The “Burlakov” case was once again called to the Monegasque court this Thursday. The purpose of today’s hearing was the possible appointment of a provisional administrator (1) in order to watch over the fortune left by this Russian oligarch established since 2006 in the Principality. A colossal haul, estimated at more than three billion euros.
In addition to the 300m2 duplex he occupied above the Larvotto, Oleg Bourlakov was also the owner of the Black Pearl, one of the most beautiful sailboats in the world whose maintenance costs alone would amount to more than 250,000 euros per month. Jewelry, works of art and cash placed in the four corners of the world, the heritage of this former colonel of the Red Army converted to business, who died of Covid in 2021, is the subject of an incredible war of succession.
Judicial war
On one side, his wife, who had requested a divorce which did not have time to be finalized, Lyudmila Bourlakova, and his two daughters. On the other, Vera, the oligarch’s sister and his brother-in-law, Nikolai Kazakov, who assures that he was also the billionaire’s associate and claims, as such, half of his business. In the middle, a young Latvian flight attendant, Sofia, with whom Oleg Bourlakov had clearly rebuilt his life, as evidenced by the birth of little Nicole.
The different parts of this extraordinary succession are waging a merciless legal war. In Monaco, but also in London, Moscow, Riga, Panama and even Miami. Procedures have been initiated in a dozen countries across the globe. Including on the criminal level. Fraud, breach of trust, criminal conspiracy… Accusations (and indictments) are flying in all directions.
The latest complaint, the one filed very recently in the Principality by the Kazakov camp for violation of the secrecy of correspondence, forgery and use of forgery. Because in this case everything seems allowed.
Private detectives and compromising sites
Lawyers from the Riviera realized in particular that they had been the subject of surveillance during a working meeting in mid-January, in London, with their British colleagues. Conversations with their customers were even recorded. The Bourlakova clan notably called on private detectives to trace “suspicious” fund movements through a myriad of offshore companies. “A renowned economic intelligence firm, hammers his defenders, which has a storefront in London…” Founded by a Lord. But who would have submitted to the debates, within the framework of the English procedure, an investigation report partly based on banking documents “falsified”.
In any case, this is what the Kazakov clan denounces. “This file is extraordinary in terms of the amount of the inheritance but it is also and especially in view of the means and methods used, denounce with one voice Messrs Richard Mullot, Hervé Campana and Frédéric de Baets. In 30 years of practice, this is the first time that we have noticed in the context of a case the intrusion into the electronic mail of our clients, the theft of all their emails, shadowing organized during work meetings with their lawyers.” Methods “ dishonest and illegal” to which they wish to see “put an end”.
Diverted telephone conversations
But they would not be the only victims. The opposing party also has no shortage of grievances, and recalls that to date the only one to have been indicted in Monaco for “violation of the secrecy of correspondence” is part of the opposing clan. The very one that the Bourlakova family accuses of having organized at their expense “a gigantic fraud” to try to appropriate the fortune of the late Oleg Bourlakov. Leave for that “launch fake news campaigns and illegal wiretapping”, they say. Conversations between the billionaire’s widow and his former mistress were found for a time on YouTube. Exchanges which, according to a Source in this very dark file, would have been “cut and reassembled” to give them a whole new meaning.
Obviously, the billions accumulated by Oleg Bourlakov are used above all today to finance strange pharmacies.
1. The court will deliver its decision on July 11.
