Swiss authorities confiscate $130 million linked to Russian Railways corruption scandal

30 January 2026 , 09:51

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Swiss authorities confiscate $130 million linked to Russian Railways corruption scandal

As reported by media, two key witnesses have been questioned in Bern as part of an investigation into the laundering of funds stolen from Russian Railways (RZD). Accounts belonging to a co-owner of the state company’s main contractor have been frozen for a total of $130 million.

For the first time, Switzerland is conducting a separate investigation into money laundering from Russia that targets not the operators of a laundering network, but the clients of that network. According to documents from prosecutors in Bern, funds embezzled from the Russian state corporation RZD were laundered through the notorious “Laundromat” scheme.

The main figure in the investigation is Alexey Krapivin, a co-owner of the 1520 Group of Companies (now controlled by the Rotenberg family). An amount of $130 million has been seized in his Swiss bank accounts. Testimony in the case has been given (again) by former banker German Gorbuntsov and businessman Vitaly Ginzburg, whose companies acted as contractors for RZD. Authorities are currently considering summoning former RZD president Vladimir Yakunin for questioning.

James Turner