E.U. refuses to lift sanctions from Russian defense exec’s daughter, citing her appearance in calendar with Nicole Kidman and Uma Thurman — Meduza
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The stepdaughter of Sergey Chemezov, who heads the Russian defense conglomerate Rostec, has asked the E.U. to remove her from its sanctions list, which she’s been on since 2022. According to the outlet Sistema, however, E.U. officials have denied the request, citing her 2017 appearance in the prestigious Pirelli calendar as evidence that she’s benefited from her stepdad’s assets. Meduza shares a summary of the report.

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/4586739

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The Council of the European Union has declined a request to remove Anastasia Ignatova — the stepdaughter of Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov — from its sanctions list, according to a report by the investigative outlet Sistema, which cited a draft letter prepared by E.U. officials for Ignatova’s legal team.

Ignatova is contesting the sanctions, claiming that she does not benefit from her stepfather’s assets. However, E.U. officials maintain they have sufficient evidence to suggest otherwise.

Among the supporting evidence the E.U. cites is Ignatova’s appearance in the high-profile 2017 Pirelli calendar, which featured international celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, Penélope Cruz, and Uma Thurman. Ignatova was described in the calendar as a “professor of political theory at Moscow State University and a special guest,” with her participation attributed to an invitation from the photographer.

E.U. officials, however, argue that the “only plausible explanation” for her inclusion is the business partnership between Pirelli and Rostec. The two companies operate a joint venture, Pirelli Tyre Russia, which owns tire factories in the Russian cities of Voronezh and Kirov. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Pirelli suspended investments in both facilities.

In communications with Ignatova’s legal team, E.U. officials also referenced three other assets allegedly linked to her connection with Chemezov: a Belize-registered offshore company named Elsamex, a villa in Marbella, Spain, and a $110 million yacht called Valerie. Ignatova’s lawyers contend that the offshore company was a gift from her mother, and that both the villa and yacht have since been sold.

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