AIBU to refuse inheritance so my estranged father cannot benefit?

This sounds bonkers OP. Just take the money.
Why on earth do you think you'll die before him? You'd be dead anyway so you wont care.

can you not realise the assets and transfer the money out of Russia (I realise this may be hugely complicated.)

I am guessing this is maternal grandma? in your shoes? i would do what my grandma wants because she is likely to die first. Your father is likely to die before you do, and if the worst happens and he outlives you, what good would 1/4 of your assets do for him realistically?

I don't think the Estonians will let you in and out that easily, especially coming from Russia. At best, you just look like a suspicous idiot who will have her entry visa denied. At worst, you look like a criminal or a spy: An American coming in and out of Russia multiple times within a short space of time, whilst there's a war on, who has no credible explanation for what she's been doing there and, if she's searched, is carrying wads of undeclared cash...people urging you to do this are fools, OP.

Most people lead simple lives, OP, so they won't get your complicated family history or your feelings. There is no easy answer, it's just a case of picking the hard you can live with. My hard would be trying to make amends with your grandmother, but still decline the inheritance.

Yes, my mistake, I saw OP explain that to someone else after I pressed send.

The OP has made 9 posts.

They are short posts.

Reading them will.prevent you giving irrelevant and potentially hurtful advice that ignores her life-shortening disability and the fact her options for writing a will are constrained by Russian law.

Could you accept it , so that you’ve pleased your grandma and then gift it to a charity .

She's also not asking for tax advice. She is asking for personal advice about family relationships and her feelings.

The way I look at it is like this:
Your grandparents worked their bones off for it, they want you to have it, take it. Whether you actually do anything with it, or whatever, doesn’t matter, it’s all they have and they’re giving it to you. Who knows, the world might actually become a better place for your children, that might become their or even your safe heaven, you just don’t know. And I know what you mean about the bureaucracy, it’s a pain in the arse, we’re not used to that anymore.

Your dad is not one of a sudden go: I own 1/4, I’ll go sit on the porch and plant my flag there.
There is obviously a lot of family trauma, but you know, you don’t have to make it yours. Take the cabin, use it to heal.

Please explain to your grandmother. She must know what your father is like and understand your condition? Surely she would see how difficult it would be for you? And that leaving to your mother would be wiser? And one day, maybe, you could move the money more easily if sold. That's surely easiest and relieves you of a substantial amount of stress? Because, it sounds a lot

It clearly matters more to you that there is no chance your dad gets anything than you getting something. If refusing it seems less hassle than accepting it, liquidating it and taking the cash to where you live, ensuring you have no assets in Russia then thats what you should do.

You don't need to RTFT, you just need to read the OP's posts to know that she is not looking for tax / legal advice and that she has a health condition.

YABU for two reasons -
if your beloved, generous Grandma wants to leave you something, anything, then you should accept it graciously.
You say also that it is not worth much to you, in reality. In which case it isn’t worth the worry, going forward, as it won’t make a material difference to your life (or even your estranged father’s)
As others have said, you’ll likely live longer than him anyway (apologies if I have missed anything about that aspect, haven’t RTFT yet). So really you should be getting a proper will which will leave any assets you may have to someone who you love - much like your Grandma wants to.

You can’t predict who will die first so it’s not unreasonable to look through options

It’s neither of those things. It’s removing HER money from her home country to where she can more easily access it. Nothing to do with tax or laundering at all.

That could be construed as tax evasion or money laundering or any of a few illegal activities.

I would say a big NO to that.

Then maybe she needs tax advice?

Do that, then! You could do a few of those crossings in the same day!

If possible this seems best.

The OP has not asked for legal advice

Then the OP needs more specialist advice, which I think is beyond the scope of posters on this board.

Russian law. Which applies to assets in Russia.

Many countries have similar - France and Scotland for example, it's hardly an unusual situation.

Yes, this is the way I'd try to advance the point.

If that doesn't work and you end up inheriting the datcha, what would be the legal.position if you simply never did the inheritance paperwork? Would it then pass automatically to your father or would it be scooped up by the state?

If you do end up stuck with it, I think selling and converting it to jewellery may be your best option. Easier to move out of the countrry than bundles of notes.

OP, sorry you're getting such a pile of unhelpful responses from people who are unable to comprehend that different countries have different laws.

I’d just accept it. It doesn’t sound like it would sell for much anyway and the chances of you dying before your Dad are slim. Don’t upset your Gran.

OP you have already been deprived of a loving relationship with a father, don't let this man poison your relationship with your grandmother. Do not centre your understandable anger at him in your reponse to her. I would focus on letting her know how much you love her, how grateful you are to her for this wonderful gift. Unfortunately your employers in the US make it extremely difficult for you to take the kind of leave required to come to Russia to do all the paperwork around inheritance but as your mum is in a better position to deal with that, could she please give it to your mum who will then later pass it onto you when you will be in a better position to receive it and not risk your job... keep stressing love and gratitude and don't bring anger at your father into it.