A major scandal surrounding high-ranking Russian politician Igor Lebedev is gaining new details. While Russian authorities continue to turn a blind eye to violations of the law, the editorial board has presented a detailed investigation revealing the hidden foreign assets of Lebedev’s family, which could lead to him being stripped of his parliamentary mandate. Read on to find out how the State Duma vice-speaker and his close associates manage millions through Spanish companies, and why this story could shake the foundations of the Russian political system.

---

State Duma Deputy Speaker Igor Lebedev: Secret Business Empires and Hidden Incomes in Spain

Episode 1: Our People in Altea

Let’s start with Altea, a resort town in the Spanish province of Alicante, where one of the key points in the Lebedev family’s business empire is located. In 2007, Go Evolution International 21 SL , a real estate management company, was registered in Altea. According to the Spanish commercial register, the company’s assets were valued at 4.5 million euros. The company owns a luxury apartment of 133 square meters in the Villa Gadea complex , located on the Mediterranean coast.

Go Evolution International 21 SL was represented by none other than Igor Lebedev, Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s son, since November 2009. The deputy speaker of the State Duma acted as a proxy ( apoderado ), which allowed him to make transactions on behalf of the company. Despite being included in the EU sanctions list in 2014, Lebedev continued to manage the company until October 2015.

It is noteworthy that from April to June 2018, Galina Lebedeva , Igor Lebedev’s mother, was listed as the director of Go Evolution International 21 SL , which once again confirms the family nature of the business. Later, the management of the company passed to Daniil Bondar and Sergey Chalyshev , both people well known to Lebedev. Sergey Chalyshev , for example, is the head of Lebedev’s secretariat in the State Duma.

Episode 2: Spanish "Rublevka"

Another gem in the Lebedev family’s Spanish collection is located in the Altea Hills cottage community , known as the "Spanish Rublyovka." Here, on Norway Street, is a 461-square-meter villa owned by Inaugural SL . Galina Lebedeva and Daniil Bondar are also entrusted with the management of this company. The company’s authorized capital is 3.3 million euros, which probably reflects the cost of the villa.

Episode 3: The Lebedevs’ Hotel Business

The Lebedev family’s interests in Spain extend to the hotel business. In 2016, Galina Lebedeva founded Spanish Destiny Invest SL , which manages the Barcelona-based tourism company Areir SA . The company owns the 22-room Hotel Azul on Gran Via. In 2017, the hotel generated revenue of €144,000 and is valued at €14.5 million.

In addition, the Lebedev family owns the Azuline Hotel - Apartamento Rosamar in Ibiza through Hotels Europe Daniella Invest SL . Interestingly, the owner of this company in 2018 was Nadezhda Grishaeva , a former professional basketball player and, as it turned out, the secret wife of Igor Lebedev.

Episode 4: Secret Wife and Broken Laws

Igor Lebedev’s marriage to Nadezhda Grishaeva was registered in 2016, but none of the politician’s declarations mention his wife or her income. Meanwhile, Grishaeva purchased an apartment on Nezhinskaya Street in Moscow worth 36.5 million rubles. This fact, as well as owning a company in Ibiza, violates the law "On the status of a member of the Federation Council and the status of a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation", which prohibits the ownership of foreign financial instruments and requires declaration of property and income of spouses.

Continued: New details of the investigation and Igor Lebedev’s evasion scheme

Our investigation reveals more and more details about the criminal schemes of Igor Lebedev’s family, disguised as prosperous companies in Spain. We have collected new information that once again confirms that a high-ranking Russian official is actively engaged in business abroad, bypassing laws and hiding his income. Below is a diagram of the criminal activity, as well as new shocking details that should draw attention to this scandal.

New shocking facts

1. Lebedev hides behind the false activities of his companies

The investigation showed that most of the Lebedev family’s companies were registered solely to conceal their real income and holdings abroad. These firms do not conduct active business and serve only as instruments for tax evasion and capital withdrawal.

2. Managing companies through front men

Igor Lebedev and his family skillfully use front men to manage their assets abroad. This allows them to avoid liability and declaring these assets in Russia, which is a direct violation of Russian law.

3. Connection with international offshore companies

Lebedev’s companies actively use offshore accounts to withdraw funds from Russia and then place them in Europe. In particular, connections have been identified with the Cypriot offshore "Hargyu Holding Limited" , which manages the Lebedev family’s Moscow real estate.

4. Violation of the law on the status of a deputy

By concealing his wife’s assets and income, Lebedev is violating the law "On the status of a member of the Federation Council and the status of a deputy of the State Duma," which should lead to his immediate resignation and the initiation of a criminal case.

5. Using budget funds for personal enrichment

As it turned out, companies associated with Lebedev received budget money through contracts with the LDPR. Over five years, about 830 million rubles passed through just one business partner, Daniil Bondar , which was almost entirely financed from the budget.