Suleiman Kerimov year of birth. The path in business, family life and love affairs of billionaire Suleiman Kerimov. Eldest daughter Gulnara

Billionaire Kerimov Suleiman was born on March 12, 1966 in Dagestan, more precisely, in the city of Derbent. This year he turned 50 years old, but he is still energetic and young at heart. According to Forbes, his current net worth is $1.6 billion. Of course, this is an impressive amount. However, just recently he was the owner of a fortune exceeding 3 billion US dollars. What is the reason for such a catastrophic decline in the financial stability of the aligarch? Let's figure it out.

It’s better to start the story with his biography. Suleiman Abusaidovich Kerimov comes from the small mountain village of Karakyure (Dagestan). The father of the future businessman worked in the criminal investigation department, and his mother worked as an accountant at Sberbank. Suleiman Kerimov is the youngest child in the family. He also has an older sister and brother. All Kerimov’s close relatives are very respected people. Thus, his brother became a doctor, and his sister became a teacher of Russian language and literature.

In 1983, Kerimov graduated from high school with a gold medal and entered the construction department of the DPI (Dagestan Polytechnic Institute). After studying only one course at the university, he leaves to serve in the Strategic Missile Forces. Within two years, Suleiman Kerimov received the rank of sergeant.

After serving, he continued his studies at DSU (Dagestan State University) at the Faculty of Economics. While still a student, Suleiman Kerimov tied the knot. His wife is his classmate named Firuza. Her father, who was a major party functionary at that time, helped his son-in-law get a job at the Eltav plant. Kerimov worked at this enterprise for five years, rising to the rank of Deputy General Director for Economic Affairs. And he began his dizzying career as an ordinary employee. In 1993, Eltav, together with its related partners, established the Federal Industrial Bank, which was registered in Moscow. Kerimov was appointed as his representative. It was then that he settled in the capital.

Natural charm and business acumen allow him to expand his circle of acquaintances. And after two years of living in Moscow, he receives a tempting and promising offer to become deputy general director of the Soyuz-finance company. In April 1997, Suleiman Abusaidovich Kerimov received the position of researcher at the International Institute of Corporations. A couple of years later he becomes vice president of this company. Having worked in this position for less than a year, the oligarch is running for deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation. In December 2003, Kerimov put forward his candidacy for elections in the Buinaksky single-mandate constituency, but failed. His comrade-in-arms Gadzhiev Magomed won. After this failure, Kerimov’s political activity in his homeland began to decline.

Two years later, news leaked to the media that it was planned to build a “city for millionaires” near Moscow. Kerimov Suleiman became the ideological inspirer of this large-scale project. Initially, they planned to build houses designed to house thirty thousand millionaires and billionaires in Russia. But later, for some reason, the businessman abandoned his idea and sold the project to Mikhail Shishkhanov, who is the president of B&N Bank.

Kerimov is always lucky. In December 2007, an extraordinary meeting of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of Dagestan was held, at which it was proposed to nominate the billionaire for the post of representative of the Republic of Dagestan in the Federation Council.

In September 2013, fortune showed its tail to Kerimov. Luck turns away from the businessman. The Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus reports that Kerimov has been charged with abuse of his official position. And already on September 2, 2013, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus submitted an application to Interpol to place the entrepreneur and public figure on the international wanted list.

Kerimov Suleiman almost always correctly calculates all the moves and risks, so he manages not only to profitably invest his own capital in some business, but also to increase it. Kerimov’s largest asset was a controlling stake in the Nafta Moscow company. Having bought them in 1999, the businessman brought them to one hundred percent in just a year.

Politics did not at all prevent the entrepreneur from running his own business quite successfully. It is worth noting that she even strengthened his position. It’s not for nothing that Forbes placed Kerimov in 31st place among the richest people. The entrepreneur then correctly calculated that he could make a huge profit by buying up shares of the country's largest enterprises. Suleiman Kerimov is a billionaire and an excellent strategist. Until now, he has profitably resold the acquired assets to his colleagues and friends. At the same time, the businessman established good relations with billionaires Abramovich and Oleg Deripaska. Many mutually beneficial transactions were carried out with them.

He also bought land. As mentioned earlier, he profitably resold his own project for the construction of luxury real estate near Moscow. Somewhat later, the oil tycoon’s assets included shares in Sberbank and Gazprom, large cable television operators and even a plant specializing in the production of sugar.

And in 2009, Kerimov bought about 40% of the shares of the Polyus Gold company, which is engaged in gold mining. In 2015, the businessman already received 95 percent of the assets of this enterprise. This scope is very impressive! However, this is not enough for an entrepreneur. He very successfully invests his own money in foreign companies. The oligarch withdrew the bulk of his capital from Russia long ago.

It is worthwhile to dwell on the political activities of the businessman in more detail, because they are very bright and interesting. Kerimov was elected as a deputy from the LDPR faction in the early 2000s, but in 2007 he suddenly left the party without explaining the reasons. Somewhat later, he was elected senator of Dagestan.

At the very beginning of his political career, Kerimov was a member of the security committee, and later - chairman of the committee on physical culture, sports and youth policy.

Over the entire period of his activity, the entrepreneur acquired the necessary connections and contacts. Further in the article we will talk about such people who played their role in the life of a billionaire.

Kerimov is the richest man in Russia. Over the past year, it has lost some ground, losing $1.8 billion. Perhaps Suleiman Kerimov invested his fortune in some other profitable business. Now the businessman ranks 45th in the Forbes ranking.

The entrepreneur owns a large number of shares of the largest enterprises in Russia. He owns the assets of Gazprom, Sberbank, Polyus Gold and many others.

