Anti-Corruption Foundation: People close to Lavrov obtained UAE passports after invasion of Ukraine
Svetlana Polyakova and her daughter Polina Kovaleva, both close to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, received United Arab Emirates citizenship after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to the Anti-Corruption Foundation.
A joint investigation by the independent Russian outlet iStories and the Anti-Corruption Foundation has found that Svetlana Polyakova and her daughter Polina Kovaleva, both closely linked to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, obtained United Arab Emirates passports after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.
Polyakova was granted UAE citizenship "for services to the state" on December 28, 2022, while Kovaleva received her passport on December 17, 2022, through her employment in the country.
Ties to Lavrov
Polyakova's close relationship with Lavrov became publicly known in 2021. Per iStories, she worked at Russia's Foreign Ministry and accompanied the minister on trips. Some contacts had saved her in their phones as "Svetlana Lavrova," although that was never legally her surname.
Journalists also found that Polyakova owns real estate valued at more than 700 million rubles. The Anti-Corruption Foundation's investigation further found that she and her family used private jets and overseas properties belonging to billionaire Oleg Deripaska.
Daughter's life in London and move to Qatar
Before the full-scale invasion, Kovaleva lived in the United Kingdom, where she studied at Imperial College Business School in London and owned several British companies. In 2016, at age 21, she acquired a 999-year lease on a Kensington apartment for £4.4 million.
After the invasion began and the UK imposed sanctions, Kovaleva left Britain and went to work for Qatar Investment in Doha.
