Italy: The Italian tax authorities seized assets worth more than €141 million (US$144 million) from an architect who designed a luxury estate on the Black Sea dubbed "Putin's palace" by opponents of Russia's president.
The tax police issued a statement on Wednesday, claiming that they had seized the assets of a "well-known professional" in Brescia, northern Italy, for alleged tax evasion.

According to two sources, the assets belonged to Lanfranco Cirillo, who designed a grand estate on Russia's Black Sea that became known as "Putin's palace" after a businessman claimed the property was built for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Cirillo's lawyer confirmed that his client's assets had been seized, but he was not guilty of any wrongdoing regarding Italian taxes, adding that he had lived in Russia for many years and had been granted Russian citizenship in 2014.

"The architect, who is currently in Moscow, is very disappointed that having purchased some prestigious properties and works of art in Italy, as well as providing for his wife and daughter, are used to argue that he faked his move abroad," lawyer Stefano Lojacono said in a statement.
According to the Brescia tax police, among the items seized were a helicopter, luxury properties, cash, jewels, and important works of art.
President Putin has denied any connection to the Black Sea resort. The issue resurfaced in early 2021, when imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny claimed in an online video that Putin was the ultimate owner.

Cirillo told Italian television in April that he designed the building but that it was commissioned by a private group and that he had no dealings with Putin.
"It's insane to think that the president of such a powerful country would need to build a palace for himself," Cirillo said in an interview with La7 in Italy.

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