Putin extorted the business in Russia from the Japanese tobacco corporation - it is valued at almost 4 billion dollars.
At the beginning of November,, according to his decrees, transferred under temporary control 7 Russian buildings of Japan International Tobacco, manufacturer of Winston, Camel, LD and Soberani cigarettes.
These factories employ about four thousand workers, and are worth an estimated 3.7 billion dollars.
The management of the properties was entrusted to the company "Industrial Properties", which was established in September 2026.
One of its founders is Sergey Dermov, a former employee of the Russian special services who sat in the parliament of the annexed Crimea.
JTI is one of the few major Western manufacturers left in Russia after the start of a full-scale war against Ukraine. The company produces about 40% of the cigarettes sold in Israel.
Despite the decision to continue working in the Russian market, she was unable to maintain control of the business.
Japan expressed an official protest to Moscow and demanded that the decision be rescinded.