Navalnys Allies Unearth Claims Linking Putin to Lavish Black Sea Estate in Crimea

Allies of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny unveiled an investigation on Tuesday asserting that a lavish palace situated along the Black Sea in the annexed territory of Crimea belongs to President Vladimir Putin.

The inquiry conducted by Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) revealed that construction at Cape Ayasite persisted following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. The completed residence significantly exceeds the earlier buildings on the site, once referred to by Ukrainian media as “Yanukovych’s dacha.”

Prior to the annexation, the property was acquired in 2007 by the family of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who denied any involvement in its construction. After Russia took control of Crimea, local authorities indicated that the incomplete estate might be handed over to Russian officials, eventually transferring it to the Presidential Property Management Department, according to previous reports.

According to Navalny’s associates, the Cape Aya property was subsequently appropriated through a network of firms associated with businessmen Yury and Boris Kovalchuk, who are often regarded as part of Putin’s close circle. FBK noted that the ownership arrangement resembles those previously uncovered at other properties tied to the Russian president, including a residence near Lake Valdai and an expansive palace near Gelendzhik.

The investigation referenced technical documents that required oversight by Russia’s Federal Protective Service, responsible for ensuring Putin’s security, as well as contractors linked to other locations allegedly utilized by the president.

FBK released floor plans of the Cape Aya estate, featuring a private medical center, spa amenities, an indoor swimming pool, and a cinema, in addition to a separate guesthouse overlooking the Black Sea.

Navalny’s allies estimated the value of the Crimean estate to be approximately 10 billion rubles ($127 million).

The Kremlin did not provide an immediate response to the allegations.

In 2021, Navalny’s team released a widely-viewed investigation into another palace on Russia’s Black Sea coast, claiming it was constructed for Putin through a network of shell companies at a cost exceeding $1 billion.

At that time, the Kremlin refuted those allegations, but the video contributed to igniting nationwide protests just before Navalny’s imprisonment.