300 kilograms of currency: Russia bought cash in Rwanda in early 2024

The Russian Federation had to buy cash from the Ministry of Defense of Rwanda after the sanctions were strengthened. $ 29 million was purchased thanks to Vladimir Putin's friend. In January 2024, Russia purchased cash dollars worth $ 29 million 210 thousand in Rwanda. This is evidenced by closed data from Russian customs statistics. This solid amount was more than 300 kg. About it writes the edition "Land". It is reported that the supply had banknotes of $ 100.

According to the customs declaration, their total weight was 292. 1 kg. Rwanda was purchased from the Ministry of Defense of Rwanda, the buyer by Russia was "Roboronexport" - the only state mediator for trade in military products. After the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine, the aggressor country began to import cash through Turkey and the UAE.

Aero-Trade was engaged in this, which manages Duty-FREE shops at the airports of five Russian cities, in particular in Moscow Vnukovo, the company is connected with the owner of other large Duty-free networks Aras Mehdiyev, which is a part-time Ilgama Ragimov - Vladimir Putin's classmate. Documents indicate that among other large importers of cash were enterprises controlled by the State Military-Industrial Conglomer "Rostech", which has been under US sanctions since 2014.

Thus, Air-Trade was engaged in imports of cash all 2023 until January 18, 2024-that day, the company issued two last banknotes equivalent to $ 20 million and 20 million euros. It happened a month after the United States has threatened the penalties to help Russia to circumvent sanctions. On January 23, Rosoboronexport purchased cash from Rwanda. Since then, according to customs statistics, at least on April 30, dollar banknotes have not been imported into Russia.

The central bank of Russia promptly restricted the issuance of cash foreign currency to individuals after invasion of Ukraine, trying to support the weakening ruble. According to the data, from February 2022 to the end of 2023, only $ 98 million was exported from Russia in dollars and euros. The inflow of foreign currency, on the contrary, was much higher. The largest foreign currency declarant was Aero-Trade. During this period, she declared about $ 1. 5 billion in notes.

Aero-Trade registered 73 deliveries of $ 20 million or euros each, all of which were issued at customs at the Moscow Airport Domodedovo. Deliveries were described in customs declarations as an exchange or revenue from trade on board. In most cases, Aero-Trade was listed only as a declarant, an organization that prepares and submits customs documentation. Reuters journalists were unable to identify Aero-Trade customers and were unable to determine the source or destination of cash.

The owner of Aero-Trade Artem Martyniuk refused to comment. According to customs records, one party for 20 million euros, processed by AERO-TRADE, was imported in February last year, Yves Rocher Vostok, a subsidiary of the French company of the French cosmetic group Yves Rocher, which still manages dozens of stores in Russia. The data does not specify the country of origin nor the name of the supplier.

Groupe Rocher, a parent company in France, said they comply with the law and are not aware of supply. According to customs records and sources familiar with transactions, more than a quarter of $ 2. 27 billion in banknotes were imported by banks, most of them were used as a payment for precious metals. Several Russian banks received cash worth $ 580 million from abroad from March 2022 to December 2023 and exported approximately equivalent volumes of precious metals.

In many cases, the supply of gold or silver was directed to companies that supplied banknotes, shows records. For example, the Russian lender Vitabank imported banknotes worth $ 64. 8 million from the Turkish gold -trading company Demas Kuyumculuk in 2022 and 2023. Over the same period, Vitabank exported Gold and Silver to the Turkish company worth $ 59. 5 million.

According to the source, the delivery of banknotes from the UAE to Russia was the only solution found by Demas to complete long -term contracts signed before the entry into force of Western sanctions with Russian gold suppliers, while following Turkish and international rules concerning cross -border payments. According to this source, sanctions were actually cut off from the Western financial system, and payment of accounts by traditional bank transfers has become impossible.