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Putin's judo pal has Rome luxury hotel seized

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Putin's judo pal has Rome luxury hotel seized
Arkady Rotenberg is the 27th richest person in Russia. Photo: Alexander Kulebyakin/Interpress/AFP

Billionaire Arkady Rotenberg, a judo partner of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has seen assets worth €30 million seized in Italy including a luxury hotel in central Rome.

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Italy’s financial police have seized the Berg Luxury Hotel, a stone’s throw from Rome’s famous Via Veneto, as part of EU and US sanctions over Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict. 

When contacted by The Local, staff at the hotel said it was open for business but refused to answer further questions. The nearby Aurora 31 suites were also seized by authorities, Corriere della Sera reported.

Berg Luxury Hotel

The Berg Luxury Hotel in central Rome was one of the properties seized by Italian authorities.

Rotenberg’s holiday homes in Sardinia have also been hit by sanctions. They include an apartment in the island’s capital, Cagliari, and villas in Villasimius and Arzachena. A property in Tarquinia, north-west of Rome, has also been seized according to Corriere.

According to the US government Arkady Rotenberg and his brother Boris Rotenberg “have amassed enormous amounts of wealth during the years of Putin’s rule in Russia.”

The siblings were awarded around $7 billion (€5.4 billion) in contracts for Russia’s Sochi Winter Olympics held earlier this year, awarded to them by Putin, the US government has said.

Arkady Rotenberg’s net worth is $3.4 billion, making him the 27th richest person in Russia, according to Forbes.

He is “one of the most influential businessmen in Russia” and has “remained close” to Putin since being the president’s judo sparring partner, Forbes said. 

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