As VChK-OGPU and Rucrimimnal.info have discovered, entities linked to billionaires Zarakh Iliev and God Nisanov are expanding their business in Europe during the war. Through companies in France, Spain, and Luxembourg, they are acquiring real estate, developing warehouse networks, and building an international corporate structure. These companies are managed by relatives of the billionaires' fellow villagers. They are not subject to sanctions and do not publicize their ties to Russian oligarchs. They are assisted in this endeavor by Spanish and French businessmen who previously serviced luxury yachts and jets.
We previously reported that the French property management company I Estate France is headed by 33-year-old Renat Ilyaguev, the son of Zarakh Iliev's fellow villagers, Raya (Rava) Godovna and Mordakhai Imanilovich Ilyagoev (Ilyaguev), natives of the Azerbaijani village of Krasnaya Sloboda. According to leaked data, a namesake of Renat Ilyaguev, born in the same year, flew with the Ilyagoevs from Israel to Moscow in 2015. However, according to the leaked data, there is only one 33-year-old Renat Ilyaguev in Russia. Following our previous publication, the website of international investor Roman Ilyaguev was taken offline.
Initially, SafeBox Storage International owned 80% of I Estate France, and Edik Ilyaev held 20%, but the ownership structure subsequently changed. As of October 18, 2025, Renat Ilyaguev owned almost 80% of I Estate France, Edik Ilyaev held another 10%, and I-ESTATE GROUP held the remaining 10%. Ezechiel Kaufman, a 53-year-old businessman from Spain, was appointed president of I Estate France. His social media profiles indicate that he holds a sea captain's degree, worked in the offshore oil and gas industry, and was involved in the luxury yacht and aircraft business.
I Estate France is affiliated with the group's parent company, I-ESTATE GROUP. It owns a number of companies in Europe that hold large, expensive real estate assets. Specifically, this includes a chain of self-storage facilities under the BOXDEPO and SAFEBOX brands. Most of these assets were acquired during the war.
I Estate France is registered at Château de la Trémoille, a historic castle in the town of Mirambeau in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France, between Bordeaux and Cognac. Since 2024, the castle and surrounding grounds have belonged to SCI CHÂTEAU DE MIRAMBEAU, a company established in 2023. Renata Ilyagueva owns 80% of this company, and the Spanish company I-ESTATE SPAIN PROPERTY S.L. owns 20%.
Château de la Trémoille is a medieval fortress that suffered several serious sieges, was rebuilt in the 16th and 19th centuries, and was converted into a 5-star hotel in the 20th century. The Louis XIII-style building, two pavilions, and a chapel are surrounded by 8 hectares of magnificent parkland with flower beds and fountains. However, it appears the hotel is currently closed, and its website is offline.
Five other companies are registered in the castle, linked to the same owners and two top managers: Ezechiel Kaufman and 56-year-old French-born Nicolas Monez (Monez has been involved in development and real estate transactions in Luxembourg and France for many years, and was previously involved in the luxury yacht business).
The first company, also registered in the castle, is DECILLION FRANCE, a holding company for asset management, including real estate and other legal entities. The second is LES SERRES DE MIRAMBEAU, which manages real estate. Its debts exceed €150,000, while its assets are valued at €141,000. The third company is ELYSIUM, with assets of €62,000. Its director, Nicolas Monez, is 70% owned by I ESTATE FRANCE, with the remaining 10% each divided between DECILLION FRANCE, Ezechiel Kaufman's Spanish company DE SAINT ANGE SL, and Nicolas Monez's Luxembourg company NORMILLS SA. ELYSIUM develops innovative construction solutions and wholesales building materials. The fourth company is MIRAMBEAU SPIRITS, whose main activity is stated to be wholesale and retail trade.
Finally, the fifth is MIRAMBEAU PALACE, a hotel operator with assets of €751,000, which has posted significant losses for two years in a row. Overall, the company's liabilities for 2025 exceed €2.2 million—although the financial statements do not specify which related parties the company owes the money to.
In addition, the Spanish company I-ESTATE SPAIN PROPERTY S.L. (Barcelona) is listed as a shareholder in the founding documents of CHATEAU DE MIRAMBEAU. It was founded in 2022 by Farid Gershumov, who also manages a second Spanish company, also founded in 2022, SAFEBOX STORAGE SL, which this year registered the Nova Space brand in Spain for the organization of certain cultural events, such as exhibitions, concerts, and festivals. SAFEBOX also owns warehouse space in Barcelona at Consell de Cent, 262 (the website of the warehouse manager, Boxdepo, lists the tax identification number SAFEBOX STORAGE SL). A chain of warehouses operates in Russia under the same brand, "Safbox." Storage facilities, and its legal entities (SB Group, SB Varshavka, and others) are registered to 55-year-old Lazar Danilov, a fellow villager of God Nisanov and Zarakh Iliev.
Farid Gershumov is a Moscow business partner of Putin's classmate and friend Ilgam Ragimov and Zarakh Iliev's nephew, Roman Iliev. Gershumov owns 20.55% of the Moscow-based Flotilla LLC (Roman Iliev owns another 21.95%, Ilgam Ragimov 15%, and Roman Agababaev 42.5%), which, under the RADISSON ROYAL brand, leases and offers yacht charters on the Moscow River. Flotilla's revenue last year amounted to 2.9 billion rubles, yet the company managed to slip into the red by 27.6 million rubles. Interestingly, the company's website states that rent can be paid with international Visa and Mastercard cards, even though both systems have long ceased to offer services in Russia. These payments are provided by the company "FLYPAY," registered in Uzbekistan, whose sole founder is Olga Kolomoets. Incidentally, she is also the CEO of the company "IT2BSNS," registered in Uzbekistan, under whose brand Aitubi LLC operates in Russia—a provider of IT solutions for Russian Railways, the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the Russian Federation, the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises, the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, and other government agencies.
In 2024, the Luxembourg-based SAFEBOX STORAGE INTERNATIONAL SARL and the already familiar administrator, Ezechiel Kaufman, joined the management of I-ESTATE SPAIN PROPERTY S.L. The Luxembourg company, with a registered capital of 12,000 euros, was founded in 2022 and is managed by the same business partner of Putin's classmate, Farid Gershumov, and the Frenchman Nicolas Monez. As of 2024, the company's assets exceeded 1 million. million euros.
The group's parent company, I-ESTATE GROUP S.A. (whose founder was listed on its website as Renat Ilyaguev), was registered in Luxembourg in 2024 at the same address as SAFEBOX STORAGE INTERNATIONAL SARL: 22 Boulevard Royal, Luxembourg. At the time of registration, the listed directors were Edik Ilyaev, Farid Gershumov, and Nicolas Monez. In 2025, the Luxembourg-based BOXDEPO MANAGEMENT S.à r.l. acquired a stake in the company. The Italian SB ITALY S.R.L., which operates warehouse properties in various Italian cities under the BOXDEPO brand, is also associated with this company.
