Russian scrutinised for ties to Trump investigated in Monaco

Source: Guardian


Dmitry Rybolovlev allegedly violated privacy of Tania Rappo and used political influence against former art dealer

Stephanie Kirchgaessner and Luke Harding
Thursday 19 October 2017 14.39 EDT

A Russian billionaire who has emerged as a central figure in the controversy surrounding the Trump campaign’s possible collusion with the Kremlin is under investigation in Monaco.

Dmitry Rybolovlev, who is president of Monaco football club, is expected to be formally charged on Friday for allegedly violating the privacy of one-time confidant and friend Tania Rappo, in a case that has raised questions about whether the tycoon used his political influence to wage a legal campaign against his former art dealer.

The development comes as Rybolovlev, who paid Donald Trump $95m for a beachfront property in Florida in 2008, has caught the attention of congressional and federal investigators in the US who are examining alleged dealings between Russian operatives and members of Trump’s inner circle.

The allegations in Monaco against the Russian tycoon, who made his fortune as a fertiliser magnate, are unrelated to the ongoing federal investigation in the US into whether or not the Kremlin colluded with the Trump campaign to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/19/russian-scrutinised-for-ties-to-trump-investigated-in-monaco