Rostec Executives Son Arrested in Spain Amid Money Laundering Investigation

The eldest son of Vladimir Artyakov, who is the vice president of the defense conglomerate Rostec and a former governor of the Samara region, was apprehended by Spanish authorities on Saturday under suspicions of money laundering, as reported by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) citing judicial sources.

Dmitry Artyakov is accused of laundering millions of euros through real estate dealings in Spain. Sources from OCCRP indicate that he was arrested at his home in Girona as part of an investigation led by Spain’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s office, with the National Court overseeing the case.

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

Authorities allege that between 2005 and 2008, Artyakov acquired eight properties in Castell-Platja d’Aro, with suspicions that the financing was sourced from the “Troika laundromat,” a notorious international money laundering operation that has reportedly facilitated the transfer of billions from Russia via offshore entities.

Initially, Artyakov’s grandmother, Anna Kurepina, purchased the properties for 14 million euros. In 2014, records show she sold them to her grandson for 10 million euros. Investigators assert that Kurepina was a nominal owner, receiving at least 14 million euros from Delco Networks, an offshore shell company implicated in the money laundering scheme.

Documentation reveals that she received approximately 20 transfers categorized as loans, which have never been repaid.

Spanish law enforcement views the properties in Girona and the associated financial activities as part of an extensive alleged money laundering scheme.

Vladimir Artyakov served as the governor of the Samara region from 2007 to 2012. Prior to this, he held high-ranking positions at the automobile manufacturer AvtoVAZ, including board chairman starting in late 2005 and president of the AvtoVAZ Group.