As reported by Bloomberg, on December 30th, 2025, Munich prosecutors officially terminated their investigation into Uzbek-Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov over alleged violations of foreign trade law.
The conclusion of these German legal proceedings against Usmanov marks a milestone in his sanction-related litigations in the European Union.
The probe, which centered on payments for security services at Bavarian residences and an alleged failure to report luxury assets, was closed following a €10 million payment. This resolution follows the dismissal of a similar money laundering investigation against Usmanov by Frankfurt prosecutors in November 2024, ending two legal hurdles faced by Usmanov in Germany.
The closure of these cases also highlights a lack of progress by German law enforcement after nearly four years of intense investigation, observers familiar with the case say. Despite the involvement of two of Germany’s largest prosecutor offices in Munich and Frankfurt, the investigations never advanced beyond a preliminary status. This stalemate persisted even after high-profile actions, such as 2022 property raids, which were later deemed illegal by a Frankfurt court.
The recent case closure with a monetary settlement is a move that enables prosecutors to “save face” while avoiding a protracted and uncertain trial, they add. Notably the payment is not a fine or an admission of guilt, and part of it is slated to go to charitable organizations.
A critical aspect of the settlement is that Usmanov was never formally charged, ensuring his presumption of innocence remains legally intact. The agreement explicitly prevents the reopening of investigations based on the same allegations, providing a level of legal finality that is rare in such complex international disputes. Usmanov’s lawyers emphasised that the decision to settle was made primarily to conserve time and resources after years of fruitless inquiry.
This series of legal victories for Usmanov is unprecedented given the current geopolitical climate and the intensity of EU sanction enforcement. While the current U.S. administration under President Donald Trump continues its own sanction policies, the German judicial system, even upon a significant voluntary payment, has ultimately opted for dropping the case against one of the richest Russian figures.
The repeated discontinuation of probes against Usmanov and a number of court decisions in his favour in Europe is a sign of resilience that some of the EU law enforcement agencies and courts preserve against the backdrop of the political implications of the present day.
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