As for the 'affair'​, legal wheels turn slowly, so most likely RIPE wasn't directly involved, so most likely 'Soldatov' was pressured into returning the ip-space as he is also co-owner of the Czech company. Looks like it was a two prong approach, sell/give the ip-space to a Czech company and use that vehicle to sell the ip-space for a profit. Money then is outside Putins hands, also no problems with 'sanctions' etc.  But then again what do I know.

On Sat, 28-12-2019 20h 09min, Randy Bush <randy@psg.com> wrote:

> How these things slip through is when paperwork gets submitted that is
> incorrect and falsified with fake signatures.

and the ncc has a job advert out to hire even more lawyers (no blame;
it's a mess). can ripe keep from becoming arin?

randy