German Billionaire Karl-Erivan Haub, Declared Dead in 2021, Allegedly Alive in Moscow

Karl-Erivan Haub, the former head of the German retail giant Tengelmann Group, who was declared legally dead by a German court in 2021 after disappearing in the Swiss Alps in 2018, is now alleged to be alive and living in Moscow with a Russian mistress named Veronika Ermilova. This shocking revelation has prompted an investigation into Haub's brother, Christian Haub, for potentially making false statements about his disappearance.

Haub, a German billionaire with an estimated net worth of £5.2 billion, vanished without a trace in April 2018 while preparing for a ski race in Zermatt, Switzerland. Despite a six-day search operation involving five helicopters and hundreds of rescuers, no trace of him was found. However, German broadcaster RTL now claims to have obtained photos allegedly showing Haub in Moscow in 2021, the same year he was declared dead.

The investigation suggests that Haub's disappearance may be linked to his family's business dealings with Russia, and that parts of his family may have been aware of his whereabouts. Journalists claim that Haub had made multiple phone calls to Ermilova, who runs a company offering 'James Bond-style' tours in Russia, in the days before his disappearance. This has led to suspicions that he may have plotted to fake his death with help from Moscow.

Why this matters: The case of Karl-Erivan Haub's alleged faked death and potential ties to Russia has significant implications for the Tengelmann Group and the Haub family's business dealings. It also raises questions about the potential involvement of Russian intelligence services in aiding high-profile individuals to disappear and start new lives.

Ermilova has denied the claims, stating that she had only a working relationship with Haub and is not an FSB agent or a spy. Christian Haub, who took over the family business after his brother's disappearance, is now under investigation by the Cologne Prosecutor's Office for potentially making false statements to the court about his brother's status. "There was no indication Karl-Erivan remained alive," Christian Haub had sworn in court in 2021. The Prosecutor's Office has initiated proceedings against him for allegedly lying to the court, though they have not reviewed the decision to declare Karl-Erivan Haub dead.

Key Takeaways

• German billionaire Karl-Erivan Haub declared legally dead in 2021 after disappearing in 2018.
• Alleged to be alive and living in Moscow with a Russian mistress named Veronika Ermilova.
• Haub's brother, Christian Haub, under investigation for potentially making false statements about his disappearance.
• Haub's disappearance linked to family's business dealings with Russia, with suspicions of a plot to fake his death.
• Ermilova denies claims, while Christian Haub faces investigation for allegedly lying to the court.