Russian billionaire and politician Suleyman Kerimov has been charged with laundering money gained through tax fraud in France.

The 51-year-old, who was arrested at Nice Airport and held for two days, has now been released on bail of €5m (£4.4m) under strict conditions which included handing over his passport to French authorities.

The charge of aggravated money laundering - which carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years - is linked to the purchase of deluxe homes on the French Riviera through intermediary companies, and which could have been used as a way to side-step tax payments.

Image: A villa owned by Mr Kerimov in Cap d'Antibe in southeastern France

A tax lawyer and two Swiss businessmen have already been charged over the case, and a second person has been put under formal investigation.

In September, local newspaper Nice-Matin reported that a luxury villa on the Cap D'Antibe, believed to belong to Mr Kerimov, had been seized by authorities.


The businessman denies the allegations, Russian state TV reported.

Russian MPs have protested his arrest, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declaring: "We will do everything in our power to protect his lawful interests."

Image: Mr Kerimov watching his former football club play in 2012

The senator has represented the North Caucasus region of Dagestan in the Federation Council of Russia since 2008.

Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave Mr Kerimov a state award for "Services to the Fatherland" for his contribution to the Russian parliament.

Listed by Forbes as Russia's 21st richest person, he made his estimated $6.6b (£5bn) fortune through privatisations following the break-up of the Soviet Union.

His family now control gold mining company Polyus.

A previous owner of Russian Premier League football club Anzhi Makhachkala, Mr Kerimov sold the club in 2016.

In 2006 he suffered severe burns after crashing his Ferrari into a tree while speeding along Nice's seafront.