The Guardian has found new evidence that Puy du Fou, the French theme park company seeking planning approval for a £600m site in Oxfordshire, maintained a partnership with sanctioned pro-Kremlin oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev far longer than it has previously admitted. Documents show the collaboration on Russian theme park projects, including one in annexed Crimea, continued until August 2015, more than a year after EU sanctions targeted Malofeyev over his alleged role in backing Russia's 2014 seizure of the territory, raising questions about whether the firm tested the limits of European sanctions law.

Founders Philippe and Nicolas de Villiers met Vladimir Putin in Yalta in 2014 to discuss the planned parks, one of which was to be built on occupied Ukrainian land, and both men later spoke warmly of the Russian president. The newly disclosed documents reveal that Puy du Fou continued making payments to a key Malofeyev aide, that executives internally discussed sanctions risk, and that when the Russian venture collapsed the company went on to explore projects with Iran, while the Chinese Communist Party reportedly had script approval over a planned Shanghai park. The revelations come as Puy du Fou is expected to secure planning permission within days for its Oxfordshire attraction, which would feature historical re-enactments, mock castles and themed villages.