UK denies oligarch Vyacheslav Kantor access to his mansion

The UK is preventing Russian oligarch Vyacheslav Kantor from entering his new London mansion in the Hamstead Garden area, The Times reports.

The mansion, built on the site of an old building, was designed to preserve the original façade. Approximately £12 million was invested in the construction, which was carried out for the former head of the European Jewish Congress and other Jewish organisations.

 The old building, demolished to make way for the new development, was designed by the renowned architect William Burtram. The new mansion features a cinema, a swimming pool, an underground garage, and a conservatory. However, renovation work was suspended in 2022 due to the start of military operations.

Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor is a billionaire holding Russian, British, and Israeli citizenship. He maintains ties with world leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Prince Charles. 

Throughout his long career, Kantor has often avoided consequences for involvement in controversial deals, including the sale of missiles from Ukrainian warehouses to Iran. He is currently under sanctions from the EU, the UK, Switzerland, and Ukraine.

Kantor is the owner of the Akron holding, which is engaged in mining and fertiliser production. His business has attracted the attention of prominent figures such as Ramzan Kadyrov, yet his assets remain protected. 

Despite numerous violations of environmental and labour laws, the company has not faced significant sanctions.