An extravagant dacha, owned by Vladimir Putin in Karelia in Russia, boasts a private Austrian brewery and a decorative waterfall from the first floor. The existence of which was first reported in 2016 overlooks the shores of Lake Ladoga, the largest lake in Europe.
The documents obtained by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project OCCRP reveal floor plans, blueprints, interior design plans, and other details, described by architects as Fisherman's Hut.
According to the OCCRP report, the land around Putin's dacha is owned by three companies whose directors use the LLCInvest.ru domain. The construction of the complex was led by employees of an obscure nonprofit organization, Revival of Marine Traditions.
Satellite images show the construction of the main house began in 2011. Two years later, work on another structure began on the site. It was entered into the Russian land registry in 2018 as a barn. The futuristic Fisherman's Hut also features large indoor-outdoor spaces, as well as a floor made of $110,000 worth of Fior di Bosco marble. A large open-plan dining area is separated from a restaurant-style kitchen by a glass partition. The OCCRP report added that guests watched chefs at work with its grilling equipment, tandoor, Japanese teppan and smokehouse.
The plumbing fixtures in each of the house's six bathrooms are estimated to cost over 3 million rubles around $46,000 The house has bidets that cost $10,800 and $4,600 a piece shower heads. There are two small swimming pools next to the building. The waterfall used to be a popular tourist attraction, but now the area is off-limits to the public.
While the land surrounding the building was zoned as farmland until the construction of Fisherman's Hut began, it is still largely used for agriculture. There is a trout farm, and residents claim to be able to buy live trout right out of the hands of a security guard at the dacha if VIP guests are not on the premises.
The ranch is home to a cattle farm where Wagyu bulls are raised to produce Kobe beef. Beef appears to be a more precious commodity, as none of the locals were able to buy it.
According to documents contained within the leaked emails, FullHouseDesign, a high-end Russian interior design agency, has been leading the project. When asked, the owner of the company told the OCCRP she had no memory of any involvement.
When asked about the buildings and LLCInvest companies, including the ones owned and operated by the Fisherman's Hut, the Kremlin said: "The President of the Russian Federation is not affiliated with any of the assets and organizations you mentioned.