Protecting property means
protecting freedom.
International Association of Entrepreneurs (IAE) brings together entrepreneurs, lawyers, human rights advocates, and experts from different countries to protect private property, freedom of enterprise, and the rule of law
>$1 trillion
value of assets unlawfully expropriated under Putin's regime
>90% of proceedings
are accompanied by criminal prosecution of entrepreneurs
All key sectors
oil, chemicals, transport, agriculture, finance, rare-earth industry, ports, etc.
RUSSIA IN FOCUS
Expropriation is one of the key mechanisms of Putin's criminal regime. Since the early 2000s, the seizure and redistribution of property have been used to build an authoritarian system and concentrate the largest assets in the hands of clans connected to the authorities.
The war against Ukraine did not create this system - it exposed its scale and sharply accelerated the process Since the start of the war, expropriation has become widespread: seized assets are used to replenish the budget, finance the war, and transfer property to politically connected beneficiaries.
These are not isolated violations of the law. This is a systemic mechanism of Putin's criminal regime.
CASES AT A GLANCE
YUKOS
Criminal prosecution → tax attack → assets transferred to Rosneft (Igor Sechin).
NTV / VSMPO-AVISMA
Early examples of significant private assets being brought under the control of state structures. NTV came under the control of the Miller clan, and VSMPO-AVISMA under the Chemezov clan.
Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port (NCSP) and Novorossiysk Grain Plant (NKHP)
Owners arrested (Magomedov brothers) → NCSP stake sold to Transneft under pressure → $750 million in sale proceeds arrested and confiscated by the state → the brothers' grain assets came under VTB (Demetra) control
Metafrax Chemicals
Review of privatization → privatization declared unlawful → company transferred to Roskhim (Rotenberg clan).
Universal Beverage (Glavprodukt)
"Temporary management" of foreign assets → expropriation → company transferred to Russian Agricultural Bank (Patrushev clan).
Solikamsk Magnesium Plant
Review of a 30-year-old privatization → shares seized from major shareholders and 2,000+ minority shareholders (including bona fide purchasers on the Moscow Exchange) → asset transferred by Putin's decree to State Corporation Rosatom (KovalchukKiriyenko clan)
Domodedovo / Yuzhuralzoloto / Rusagro / Pokrovsky Concern and 1,000+ other companies
Major private assets were expropriated and redistributed in favor of persons connected to the political "elite".
THE PATTERN REPEATS
Prosecutor's
claim
Seizure of assets
and accounts
Court ruling
after a single hearing
No market valuation
of seized assets
New
owner from
the
political "elite"
The courts have turned from a mechanism of protection into an instrument for seizing property.
SCALE
>$1 trillion
value of assets unlawfully expropriated under Putin's regime
All key sectors
oil, chemicals, transport, agriculture, finance, rare-earth industry, ports, etc.
>90% of proceedings
are accompanied by criminal prosecution of entrepreneurs
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ENTREPRENEURS | IAE
EXPROPRIATION DOES NOT STOP AT RUSSIA'S BORDERS
1) Independent ownership is destroyed
Business becomes dependent on political power.
3) Independent forces in society disappear
Economic dependence creates political loyalty and blocks change
5) Opportunities to circumvent sanctions are created
Assets and beneficiaries are hidden behind formally independent structures
2) Dictatorship is strengthened
Major assets are transferred to regime-linked groups at below-market prices.
4) Expropriated assets remain on global markets
They retain access to trade, financing, and logistics.
WHAT IAE DOES
DOCUMENT
We document and verify cases.
Build
registries. Prepare expert opinions.
FUND
We arrange litigation funding for legal proceedings.
REPUTATION
We counter disinformation, defamation, and Kremlin propaganda. We help restore reputations.
TRACE
We trace assets, organizers, perpetrators, and ultimate beneficiaries.
RECOVER
We identify expropriators' overseas assets and help pursue asset recovery and compensation.
ACT
We work to secure sanctions and accountability for the organizers, perpetrators, and beneficiaries of expropriation.
LEGAL
We support international legal protection and help select jurisdictions for disputes.
PROTECT
We protect against unlawful extradition. Help obtain asylum.
CHANGE
We work to achieve regime change in the Russian Federation and restore an independent judiciary, property rights, and a democratic state governed by the rule of law.
WHAT WE SEEK
- International recognition of mass expropriation and persecution of entrepreneurs in the Russian Federation as a crime on a national scale.
- An international special tribunal and criminal accountability for the organizers, perpetrators, and beneficiaries.
- Targeted sanctions against expropriated assets, their acquirers, UBOs, affiliates, judges, and officials
- Restrictions on legal cooperation with the Russian Federation. Enhanced scrutiny of Russian court decisions. Suspension of cooperation with the Russian Federation through Interpol.
- An international mechanism for asset recovery and compensation.
- A price cap on Russian grain - based on the oil model.
OUR GOAL - MAKE EXPROPRIATION
TOXIC AND ECONOMICALLY UNPROFITABLE
AND DEPRIVE PUTIN'S REGIME OF ITS ECONOMIC BASE
WHY AN INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION IS NEEDED
Criminal prosecution, imprisonment, and pressure can effectively deprive an entrepreneur of the ability to independently defend their rights and turn to international institutions.
IAE brings victims together and represents their interests, including when they themselves are unable to act. This is especially important while courts and law enforcement agencies in Russia are used as instruments of expropriation and pressure.