Often described as Russia’s most eligible bachelor, Norilsk Nickel (NILSY-O, MNOD-L) CEO Mikhail Prokhorov was among 26 people arrested in a suspected prostitution ring at a posh France ski resort this week.
French police seized the 41-year-old billionaire on Tuesday at a Courchevel resort, where many Russians go to celebrate the Orthodox New Year.
Investigators suspect Russian call girls, around age 20, are brought to the resort through an Austrian travel agency to work during the holidays and that their pay comes in the form of expensive presents from luxury boutiques.
Prokhorov is being held in Lyon, and the state prosecutor said he expects to know by Saturday if there is enough evidence to lay charges. Seven Austrian travel agency employees and two other executives from Norilsk Nickel are also being held.
Norilsk spokesperson Sergei Chernitsyn told Bloomberg the arrest was “absurd” and that Prokhorov was innocent.
“The heads of our company are law abiding citizens,” Chernitsyn said.
The Guardian questioned Chernitsyn about Prokhorov’s reputation as a playboy.
“Naturally he likes girls and treats them in a natural way. But this isn’t a pretext to accuse him of pimping,” he said.
Prokhorov, worth about US$7.6 billion, was ranked the world’s 89th richest man by Forbes magazine last year. He holds 54.8% of Norilsk, one of the world’s largest nickel and palladium producers, and 51% of Polyus Gold (OPYGK-Q), Russia’s largest gold miner.
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