Russian lawmaker Suleiman Kerimov, dubbed the "secret oligarch," has been taken into police custody in southern France. Russia's embassy has extended "all possible assistance" to the billionaire senator.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Y. Kochetkov
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Russia's embassy in France on Tuesday said Suleiman Kerimov, a prominent lawmaker and billionaire, was detained by French police, reported state-run TASS news agency.
"Suleiman Kerimov was detained at the airport of Nice late on November 20, he was taken to a police station," the embassy said.
"At the present time, all Russian consular services stay in constant touch with the French authorities, all possible assistance is provided to the Russian senator."
Kerimov represents his home state of Dagestan in Russia's upper house of parliament. Russian Foreign Ministry officials said that he had a diplomatic passport and "cannot be detained on foreign soil" due to his diplomatic immunity.
In 2006, Kerimov wrecked his Ferrari Enzo in Nice and received treatment in the serious burns unit of "La Timone" hospital in MarseilleImage: picture-alliance/dpa
'Secret oligarch'
French prosecutors told Reuters news agency that Kerimov "is being held for questioning in a case related to laundering of tax fraud proceeds."
A source cited by the Reuters news agency said the case focused on the purchase of several luxury mansions on the French Riviera.
The story linking Kerimov with the properties originally surfaced in March. At the time, Kerimov's aide publicly stated that the official owned no real estate outside of Russia.
Dubbed the "secret oligarch" by the London-based Financial Times for shying away from the limelight, Kerimov is ranked Russia's 21st wealthiest businessman, believed to be worth $6.3 billion (5.37 billion euros).
Kerimov has a history in Nice after he crashed his $650,000 Ferrari Enzo on the coastal city's Promenade des Anglais in 2006, nearly killing himself and Tina Kandelaki, a well-known TV presenter in Russia.
It is unclear how long police are expected to hold him in detention or whether they plan to charge him with criminal action.
The different faces of Vladimir Putin
Forbes magazine ranked Russian President Vladimir Putin as the most powerful person of 2016 - followed by US President-elect Donald Trump. This picture gallery shows different aspects of Putin's personality.
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From KGB to Kremlin
Putin joined the KGB, the former Soviet Union's security agency, in 1975. In the 1980s he undertook his first foreign posting as a KGB agent to Dresden, Germany. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Putin returned to Russia and entered Boris Yeltsin's Kremlin. When Yeltsin announced that he wanted Putin as his successor, the way was paved for him to become prime minister.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/M.Klimentyev
First presidency
On his appointment, Putin was virtually unknown to the general public. This changed when in August 1999 armed men from Chechnya invaded the neighboring Russian territory of Dagestan. President Yeltsin appointed ex-KGB officer Putin to bring Chechnya back under the central government's control. On New Year's Eve, Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned and named Putin as acting president.
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Tough guy in the media
During an exhibition hockey game in Sochi, Putin’s team won 18-6, with the president scoring eight goals.
Image: picture-alliance/AP/A. Nikolsky
Limited freedom of speech
A protester wears a tape over his mouth reading "Putin" during an opposition rally. In 2013 the Kremlin announced that the state-owned news agency, RIA Novosti, was to be restructured and placed under the control of a pro-Kremlin figure known for his extreme anti-Western views. Reporters without Borders ranked Russia as 148 in its list of 178 countries in terms of press freedom.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/V.Maximov
Putin's Image: A man of action
Putin's image as a man of action, boosted by his having been a KGB spy, has long been part of his appeal in Russia. It is carefully maintained by means of photos where he is seen bare-chested on horseback, or tossing opponents onto a judo mat. In Russia, Putin has earned praise for restoring stability but has also been accused of authoritarianism.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/A. Nikoskyi
Stifling democracy
When President Putin's United Russia party won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections in 2007, critics described the vote as neither free nor democratic. Dozens were detained as riot police broke up protests by demonstrators accusing President Putin of stifling democracy. In this rally the poster reads: "Thank you, no!"
Image: Getty Images/AFP/Y.Kadobnov
Orchestrated events
In Sevastopol, Crimea, Putin looks through the window of a research bathyscaphe in the waters of the Black Sea. This dive in a mini-submarine was only one of his adventurous stunts; he has also been seen tranquilizing wild tigers and flying with endangered cranes. It was also aimed at cementing his image as an adventurer, and demonstrating his control of the annexed territory of Crimea.
