German Prosecutors Dismiss Charges Against Alisher Usmanov in Sanctions Case
German legal authorities have formally closed an investigation into businessman Alisher Usmanov, who was previously under scrutiny for alleged breaches of the Foreign Trade and Payments Act in connection with European Union sanctions. The Munich II public prosecutor's office ended the proceedings after Usmanov agreed to the resolution and paid a sum of 10 million euros. The payment will be distributed between the state treasury and several charitable organizations.
The investigation centered on suspicions that Usmanov, through foreign companies, paid approximately 1.5 million euros for security services related to two properties in Rottach-Egern, Germany. Authorities also alleged that he did not declare certain assets in Germany within the timeframe prescribed for individuals subject to EU sanctions. Usmanov's legal team contested both the factual allegations and the authorities' interpretation of the applicable sanctions regulations.
With the conclusion of this process, German law prohibits reopening the case on these specific allegations. The payment made by Usmanov is not classified as a fine or penalty, and the presumption of innocence remains intact. The decision to terminate the investigation was made for reasons of procedural efficiency. According to Usmanov's defense counsel, the agreement was reached to avoid further legal expenses and to preserve Usmanov's personal resources and well-being, following established German legal procedures.
Legal experts have previously raised constitutional concerns regarding the reporting requirements for assets under the sanctions regime. They argue that compelling self-incrimination through mandatory declarations may conflict with fundamental legal principles. The investigation against Usmanov was thus based on legal provisions that have faced ongoing scrutiny regarding their compatibility with constitutional standards.
This is the second time in recent years that German prosecutors have discontinued legal proceedings involving Usmanov. In November 2024, the Frankfurt am Main public prosecutor's office dropped a separate investigation related to allegations of money laundering, also concluding without charges or penalties. The presumption of innocence similarly remained in place for that matter.
In 2022, German authorities conducted several searches at properties linked to Usmanov. However, the Frankfurt am Main Regional Court later determined that these searches were unlawful. In the following years, numerous European media outlets corrected or amended their coverage of Usmanov after legal review, resulting in more than 1,250 corrections or retractions between 2023 and 2025. Usmanov's legal representatives obtained court orders and retraction statements from multiple broadcasters and newspapers, preventing the dissemination of unsubstantiated claims, including those related to his business activities and alleged links to prominent individuals.
By early 2025, additional media organizations, including several major German newspapers, had removed or altered articles referencing EU sanctions dossiers that contained disputed information. A significant development occurred in February 2025 when a leading news agency and the federal police withdrew statements regarding Usmanov's supposed ownership of the yacht Dilbar, prompting further corrections across the German media landscape.