A Russian gold mining magnate was blocked from leaving the country over the weekend as authorities relocated to nationalize his company and investigate supposed corruption and monetary misconduct.Konstantin Strukov, the CEO of Russias third-largest gold producerYuzhuralzoloto, was supposedly preparing to fly from the Chelyabinsk region to Turkey on Saturday aboard his private $50 million Bombardier jet whenfederal air travel authorities halted his departure, the Kommersant business day-to-day reported.Footage released by Kommersant shows Strukov being in the cabin of the grounded aircraft as a number of security officials stand nearby.Russias federal air travel firm, Rosaviatsia, canceled the flight at the last minute, mentioning the aircrafts jailed legal status.Bailiffs consequently boarded the aircraft and confiscated Strukovs worldwide passport, which authorities from the Interior Ministry had currently voided.The attempted departure came simply days after the Prosecutor Generals Office filed a court motion to take Strukovs assets, consisting of shares in 11 business, amongst them Yuzhuralzoloto.In addition to his service roles, Strukov is a deputy chairman of the Chelyabinsk local legislative assembly and a member of the ruling, pro-Kremlin United Russia party.Prosecutors have actually implicated the 66-year-old executive of leveraging his political clout to acquire profitable gold and coal mining properties, frequently registering them under the names of loved ones and associates.A court order had formerly disallowed Strukov from leaving the country.Strukov formerly rejected any intention of getting away prosecution, firmly insisting, Theres no place for me to go.Representatives for Yuzhuralzoloto denied reports that Strukov had tried to leave the country, stating he spent Saturday operating at the business Moscow office.His granddaughter, Ulyana, echoed that claim in comments to the Ostorozhno Novosti media outlet, adding that the household had actually long been the topic of incorrect reports.
She did not describe the video showing Strukov aboard the jet.Russian police officials allege that Strukov assisted loved ones obtain citizenship in several European countries.His daughter Alexandra supposedly hold Swiss citizenship and lives outdoors Russia, though she is listed as a shareholder in Yuzhuralzoloto and associated companies.
Other family members reportedly control organization properties in Montenegro and Serbia.Security and tax authorities have actually implicated Strukov of funneling profits from his Russian operations into so-called unfriendly nations.In 2024, Yuzhuralzoloto produced 10.6 metric lots of gold, creating earnings of 25 billion rubles ($320 million).
In spite of its output, the business posted a bottom line of 7.2 billion rubles ($90 million).
On July 2, police officers raided the offices of Yuzhuralzoloto and related firms as part of a criminal investigation into ecological violations, commercial security breaches and unlawful operations at mining facilities.
Days later, Russian authorities formally started the process of nationalizing the company.Strukov, Russias78th-richest man, has actually not been officially called as a suspect in the ecological probe.