Sanctioned Billionaires with Putin Ties Evading International Sanctions via Litigation Finance (critical) An investment firm, A1 (a subsidiary of Alfa Group), founded by Russian billionaires with strong ties to Vladimir Putin, has financed lawsuits globally in an effort to evade international sanctions imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Three of its billionaire founders (Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven, and German Khan) were sanctioned. Aven claimed he met regularly with Putin and followed his orders to seek favor in the US to prevent sanctions against Alfa Group. The EU alleged Fridman 'has managed to cultivate strong ties to the administration of Vladimir Putin, and has been referred to as a top Russian financier and an enabler of Putin’s inner circle.'. Attempted Shell Game to Transfer Funds to Sanctioned Russian Central Bank (critical) A1-financed attorneys attempted to direct a New York court escrow agent to transfer approximately $6.1 million in recovered assets to an account at the Central Bank of Moscow, which was already under US sanctions. The US Attorney’s Office rejected a subsequent proposal by A1’s lawyers (to transfer creditor claims to A1) in August 2022, stating that this 'type of shell game would undermine relevant U.S. sanctions, which are intended to prevent sanctioned persons from availing themselves of the U.S. financial system.'. Suspected Sham Sale of Investment Firm to Evade Sanctions (high) Six days after three of A1’s billionaire directors were sanctioned in the UK, they sold the company for about $900 to another A1 director who had not been sanctioned. Attorneys fighting A1-funded claims called the transaction a 'sham to evade sanctions,' noting that A1 had assets totaling $8.1 million and revenue over $11.5 million in 2021. A UK court judgment noted that it 'very likely follows that there has been to some degree a scheme of concealed sanctions evasion' if sanctioned people remained in control of A1 after the sale.. Systemic Election Fraud and Undermining of Democratic Legitimacy (high) Vladimir Putin’s party (United Russia) secured a parliamentary majority in 2021 following an election 'marred by reports of fraud,' including allegations of ballot stuffing and forced voting. Critics were barred from running, and independent monitoring groups reported about 5,000 possible voting violations. Opponents condemned the result as illegitimate. Furthermore, critics suggest Putin is 'weaponizing corruption to weaken Europe.'. Russian State Imposing Excessive Fines on Foreign Companies (medium) Russian courts, acting under the Kremlin's authority, have imposed an 'unfathomable sum' fine on Google, reported to be $20 decillion (a number with 36 zeros), for removing Russian TV channels from YouTube. The fine amount was described as being 'more than the world’s total GDP,' indicating the state's use of extreme financial leverage against international corporations.