Oligarch’s son sued for $322,000 over $45,000-a-month Israeli villa
Alekandr Kogan, son of oligarch Valery Kogan, disputes the landlord's account and says he never moved into the property because it was not ready.
An unusual dispute involving the son of a Russian oligarch, a singer well known in Russia, and a French-Jewish businessman who previously fled French law enforcement has resulted in a lawsuit seeking roughly $322,000 from the singer, and revealed the staggering rent he was expected to pay for a luxury villa in Herzliya.
The lawsuit was filed by French businessman Richard Touil through his company, T.I.R.I Investments. Touil claims that in April 2026 he rented the villa to Aleksandr Kogan for $45,000 a month. Under the agreement, Kogan was supposed to pay six months' rent in advance, totaling $270,000.
According to Touil, however, the payment was never made. He says that although he agreed to Kogan's request because of his prior acquaintance with Kogan's father, oligarch Valery Kogan, the payment had still not been transferred by May, and letters warning of the outstanding debt went unanswered.
The statement of claim says Touil initially exercised considerable patience toward Kogan because of his family background and his relationship with his father.
"The plaintiff, through Richard, showed great patience toward the defendant," the lawsuit states. "Richard maintained ongoing contact with the defendant, was invited to and attended his family events, and refrained from turning to the courts."
According to the claim, this patience stemmed from Touil's trust in Kogan and his acquaintance with his father and his "elevated standing."
Kogan's lawyer disputes Touil's account. In a letter sent on Kogan's behalf, the attorney said Aleksandr had intended to move into the villa with his family in May and had even taken steps to hire a housekeeper and a cook.
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According to the letter, however, the property was not ready for occupancy, and Kogan and his family never moved in. Touil himself later returned to live in the villa, the letter claims.
Kogan's attorney also alleges that when the rental agreement was signed, a separate dispute had emerged between Touil and Aleksandr's father, Valery Kogan, over the purchase of an apartment. According to Aleksandr, Touil had failed to pay his parents the full consideration for an apartment he had purchased from them and subsequently filed a lawsuit over the matter.
Touil is a French-Jewish businessman who has been sought by French authorities in connection with financial offenses involving tens of millions of euros. He was tried in absentia in France in 2019 and sentenced to seven years in prison. He was never extradited to France, amid the legal complexities surrounding the case.
After Touil was living in Israel, a grenade was thrown at his home and vehicles belonging to his family were set on fire. The family claimed the incidents were connected to financial demands made by the crime organization associated with Asi Abutbul. Touil and his brother later served as prosecution witnesses in the case against Abutbul.
The Herzliya villa at the center of the current dispute has its own history of legal complications. Touil purchased the property on Havatzelet HaSharon Street from Arcadi Gaydamak in March 2020 for NIS 13.8 million ($4.7 million).
Gaydamak later claimed that Touil had failed to pay the full amount owed for the property and sought to have him evicted. The broker who helped Gaydamak purchase the villa also claimed that Gaydamak had failed to pay him a brokerage fee.
Kogan, the defendant in the current case, is the son of Valery Kogan, a Russian oligarch who holds a stake in an international airport in Russia. Kogan is known in Israel largely for a series of property purchases in Caesarea, including the demolition of villas and construction of a sprawling estate that he has reportedly been seeking to sell for several years for hundreds of millions of euros.
Aleksandr Kogan, meanwhile, is a singer who is well known in Russia.
Attorney Andrey Nazaretsky of the ENR law firm, which represents the Kogan family, said: "My client has not yet received the statement of claim. Upon receiving it, we will study it and respond accordingly within the framework of the legal proceedings."
Attorney Almog Bitan, who represents Touil, said: "My client made available to the defendant a unique, luxury property intended for the top income decile. The property matched precisely all of the defendant's requirements, and the rental agreement was signed accordingly."
Bitan rejected the claims regarding the property and Gaydamak, saying: "The attempt to link Mr. Touil to a dubious deal with Gaydamak is a distortion of the truth, since the legal proceedings regarding the property have concluded, and Mr. Gaydamak lost the proceeding and was ordered to pay costs."
He also denied Kogan's claim that Touil had prevented the handover of the property.
"The defendant's claim that it was my client who thwarted the agreement and failed to hand over possession of the property is completely denied," Bitan said. "We are confident the court will examine the full evidence and will accordingly order full compensation for the severe damages caused to my client."
