Russian Supreme Court Judge Assets Confiscation: Corruption Scandal
- * Allegations against Judge Momotov: Russian Supreme Court Judge Momotov is accused of owning a vast property empire (44 land plots adn 51 properties, valued at over 9...
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* Allegations against Judge Momotov: Russian Supreme Court Judge Momotov is accused of owning a vast property empire (44 land plots adn 51 properties, valued at over 9 billion rubles/$107.7 million) through proxies, including his 89-year-old mother. These properties allegedly operate as hotels (including the Marton chain), bathhouses, and hookah lounges. He’s also accused of ties to organized crime in building his business.
* Prosecution Action: Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has filed a lawsuit to confiscate 95 properties linked to Momotov and his associates.
* Momotov’s Response: He has stated he will provide an explanation to the council of Judges’ anti-corruption body after being formally notified of the lawsuit.
* Broader trend of Nationalization: This case is part of a larger trend of the Russian government bringing private assets under state control. Estimates suggest between $29.9 billion and $50 billion in assets have been nationalized since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
* Momotov’s Position: He has been a Russian Supreme Court judge since 2010 and chairman of the Council of Judges since December 2022. it’s unclear if he will step down during the examination.