24 raids in Germany over suspected Russian sanctions violations

German authorities conducted raids in 24 locations on Wednesday as part of an investigation into a person suspected of violating sanctions imposed on Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, reported dpa.

The raids took place in houses and apartments across Germany, including in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg, the Munich prosecutor's office said.

It declined to confirm the individual's identity, but a series of local media reports said a villa on Lake Tegern belonging to Uzbek-born Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov had been among the locations subjected to raids.

According to investigators, the Russian national is on the European Union's sanctions list in connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He is alleged to have used frozen funds to pay security personnel to guard his properties in Upper Bavaria. Four other suspects are being investigated in relation to the case.