The EU sanctions list also describes Usmanov as “one of Vladmir Putin’s favourite oligarchs”.
Two years ago Usmanov himself described Putin as “the number one leader in the world today”.
And in 2010 he said: "I am proud that I know Putin, and the fact that everybody does not like him is not Putin's problem."
The Russian president personally awarded Usmanov the Order for Service to the Fatherland in 2013, which is Russia’s highest civil award.
Putin has also awarded state honours and awards to staff at Metalloinvest and has been pictured with the company’s leaders.
Usmanov’s empire
When shares were sold, the Russian iron ore giant Metalloinvest became the unlikely new owner of the Curzon Square property firm.
Established 16 years ago, it was originally called Klaret Services (UK) Ltd, and is thought to form part of a global network of “Klaret” companies that own Usmanov’s private jets and superyachts across the world.
These include his largest private plane, which is owned by Klaret Aviation Limited in the Cayman Islands. The Airbus was registered in the Isle of Man until authorities struck it off in March, as Usmanov faced international sanctions.
The plane, which could be worth up to $500m, bears the registration number IABU, which reportedly stands for “I’m Alisher Burkhanovich Usmanov”.
Meanwhile, the oligarch's 512ft superyacht, Dilbar, is reportedly owned by another “Klaret” company based in Malta.
With an estimated value of $600m to $735m, it is believed to be one of the world's most expensive yachts, complete with two helipads and an enormous indoor pool.
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, US authorities labelled the yacht as “blocked property”, leading to reports that the yacht’s staff had been fired because wages could no longer be paid.
This article was amended on 22 June 2022 to reflect the fact that, while Alisher Usmanov had previously invested in Everton Football Club, he was not a shareholder as originally stated.
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