Rostec Executives Son Arrested in Spain Amid Money Laundering Investigation

The oldest son of Vladimir Artyakov, who is the vice president of the state defense conglomerate Rostec and a former governor of the Samara region, was taken into custody by Spanish authorities on Saturday on charges of money laundering, as reported by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), citing sources from the court.

Authorities accuse Dmitry Artyakov of laundering millions of euros through property transactions in Spain.

According to OCCRP’s sources, Dmitry was arrested at his home in Girona amid an investigation spearheaded by Spain’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s office, with coordination from the National Court.

Since 2022, he has faced personal sanctions imposed by Ukraine, the United States, and Canada. However, the lack of sanctions from the European Union has permitted him to legally reside and own property in Spain.

Investigators suspect that between 2005 and 2008, Artyakov acquired eight properties in the coastal town of Castell-Platja d’Aro. They believe that the funds came from capital associated with the “Troika laundromat,” an international money laundering scheme that allegedly facilitated the movement of billions of dollars from Russia through offshore entities.

These properties were initially bought for 14 million euros by Artyakov’s grandmother, Anna Kurepina. In 2014, court documents indicate that she sold the properties to her grandson for 10 million euros. Investigators claim Kurepina was merely a nominal owner, asserting that she received at least 14 million euros from the offshore company Delco Networks, a shell corporation linked to the money laundering operation.

Records reveal that she received approximately 20 transfers categorized as loans, all of which were never repaid.

Spanish officials consider the real estate in Girona and the associated financial operations as part of a larger suspected money laundering scheme.

Vladimir Artyakov served as the governor of the Samara region from 2007 to 2012. Prior to that, he held high-ranking positions at the automotive company AvtoVAZ, including chairman of the board beginning in late 2005, as well as president of the AvtoVAZ Group and chairman of the company’s board.