Luxurious property in the EU despite sanctions: Nikolai Kolesov, Putin's ally and head of Russian Helicopters, owns five villas in Mallorca worth 18 million rubles.
Despite the EU sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin's confidant Nikolai Kolesov continues to own luxury real estate in Spain. As Russian opposition journalist Maria Pevchikh discovered, the total value of Kolesov's five villas on the island of Mallorca is 18 million euros, and they are formally registered to his children and sister to avoid confiscation.
This was reported by the Mallorca Magazin publication, citing an investigation by an anti-corruption organization.
The investigation indicates that Kolesov, the CEO of the state-owned defense company Russian Helicopters and a person on the EU sanctions list, owns five properties in Palma de Mallorca. One of the estates in Calvia, worth about 5 million euros, was purchased in 2014 from a Russian company. In 2022, it was transferred to Kolesov's daughter. Another, smaller villa, is registered to his 71-year-old sister – its value is estimated at 3 million euros. Three other villas, located in the Magaluf area, together with the first two form a portfolio worth approximately 18 million euros.
According to Pevchikh, one of Kolesov's children has Spanish citizenship, which complicates the process of possible confiscation of property. “Now the villas are safe,” she notes.
Nikolay Kolesov is known as one of the leaders of the Russian defense industry. Before his appointment to Russian Helicopters, he headed Rostvertol and plays a key role in the production of both military and civilian helicopters. It was for his participation in strengthening Russia's military potential that he was subjected to European sanctions.
The Kremlin continues to look for loopholes in sanctions
The investigation in Mallorca comes amid a broader trend of sanctions-evasion by Russia. The Kremlin has recently been trying to find loopholes in the air transport sector, including attempts to attract foreign companies to operate domestic flights to Russia, despite the ban on cabotage under international aviation law.
Russian airlines, lacking maintenance and spare parts, are gradually losing airworthy aircraft. In response, Moscow is trying to negotiate with companies from Kazakhstan. However, the leading players in the region, in particular Air Astana and Scat, have already refused to cooperate.
The EU reports that it is preparing a new package of sanctions that should tighten control over the assets of Russian officials and minimize the possibilities for circumventing restrictions.
Let us recall that in Ukraine, full audits of declarations of TCC officials were conducted. Thus, upon completion of 18 audits, violations amounting to UAH 36.8 million were revealed.
