Austrian Brewery And Wagyu Bulls; 'Putin's Dacha' Has Bidets That Cost $10,800

An extravagant "dacha," reportedly owned by Vladimir Putin at Karelia in Russia, boasts a $3,63,866-worth private Austrian brewery and a decorative waterfall flowing from the first floor. The holiday home, the existence of which was first reported in 2016, overlooks the shores of Lake Ladoga, the largest lake in Europe.

Described by architects as "Fisherman’s Hut," the astonishing details of Putin's alleged luxury holiday home were revealed in a set of leaked emails, obtained by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). The leaked emails contained floor plans, blueprints, interior design plans and other details.

According to the OCCRP report, the land around "Putin’s dacha" is owned by three companies, whose directors use the LLCInvest.ru domain. However, the actual construction of the complex was directed by employees of an obscure nonprofit organization, Revival of Marine Traditions.

Satellite images prove the construction of the main house began in 2011. However, two years later, work on another structure began on the site. It was entered into the Russian land registry in 2018 as a "barn."

Besides sporting a floor made up of $110,000 worth of Fior di Bosco marble, the futuristic "Fisherman's Hut" also features vast indoor-outdoor spaces. A spacious open-plan dining area is separated from a restaurant-style kitchen by a glass partition. Here, guests watch chefs at work using its grilling equipment, tandoor, Japanese-style teppan, and smokehouse, the OCCRP report added.

The plumbing fixtures in each of the house’s six bathrooms are estimated to cost over 3 million rubles (around $46,000). The house boasts bidets that cost $10,800 each and the $4,600 a piece shower heads. Next to the building are two small swimming pools. A small path leads from the house leads to a natural waterfall with a cozy secluded gazebo. The waterfall used to be a popular tourist attraction, but now the area is off-limits to the public.

While the land near the building was zoned as farmland until the construction of Fisherman’s Hut began, it is largely still used for agriculture. There is a trout farm, and residents claim one can buy live trout right out of the hands of a security guard at the dacha if the VIP guests are not on the premises.

The compound also includes a cattle farm where Wagyu bulls are being raised to produce Kobe beef. However, beef appears to be a more precious commodity as none of the locals were able to buy it.

A high-end Russian interior design agency, FullHouseDesign, has been leading the project, according to documents contained within the leaked emails. When queried, the company’s owner told the OCCRP that she had no memory of any involvement.

When asked about the buildings and on LLCInvest companies, including the ones that own and operate the Fisherman’s Hut, the Kremlin answered: "The President of the Russian Federation is not linked or affiliated in any way with the assets and organizations you mentioned."