Italian police seized Russia-related architect's assets

Tax police submitted a statement earlier Wednesday, saying they had seized assets from a renowned <x0-professionist” in Brescia, a town in northern Italy, citing tax violations.

Two sources told Reuters that assets belonged to Lanfranco Cyril, who designed a large property on the Black Sea in Russia that became known as Putin's “pallat of”.

Cyril's lawyer confirmed that his client's assets were seized, but said he was not guilty of any wrongdoing concerning Italian taxes, adding that he had been deployed in Russia for many years and had received Russian citizenship in 2014.

The “Archoctek, who is in Moscow, is very disappointed by the fact that after he bought some prestigious properties and art works in Italy, and had provided them for his wife and daughter to argue that he falsified his move abroad”, lawyer Stefano said.

A helicopter, luxury property, money, jewelry and important art works were among the items seized, according to tax police in Brescia.

President Putin has denied any ties to luxury property on the Black Sea, Reuters writes