Ukraine, from tourists to owners of luxury hotels, the advance of Russian billionaires in Italy

Italy is not only a popular destination for extra-luxury holidays for rich Russian tourists, who, before the pandemic, went to exclusive locations in five-star hotels, spared no expense, but it is also ‘prey’ of Russian businessmen. which have enormous capital and which in recent years, fascinated by the beauties of the Peninsula, have become owners of luxury villas and resorts. Investors who today could be hit by the ax of sanctions. In the hotel sector, one name stands out for everyone, that of Musa and Mavlit Bazahev, the two Chechen brothers who are friends of Putin, who have been owners for several years of Forte Village, the famous resort in Santa Margherita di Pula near Cagliari. And years ago the Grand Hotel Mediterraneo on the Cagliari seafront was also finished in Russian hands, headed by the Reistar company whose legal representative is Vitaly Khomyakov, one of the largest and most spectacular hotels in the Sardinian capital, is still closed as it is in ongoing renovation works. The Costa Smeralda does not fail to include at least fifty Russian-owned mega villas, among other names stand out, those of the billionaires Roman Abramovich, who needs no introduction and Alisher Usmanov, the tycoon of Uzbek origin who frequents those places for over 30 years. Sardinia is certainly at the top of the preferences of Russian investors but there is another place where they have established a sort of headquarters, the elegant Forte dei Marmi in Versilia. Here the Russians, frequent visitors to hotels, clubs and boutiques of the great fashion brands, have gone from customers to hospitality entrepreneurs, taking over at least five historic hotels, including the Hotel Tirreno. And not only are they investing in the real estate sector, now they are also trying the card of the ‘baths’, the historic seaside resorts of Versilia.