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British Queen’s cousin, Prince Michael of Kent
The cousin of the British Queen, Prince Michael of Kent, has received £320,000 ($514,000) from a Russian ex-politician who fled to London in 2000.

The Moscow Times reported that Prince Michael received £320,000 from Boris Berezovsky, the Russian ex-politician who has been convicted of economic crimes in abstentia, during the six-year period between 2002 and 2008.

"A fund controlled by Berezovsky funneled 56 payments of between £5,000 and £15,000 to offshore companies into a family business owned by the prince's secretary," said the newspaper.

In 2000, Berezovsky, who had fled to London, refused to return to Russia. The Russian Deputy Prosecutor General had asked him to appear for questioning regarding an investigation into financial corruption. In 2003, the British government granted Berezovsky political asylum.

Berezovsky's payments to Prince Michael were revealed in documents submitted to the High Court ahead of an upcoming case.

"There is nothing underhand or improper about the financial assistance I have given Prince Michael. It is a matter between friends," Berezovsky said in an interview with The Sunday Times.

Prince Michael also faces accusations of using his title to get free trips and supplement his income. The Queen also provides him with financial support, paying an annual £100,000 for his Kensington Palace home's rent.