Billionaire friend of Putin’s daughter in wine sanctions row

A FRIEND of Vladimir Putin’s youngest daughter managed to import bottles of the world’s most expensive wines into Russia last year despite Western sanctions, according to public filings.

Soy sauce billionaire Alexander Repik’s company, Ryatiko, brought in 10 bottles of Henri Jayer, which fetched £184,000 a bottle at Christie’s in 2020.

Ryatiko also imported 200 varieties of Burgundy, Bordeaux and Piedmont rare wines, at more than £12,000 a bottle.

Public filings to Russia’s state registry of alcohol products show Mr Repik’s company imported £3.5 million in European wines last November and December, according to an investigation by the Russia Insider news website.

That was despite an EU ban on exporting any wine to Russia worth more than 300 euros (£264) a bottle.

The Insider suggested an EU company concealed the real value of the wines or made it look as if the cargo was only going to transit through Russia.

Mr Repik, known as the owner of R-pharm, one of Russia’s biggest pharmaceutical companies, was estimated to be worth $1.4billion (£1.13 billion) before the invasion of Ukraine. He has been described as a friend of Katerina Tikhonova, Vladimir Putin’s daughter.