Russian 'mistress' linked to US-German supermarket billionaire who 'faked his ... trends now
The 'mistress' at the centre of the story about the German supermarket billionaire who vanished on the Matterhorn runs a company that organises 'James Bond style' tours in Russia -
Reports have suggested Karl-Erivan Haub faked his death six years ago while hiking alone on the iconic Swiss peak, then went incognito to Moscow to be with his secret Russian mistress.
Authorities launched a six-day search which saw five helicopters and teams of alpine rescuers canvas the area following his disappearance in April 2018, but his body was never found.
Aged 58 when he disappeared, he left behind a wife, two children and a company of some 75,000 employees as former managing director and part owner of German supermarket and retail giant Tengelmann Group.
He was declared dead but reports have suggested he is 'living with his mistress' Veronika Ermilova, 44, in Moscow.
In comments carried by Russia's Regnum news agency, Ermilova declared the claims over her being Haub's secret mistress 'are from people who grew up on James Bond films and wanted some kind of crazy Russian story'.
'They came up with some kind of spy action movie. They probably grew up watching these films,' she said.
Ironically, her company - named Russian Event - offers super-rich tourists exactly such a 'crazy Russian story' with a James Bond theme.
They offer the opportunity to come to Russia to 'find your inner 007 with your very own James Bond rally – with your own ''Bond Girls'', villains and mission to take on as you navigate the streets of our cities'.
No price is quoted for this tailor-made tour.
Haub is alleged to have dialled the phone of mysterious Russian woman Veronika Ermilova - suspected of being a Russian agent - 13 times in the three days before he vanished
Ermilova ran an 'inconspicuous' event agency in St Petersburg with hobbies like hiking, climbing and ski touring
German-American tycoon Karl-Erivan Haub, then 58, was training for a ski mountaineering race when he disappeared in April 2018
The billionaire businessman was seen heading up the mountain in a lift one morning alone - something his trainer said was strange for a man who was typically very safety conscious and well-prepared - and never returned to his hotel
Veronika Ermilova, 44, is twenty years Haub's junior
An investigation found that Ermilova ran an 'inconspicuous' event agency which organised skiing, hiking and climbing excursions for outdoor enthusiasts. She is now