ordered to be seized by a Moscow court in May 2026, with prosecutors claiming he violated a ban on combining public service with business activities during his tenure in the upper chamber of Parliament from 2006 to 2014. The state has intensified asset seizures since a 2024 Constitutional Court ruling that exempted corrupt officials from the statute of limitations for property crimes. This has raised concerns among Russia's elite, as many billionaires have faced similar charges, often leading to the redistribution of assets to more loyal business groups. While some prominent businessmen have not been investigated, the situation reflects a growing trend of state control over wealth and business interests in Russia.