In Limassol, on the southern coast of Cyprus, shop signs in Cyrillic outnumber those in Greek, the local language. Yachts emblazoned with Russian names fill berths at a newly built marina. Just past the office of radio station Russkaya Volna, restaurants lining the boardwalk serve pelmeni (dumplings) with-what else?-vodka. Cyprus has long been a haven for Russians seeking to shield assets from their government's prying eyes. Limassol's status as Moscow-on-the-Mediterranean was already under threat from a global crackdown on tax evasion when a banking crisis erupted in 2013. Since then the tiny European Union member's efforts to attract foreign investors have given rise to a more sophisticated way to camouflage questionable funds: If you can't launder a Russian's cash, why not launder the Russian himself?
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