High Court Exposes Vast Hidden Fortune of Former Russian Senator
A High Court judge in London has ruled that a former Russian senator and political ally of Vladimir Putin deliberately concealed a fortune worth £217 million during divorce proceedings with his ex-wife. Vladimir Sloutsker, who died from cancer in a Geneva hospice in September, had claimed to be suffering from severe financial hardship.
Mr Justice Garrido found that Sloutsker had in fact been hiding extensive property holdings in London and Moscow, investments totalling £21 million, and a valuable art collection worth approximately £4 million. The judge stated that Sloutsker had engaged in "serious and repeated litigation misconduct" throughout the proceedings.
The Lavish Lifestyle and Hidden Assets
Before their separation, Sloutsker and his ex-wife Alona enjoyed what the judge described as a lifestyle consistent with "extreme wealth". Their family home was a nine-bedroom property in South Kensington, central London, valued at £45 million. The massive 2,790 square metre residence featured a heated indoor pool, massage room, cinema, commercial chef's kitchen, wine cellar, gym, and a four-car garage.
The court heard that the couple had spent millions on renovating the property and enjoyed extravagant holidays, including: a Christmas trip to Courchevel costing nearly €500,000; a €70,000 trip to Zermatt; a €400,000 summer holiday in Tuscany; and a $100,000 family trip to Dubai.
Despite Sloutsker's claims of poverty, the judge identified substantial hidden assets including: £4 million in a Swiss REYL bank account; a £22 million family home in Moscow; a plot of land in Moscow valued at £150 million; and £17 million in US private equity investments.
The Court's Final Ruling and Aftermath
In a judgment made in August but only made public recently, Mr Justice Garrido ordered Sloutsker's estate to pay £25 million to his ex-wife Alona, representing just under 60% of the readily liquid assets. The estate was also ordered to pay more than £1 million in maintenance arrears and legal fees.
David Allison, the solicitor representing Alona Sloutsker, revealed that "Mr Sloutsker's obstructive behaviour continued after trial until his death in late September." He added that neither Sloutsker nor his estate had paid anything to his former wife, and that before his death, he had disappeared and cut off all contact with his young children.
The family court typically keeps judgments private, but the judge made an exception due to Sloutsker's position as a former Russian senator and his conduct during the litigation. Sloutsker had made his fortune through ownership of Russian investment vehicle Finvest and served as a senator representing the Chuvash Republic until 2010.
