As Russia gears up for its upcoming presidential election, a new revelation has come to light about President Vladimir Putin’s opulent estate on the Black Sea coast in Gelendzhik. Estimated to be worth a staggering £1 billion, the palace boasts extravagant amenities such as a pole-dancing hookah boudoir, a casino, and an ‘aqua disco,’ according to a 2021 investigation.
The grandeur of the estate extends further with a 16-storey underground complex, drawing comparisons to the lair of a James Bond villain.
A mining engineer involved in the construction revealed that the subterranean maze includes a cliff face loggia overlooking the sea, a vast wine cellar, and even a nuclear shelter.
The ingenious construction, he noted, includes a balcony hanging over the sea for wine tasting from the palace stocks.
Located on 168 acres of land in Cape Idokopas, the palace is shrouded in secrecy and intricate ownership webs, allegedly leading to Putin. The complex web of ownership involves oligarch associates whose fortunes skyrocketed under Putin’s rule.
The Gelendzhik palace, situated approximately 1.3 miles from the village of Praskoveevka, boasts impressive surroundings visible in satellite images. The estate includes outbuildings, a private landing strip, and a dock capable of accommodating a yacht. Roads leading to the palace are lined with buildings likely serving as security checkpoints.
The property’s alleged owner was unveiled by a team working with Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in 2021.
Navalny, who died last month while in prison under suspicious circumstances, claimed possession of leaked floor plans, leading to artists’ impressions of the palace’s interior. Astonishing 3D images depicted an arcade room, spa, theater, underground ice rink, and vineyards within the grounds.
Navalny asserted that the estate, several times the size of Monaco, was financed by the “largest bribe in history”. He also implicated Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) in owning 7,000 hectares of surrounding land, with the complex allegedly financed by Putin’s allies, including Igor Sechin of Rosneft and billionaire Gennady Timchenko.
Describing it as “the most secretive and guarded facility in Russia,” Navalny stressed that the Gelendzhik palace is more than a residence, it’s an entire kingdom.
