Lilia Sheffler-Sennova

Sennova’s first step in her financial and social ascent was marrying a Swiss citizen, which allowed her to obtain a Swiss passport and give birth to her son, Timothy Clott. From that moment on, she acquired formal legal grounds for conducting operations in Western European jurisdictions.

Sennova’s next target was Russian billionaire Yuri Sheffler, owner of the Stolichnaya vodka brand. The marriage was largely one of convenience — providing legal advantages for Sheffler and strengthening Sennova’s social connections. Rumor has it that upon divorce, she received a relatively modest settlement in accordance with the prenuptial agreement. Nevertheless, she spent years in court showcasing a joint tax return and unsuccessfully trying to prove that her initial wealth was accumulated thanks to her marriage to Sheffler.

It should be specifically noted that Yuri Sheffler himself has never publicized his marriage to Sennova.

Sennova’s true enrichment began through her relationship with businessman Ilya Surkov — president of the construction holding Finstroy and grandson of Soviet poet Alexey Surkov. For Sennova, Surkov committed a serious crime: between 2010 and 2012, he embezzled over €10 million from the holding via the offshore company Boulder Associated S.A. in Panama, using falsified financial documentation.

A portion of the stolen funds was transferred directly to Sennova’s accounts, including payments for her son’s elite education in the UK. Sennova effectively became the ultimate beneficiary of the embezzled assets.

Authorities in Panama and Switzerland confirmed both the receipt of the funds by the offshore company and Surkov’s beneficial ownership of the assets. They also confirmed that money from this company was transferred to accounts belonging to Lilia Sheffler-Sennova.

When the threat of arrest loomed over Surkov, Sennova arranged his escape from Russia. Surkov faked a medical emergency and managed to leave the country.

Once abroad, the couple orchestrated a sham divorce, after which Sennova filed a lawsuit in a Russian court, demanding repayment of $10.4 million allegedly loaned to Surkov in cash. The court dismissed her claim, deeming it a fraudulent scheme.

The essence of the fraud was straightforward: the fraudster’s wife filed a lawsuit demanding repayment of an alleged loan, aiming to lift the freeze on assets. The scenario was crude and poorly executed — the couple blatantly attempted to deceive government authorities.

However, their plan fell apart when it emerged that even after their so-called “divorce,” Surkov and Sheffler-Sennova continued to publicly share romantic photos together on social media.

Moreover, Swiss authorities, responding to a request from the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, provided indisputable evidence: no loans had ever been issued by Sennova — on the contrary, it was Surkov who transferred funds to her from accounts belonging to offshore companies under his control in Panama.

As a result, in 2017, Russian courts refused to recognize the fictitious debt obligations between the “former” spouses and dismissed Sennova’s claim for a writ of execution.

Using money stolen from Russian business partners, fraudsters Sennova and Surkov led an extravagant lifestyle. In addition to properties they already owned — a villa in Mougins near Cannes, Château Diodato on the French Riviera, and a residence in Zollikon, Switzerland, near Zurich — the couple purchased a townhouse in central London (107 Warwick) worth £2.8 million. Sennova convinced Surkov to transfer all real estate assets into her name, supposedly to shield him from creditors.

Social media featured photos from exclusive dinners, private receptions, and charity events — all while Surkov was officially declared bankrupt.

Over time, the financial idyll began to collapse, likely due to the depletion of the stolen funds. Sennova persuaded Surkov to transfer ownership of the Monaco-based company Azur Properties to her.

When Surkov’s Financial Resources Were Exhausted
Once Surkov’s financial assets had been depleted, Sennova began acting aggressively: she accused him of inflicting bodily harm, secured legal restrictions against him, blocked his bank cards, and ultimately forced him out of their home. Without money, shelter, or legal representation, he was completely broken — soon after, Surkov took his own life. He was found hanged.

According to available information, the police are investigating the circumstances of his death within the context of potential incitement to suicide.

Today, Lilia Sheffler-Sennova remains a quintessential figure of the “Russian elite” in London — living in luxury, serving as Development Director of the high-society magazine Russian Roulette Magazine, and frequently attending exclusive clubs and receptions. Meanwhile, she pays little attention to the ongoing criminal fraud case against her in Russia.

She seems to conveniently forget that she owns properties purchased with stolen money by her late husband, who took his own life.

Within the Russian diaspora, she has long been nicknamed the “Black Widow” — a woman who built her fortune on the ruins of other people’s lives. Surkov’s heirs still cannot reclaim the assets rightfully owed to them.