A Spanish national court has issued arrest warrants against 12 Russians allegedly linked to Russian gangsters operating in Spain. The wanted senior Russian government officials are close to President Vladimir Putin. The arrest warrant has been issued following investigation into the activities of the Russian Mafia, Tambovskaya Gang enduring for a decade.
The accused include Vladislav Reznik, a prominent MP for Putin's ruling United Russia party and Reznik's wife Diana Gindin. The list also names Nikolai Aulov, the deputy head of Russia's federal anti-narcotics service (FSKN) and Igor Sobelevsky, the former deputy head of the prosecutor general's investigative committee. Most of the wanted are believed to be in Russia, reports The Guardian quoting Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
Reznik has previously denied all the allegations brought against him. Meanwhile, Russia has decided not to extradite Reznik, reports Reuters quoting Yuri Chaika, the Russian Prosecutor General. A spokesperson from Kremlin hasn't immediately responded to a comment-request made in a public holiday in Russia.
An FSKN statement has dismissed the allegations while referring the Spanish court order as politically motivated. Jose de la Mata, Judge for the Spain's top criminal court has issued arrest warrants against the 12 people for maintaining links to Gennady Petrov's Tambovskaya mafia syndicate. The mafia gang is accused for contract killings, arms and drug trafficking, extortion, forgery and money-laundering, according to a report published in BBC. Petrov's operation in Spain has allegedly been aided by the Russian state and a network of lawyers and other middlemen, inform the Spanish prosecutors. Jose Grinda, chief prosecutor for the Spanish investigation has alleged in 2010 that Russian political parties work 'hand in hand' with organized crime. This statement has been leaked by Wikileaks from a US diplomatic cable. The mafia leader, Petrov has owned certain stake in Bank Rossiya along with several persons having neighbor relationship with Putin. The US has imposed sanctions against the bank labeling it as the personal bank for senior Russian officials. Managers of the bank have laundered at least $1 billion to offshore firms linked to Sergei Roldugin, suggest recently leaked Panama Papers. Sergei is a professional musician and Putin's best friend owning 3.2% stake in the bank. The arrest warrants are certain outcome of multi-stage investigation by Spanish prosecutors and intelligence services into Russian Mafia activity. Russian criminals have been using Spain as a base of operations since mid 1990s. Money originated from illegal activities in Russia is allegedly laundered to Spain for investment in the country's real estate sector.
Under the state patronage, Russian mafia groups operate their criminal operations from a base in Spain. Spanish prosecutors and investigators monitoring Russian mafia activity have even termed the country as a mafia state. Recently, a Spanish court has issued arrest warrant against 12 senior Russian officials for patronizing mafia operations in Spain.
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