Update. The adviser first approached about this query has since advised me that he was concerned about the legislation and advice about acting for Russians. From google, the query seems to come from a Russian who perhaps has made a great deal of money in Russia some of which has been put into Cypriot trusts.
The adviser replied that he could not answer his enquiry as he did not have specialist knowledge on Cypriot Trusts. The Russian then asked if the adviser could provide an answer if Cypriot trusts were not included. The adviser said they could not.
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I had a similar concern when being asked to advice a client’s Russian boyfriend about 25 years ago.
I advised my compliance partner that I didn’t, at that stage, know enough to have any reportable suspicions.
Fortunately he agreed with me that it was better to reject the opportunity as once I met the boyfriend I might then have reportable suspicions. And it really wasn’t going to be worth the hassle and risks.