Deprived of a bank account, the Russian oligarch Boris Rotenberg appeals to justice to obtain one
A Russian oligarch, Boris Rotenberg, resident of Monaco, seized a court in Monaco to contradict a bank to open an account for him after the closure of his account at the beginning of the year at Société Générale, his lawyer from Nice said on Wednesday.
This 65-year-old man, who made his fortune in the construction sector and who also holds a Finnish passport, is, like his brother Igor, on the list of those close to the Russian regime who have been hit with sanctions because of the war in Ukraine since 24 February. But the bank’s decision dates back to January 14, according to the summons filed by Me Sophie Jonquet and which does not specify the reasons for this closure.
Several refusals
In February, Boris Rotenberg approached another establishment, Banque J. Safra, which declined from March 9. The oligarch then seized the management of the budget and the Monegasque treasury. On April 6, the Compagnie monégasque de banque was designated but “in turn refused the request to open the account”, according to the summons.
A banking establishment is “subject to due diligence obligations” and can therefore refuse if it has not been able to carry out these. But the Compagnie monégasque de banque “did not carry out the obligations of vigilance”, according to the lawyer who specifies that the request “only related to a deposit account”. “No risk justifies such a refusal”, she continues, claiming that the court “orders” the bank to comply.
A spokeswoman for the Monegasque government recommended making “no comment, as this is a private matter”.