Source: US News & World Report
“Russian prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against the owner of U.S.-owned Glavprodukt, a company seized by Moscow in October, accusing him of illegally withdrawing around $15.5 million from Russia over the last two years, the RBC news outlet reported. President Vladimir Putin decreed in October 2024 that Glavprodukt and other assets ultimately owned by U.S. company Universal Beverage and Leonid Smirnov be placed under the Russian state’s ‘temporary management,’ giving Moscow control over the running of the business. The General Prosecutor’s lawsuit, filed on March 5, contained no details, beyond naming the defendants as Smirnov, Universal Beverages and other companies. The RBC business daily, citing unnamed sources, said it was based on the allegation that Smirnov and the foreign companies controlled by him had moved around 1.38 billion roubles ($15.46 million) out of Russia from 2022 to 2024.” (03/06/25)