# Russia’s Manzherok Resort Becomes a Luxury Haven for Sanctioned Elites State-owned Sberbank transforms an Altai ski site into an exclusive retreat for sanctioned officials. - **Source:** [Meduza English](https://meduza.io/en) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/f02e1a84-5add-402d-b5c7-7f96c9f5add5 ## State-Backed Luxury Transformation Sberbank, Russia’s state-owned banking giant, successfully transformed a struggling, illiquid ski asset in the Altai region into a high-end destination. CEO Herman Gref envisioned the Manzherok resort as a domestic replacement for European hotspots like Courchevel. Since 2011, the project has evolved into a year-round luxury cluster featuring guarded villas and premium services. ## Forced Land Redistribution The resort’s expansion required the systematic removal of local residents and their property. Under a comprehensive territorial development program, land plots in the village of Ozernoye were seized through ultimatum-style buyouts. Livestock grazing near roads were impounded or slaughtered to maintain the aesthetic standards required for the elite guests visiting the area. ## Exclusive VIP Infrastructure Manzherok now features 13 highly guarded villas, with daily rates ranging from 200,000 to 500,000 rubles. These chalets offer total privacy, separate checkpoints, and direct access to ski slopes. Each villa provides round-the-clock butler service and personal security, specifically hiring staff with extensive experience in managing high-profile individuals and sensitive government figures. ## Sanctioned Guest Profiles Internal resort documents reveal a guest list populated by sanctioned businessmen, government officials, and high-profile hackers. Maksim Yakubets, the founder of the cybercrime group Evil Corp, is among those who have vacationed at the site. These individuals, unable to travel to Europe due to international sanctions, rely on Manzherok for their luxury leisure. ## Diplomatic and Cultural Hub In July 2025, the resort hosted an international environmental conference attended by prime ministers from eight friendly nations. The Russian government labeled the event a landmark in environmental diplomacy. Despite the high-profile nature of the gathering, no formal agreements or memorandums were signed, highlighting the resort's role as a symbolic political venue. ## Lavish Procurement Records The resort’s spending reflects its elite status, with 440 million rubles allocated for a four-day cultural program during the conference. Procurement records show extravagant purchases, including 1.7 million rubles for a single Italian-made armchair. The resort also explicitly sources sanctioned goods, such as fresh truffles and black caviar, to satisfy the demands of guests. ## Architectural and Design Curation Italian architect Lanfranco Cirillo, known for designing private residences for Vladimir Putin, oversees the resort’s architectural projects. Interior designer Leyla Uluhanli curated the chalets, naming them after iconic cities like Samarkand and Tbilisi. Each villa is decorated with authentic cultural artifacts, such as 18th-century shields and traditional robes, to immerse guests in specific regional atmospheres. ## Local Discontent and Protests Local residents have expressed significant frustration regarding the resort’s impact on their daily lives. Traffic police frequently close the main Chuysky Trakt road to accommodate motorcades carrying officials like Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Residents have petitioned Vladimir Putin to preserve their village, citing the seizure of 1,600 hectares of land for the resort. ## Operational and Service Standards Manzherok management prioritizes extreme privacy, even paying mobile carriers to enhance signal quality specifically within the chalet grounds. Guests are met planeside at the airport and provided with personal cars for transit. The service level is marketed as superior to traditional luxury destinations like the Seychelles, catering to the specific needs of sanctioned elites. ## Intermediaries and State Links The resort serves as a nexus for figures connected to Russia's security apparatus. Eduard Bendersky, a former FSB special forces member and intermediary for cybercrime groups, is a frequent guest. His connections to AFK Sistema and state-contracted research institutes illustrate the deep integration between the resort’s clientele, the Russian state, and the military-industrial complex. ## Disappointment Among Ski Enthusiasts While the resort targets the ultra-wealthy, experienced skiers have criticized the facility for being boring and lacking nightlife. Lifts close early at 5 p.m., and the atmosphere is described as dead by some visitors. Despite marketing claims of accessibility, the cheapest rooms remain prohibitively expensive for the average Russian citizen, starting at 20,000 rubles. ## Strategic Shift for Elites Manzherok represents a broader shift in Russian elite lifestyle following the full-scale war in Ukraine. With European borders closed to sanctioned individuals, the state has successfully created a domestic enclave that replicates Western luxury standards. The resort functions as a secure, insulated environment where the political and business elite can maintain their lifestyles. ## Sources covering this story - https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/11/09/europe-is-off-limits-to-much-of-russia-s-elite-now-sanctioned-oligarchs-government-officials-and-hackers-are-spending-millions-at-a-luxury-ski-resort-in-the-altai-mountains — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._