The decadent life of Svetlana – the wife of the Russian Deputy Defense Minister

This is Svetlana. Svetlana embodies luxury, high society, wealth. Jewels here, champagne there, and a Rolls-Royce there and a million-dollar mansion. But Svetlana is not just any rich woman, but the wife of the Deputy Defense Minister of Russia.

This year, she was spotted hiking and partying in a luxury French ski resort – despite her husband facing severe punishment. All about her, her daring life, her husband and everything else you want to know.

Who is Svetlana S./M./I.?

Not much is known about the young years of C celebrities Svetlana Zakharova. A report in the Russian tabloid Tatler tells us that she studied economics. Because Russia was severely shaken by a shortage of skilled workers when she graduated in the 1990s, she was given the position of financial director, as it were, immediately after her studies. Around 20 years old.

At the company she works for (the Russian leader in the printing industry) she meets her future husband: Mikhail Maniovich. The two fall in love and it’s not long before the wedding bells start ringing. He is 48, she is 22. From now on she is called Svetlana Maniovich.

Maniovich is very rich – and should be; According to her own statement, she needs about 50,000 francs a month for her lifestyle. But like so many things in life, their marriage won’t last forever. In 2008, the Maniovichs divorced after a multi-year process. The tabloid Tatler markets the divorce. Two fan camps were formed in Moscow – one for Svetlana, the other for Mikhail.

The reason for the split is not really known. Mikhail fought a lot for her, says Svetlana: “He even did sports for the first time in his life and lost 40 kilograms.” But nothing helps. Svetlana is called Zakharova again and has long had a new one – Timur Ivanov.

Timur Ivanov, deputy

When the two meet, Ivanov is ‘only’ deputy chairman of a large Russian nuclear power company. Later he becomes deputy chairman of the government of the Moscow region. His boss: Sergei Shoigu, now known as Putin’s defense minister.

With him, Swetlana can fully enjoy life. In August 2013, she posted a photo of her daughter in St. Tropez on Instagram. She jokingly writes that the little champagne corks as toys and therefore has a difficult childhood.

Investigations by the team of opposition politician Alexei Navalny revealed (LINK) that the family had rented a villa during this holiday – 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and 2 rooms for staff. The cost of the cottage: about 120,000 francs per month. There is also a 37-meter yacht for only 90,000 francs.

A year later it goes back to St. Tropez. This time a new villa – with 8 bedrooms. Price: 110,000 per month. In 2015 there are only 7 bedrooms, but only CHF 150,000 for a month’s vacation. The following year, Timur continued to climb the career ladder, following his boss Shoigu to the national level and becoming deputy defense minister.

Now you might think that Timur, as a state official of rank and name, should exercise some restraint. But far from it – St. Tropez is back in fashion. Timur also celebrates his birthday there in 2016 and rents a villa with a tennis court and a helipad. And another hunt. The contracts are in the name of a nanny of the daughter. The total cost for this holiday is about 260,000 francs for a month.

But the family is not only generous during the holidays, no, not at all.

Rolls-Royce(s) and jewellery

Svetlana’s email history, which is available to Navalny’s investigative team, shows the abyss of the expenses.

Between 2013 and 2018, a Rolls-Royce Corniche costs 200,000 Stutz. It’s the second. She drives the other in Russia. The newer model drives in the sun of the Côte d’Azur.

This dress, which Svetlana is wearing, costs about 60,000 francs.

A set of antique furniture that Svetlana can afford costs 85,000.

And then, in February 2022, Russia attacks Ukraine. Svetlana’s husband, in the role of deputy defense minister, shares responsibility for what happened. But that doesn’t stop Svetlana from continuing her decadent lifestyle: in March 2022, she left behind several hundred thousand francs in one fell swoop. And not just anywhere, but at a Parisian jeweler many call the “Fabergé of our time” (and for which you need a private invitation). You don’t pay for it yourself, but a friend does. The name of the deputy defense minister should not be associated with such luxury stores.

But where did Svetlana (or rather Timur) get the money for such expensive gadgets? The Russian state does not pay people badly for their position, but such purchases are really outside the official remuneration. Let’s take a look at Timur’s activities.

Corruption? Uh no.

As deputy defense minister, he has a number of responsibilities. Besides representing Shoigu, Timur Ivanov is also responsible for the army’s infrastructure and construction projects. ammunition depot? Timur Ivanov. New barracks for cadet corps? Timur Ivanov. This «Main Church of the Armed Forces of Russia», which is not a belated joke from the Watson editors, but reality?

Timur Ivanov.

The new prestige project of the deputy deputy of deputies: the reconstruction of Mariupol. This is where the story gets interesting.

Occupied Mariupol recently made headlines for a visit by Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin himself. The purpose of his visit: he wanted to see the construction work in the city bombed by Russia.

Several companies are doing the job, but one has landed a particularly large order: Olympsistroi. In recent years, Olympsistroi has received orders worth more than 700 million Swiss francs. These orders were logically awarded by Timur Ivanov.

Two big names from Olympsistroi also own another company, Oboronpeststroi. The name appears several times in the archives of Svetlana’s email history – in invoices. For example, Oboronpeststroi has paid bills for the family’s private projects several times. Marble for the winter dacha. Sanitary installations for the apartment in Moscow. Cabinets, building materials and whatever your heart desires – paid for by others.

The land on which the family is currently building their second country house also belongs to a company that in turn owns Oboronpeststroi. Chance?

Bypass sanctions for dummies

Timur Ivanov was put on the EU sanctions list in October 2022 (quite late). Usually, such restrictions also apply to family members and loved ones.

However, Svetlana’s name is not on any list. Why? She got divorced a few months before. She recently had her name changed to Ivanov. Interestingly, however, the Tatler did not report this time.

No fan camps in Moscow’s elite, no public discussions about the children, there is absolutely nothing to indicate that the two are no longer a couple. But officially Svetlana has nothing to do with Timur anymore.

And so Svetlana was spotted walking, shopping and partying in the French luxury ski resort of Courchevel at the beginning of this year. As befits the Russian upper class, dressed in fur. And yet somewhere without style.