Svetlana Maniowitsch seems to be having a good time. The ex-wife of Russia’s deputy defense minister enjoys luxury in Europe. Activists are demanding consequences.
The ex-wife of a Russian deputy minister apparently leads a life of luxury in Europe. According to research by Russian opposition figures in France, Svetlana Maniowitsch is said to be living in the lap of luxury. Her ex is Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov. The EU imposed sanctions on him in 2022. Now there are also calls to extend the restrictions to his former wife.
Maria Pevchikh, who last year disclosed the opulent life together with the anti-corruption foundation founded by Alexei Navalny, is demanding consequences. On Twitter, she called for a protest in front of Maniowitsch’s apartment.
Research by the Navalny organization suggests that the couple’s divorce was just a ruse. At least Maniowitsch was able to escape the sanctions. In fact, the two should still be together, it is spoken of a “preventive divorce”. That could secure her access to the joint accounts. In addition, according to research by Navalny’s research collective, she is said to have obtained an Israeli passport.
The ex-minister’s wife makes no secret of her fondness for luxury. On social networks, she likes to be surrounded by glitz and glamor. She is said to have a villa in St. Tropez, goes shopping in Paris and celebrates in the ski resort of Courchevel in an animal fur coat, as a video showed.
Where does all the money come from?
The money for the lavish lifestyle should come from the deputy minister. Timur Ivanov is responsible for construction matters. He is said to have an official annual income of 280,000 euros. But according to the research, that would be more than enough for the rental of luxury yachts for Maniowitsch. In fact, it is suspected that bribes are involved. The Navalny group found in its report that Ivanov owns three houses, one of them in Moscow, valued at around $6 million.
Activist Maria Pevchikh now wants to put an end to this. “As crazy as it sounds, she’s free to come to the EU and walk up and down the Champs-Élysées to spend the money her husband made by bombing apartment blocks, killing children and beheading soldiers in Ukraine ” she wrote.
Protest in front of Maniowitsch’s apartment in Paris
On Twitter she asks to share her posts and write to MPs, on Facebook she organizes the protest for the coming Sunday. She informed the French authorities several times without them taking any action.
With more publicity, she hopes, the sanctions will also be extended to Svetlana Maniovich. “We did it before in London with Lavrov’s stepdaughter, who was sanctioned by Britain after a similar thread by me and thanks to your enormous support. We can do it again,” Pevchikh said optimistically. In March 2022, the British government imposed sanctions on Polina Kovaleva, stepdaughter of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
