Head of the Monaco Ministry of Philip Philip Narmino resigned after reports of his possible interference in the lawsuit between billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev and his art dealer, in which the minister could protect the interests of a businessman.

The Minister of Justice of Monaco, Philip Narmino, resigned after reporting that he could influence the course of the court case between Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev (15th in the list of 200 richest businessmen of Russia by Forbes version) and art dealer from Switzerland Yves Bouvier . The resignation of the head of the royal department was taken by Prince Albert II of Monaco, writes the publication Le Point.

"Personal charges against me and repeated attacks by the judiciary no longer allow me to adequately stand by them," Narmino said.

He explained that his decision to leave his post corresponds to the interests of the justice of Monaco, which, he said, should be carried out "with the necessary calmness."

"As part of the current media campaign aimed at disrupting the normal course of justice and attempting to discredit him, the prince expresses his confidence in judicial institutions that can only act in accordance with the principles, rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution," it says. the official communique of the princely court of Monaco, which leads the publication.

Earlier on Thursday, September 14, the Parisian newspaper Le Monde published a material, which refers to the fact that Narmino and Rybolovlev are on friendly terms. In particular, the newspaper writes, in early 2015, Rybolovlev invited the minister and his wife to his chalet in the Swiss village of Gstaad.

In the same year began a trial between the billionaire and art dealer Yves Bouvier, who supplied the businessman with works of art for his personal collection. Rybolovlev accused Bouvier of fraud, because he, according to the billionaire, unreasonably overstated the prices of paintings sold to him. This resulted in the loss of several hundred million euros. Later, the relevant charges were brought to the merchant of paintings and investigators. In addition to fraud, Bouvier was accused in Monaco of complicity in money laundering.

In the Forbes 2017 ranking, Dmitry Rybolovlev held the 15th line with a fortune of $ 7.3 billion. He is a co-owner of Uralkali and chairman of the board of the Monaco football club.