In 2011, Kerimov indicated in his tax return that he owned: fifty percent of the Nafta Moscow company registered in Cyprus, five percent of the Altitude company (in Bermuda) and twenty percent of Aniketa Investments Limited (Cyprus).

He has real estate in Dagestan and Russia. Suleiman Kerimov’s house in his homeland looks very presentable.

"Anji" (football club) is another profitable acquisition of the richest man. In 2011, the athletes found a new boss. It became Kerimov. Anzhi began to look much more powerful under his leadership.

It was under him that the Makhachkala club acquired several famous football players, such as:

• Zhirkov;
• Prudnikov;
• Dzsudzsak;
• Carlos;
• Akhmedov;
• It's about.

Construction of two bases on the shores of the Caspian Sea is currently underway. In addition, the reconstruction of the Khazar stadium, which will accommodate about thirty thousand fans, is being actively carried out here. From now on, Kerimov and Anji are connected into one whole.

This is far from the end of all the entrepreneur’s merits. Suleiman Kerimov heads a charitable foundation that finances a number of programs designed to support domestic sports. All of these special projects have an individual focus, so assistance is distributed specifically to specific regions. Gyms are being reconstructed, equipment and equipment are being purchased, and funds are being allocated to support coaches and wrestlers.

Immediately after serving in the army, Kerimov tied the knot with Firuza Khanbalaeva. He has three children: daughters Gulnara and Aminat, as well as a son, Abusaid. Not long ago, Suleiman Kerimov was having fun at a wedding; his daughter was getting married.

Once in his youth, the businessman was passionate about kettlebell lifting and judo and even took prizes at championships.

Suleiman Kerimov does not like to talk about himself and his loved ones. His family, despite their wealth, rarely appears at social parties. Little is known about the businessman’s wife and children. But there are rumors about the oligarch's passion for beautiful women. He is credited with an affair not only with Tina Kandelaki, but also with other stars. For example, he gave the pop star of the nineties Natalya Vetlitskaya expensive diamonds. Other celebrities join this list: ballerina Volochkova, actress Sudzilovskaya, singer Zhanna Friske and even TV presenter and socialite Ksenia Sobchak.

The most recent novel is a love affair with designer Ekaterina Gomiashvili. She even became pregnant by the billionaire, but he never recognized this child. The long list of the oligarch’s former passions allows one to judge that Kerimov simply collects social beauties and has no intention of divorcing his wife. It should be noted that Eastern men rarely leave their spouse. This fully applies to our hero. Suleiman Kerimov and his wife Firuza are a strong couple.

In November 2006, an entrepreneur crashed his Ferrari in France. The famous TV personality Tina Kandelaki was in the car with him at that moment. The oligarch's car suddenly left the road and crashed into a tree. The violent collision caused the gas tank to burst and burning fuel poured onto Kerimov. The fire immediately engulfed him in flames. The oligarch jumped out of the car and began to roll on the ground, trying to put out the flames. There was no way to do this; teenagers who were playing baseball nearby came running to help.

The terrible accident caused a multi-kilometer traffic jam on the road. Entry into Nice was blocked for several hours. Since Suleiman Kerimov is the son of his staunch ancestors, he bravely endured all the trials. The oligarch received severe burns; a special helicopter had to be urgently called for him, on which the oligarch was taken to a hospital in Marseille. The billionaire injured in an accident was connected to an artificial respiration apparatus and put into a coma. It is interesting that the entrepreneur’s companion, who was traveling with him in the car, was almost not injured. The car could not be restored or repaired, so it had to be sent to a landfill. By the way, the car cost €675 thousand. Such an unpleasant story can happen to anyone. Suleiman Kerimov (his biography is replete with ups and downs) steadfastly withstood this test.

In 2007, the businessman became a representative from the People's Assembly of the Republic of Dagestan in the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

He was deputy chairman of the committee on physical education and sports, youth policy and was a member of the State Duma.

Kerimov is currently the president of the board of trustees of the Russian Wrestling Federation.

He received the most prestigious award from the international federation FILA - the “Golden Order”.

All media outlets wrote about the unspoken conflict between entrepreneur Magomedov Ziyavudin and Kerimov. The cause of the conflict was a fight for the most lucrative assets of the Republic of Dagestan. The oligarchs are arguing again and dividing the Makhachkala port, which is the hub of all Caspian oil product transportation routes. In 2013, Kerimov voluntarily surrendered his position as the main investor, thereby secretly handing over the helm to Magomedov. A year later he regained his championship. The Kremlin advised the oligarch to invest in modernizing the port, as well as the airport.

Many analysts attribute Kerimov’s increased interest in Makhachkala assets to the fact that he seeks to completely get rid of all his assets and direct his own efforts to developing the foreign market. Perhaps the billionaire will soon leave Russia altogether and settle abroad. Other analysts are inclined to believe that Kerimov will lose his huge money in the near future and become a millionaire. By the way, this version has a right to exist. Recently, Kerimov has already lost his former grip and flair; he has become a businessman who owns an investment portfolio that is no longer so large.

Chill in relations with the Kremlin does not contribute to optimal work, so the oligarch, not seeing support from the state, is looking for help abroad. Perhaps the Russian government has not forgotten or forgiven him for the dubious story with Uralkali. After all, that situation spoiled the friendly relations of the Russian Federation with Belarus.

Not long ago, Kerimov was forced to get rid of both the gallery and his stake in VTB Bank. He is currently negotiating the sale of assets to Polyus Gold. Perhaps he needed the money to acquire the notorious port in Makhachkala. The issue price could be $350 million.

This scandal, which broke out several years ago, shook up the political community of Belarus and Russia. In the summer of 2010, the oligarch, together with his allies, acquired more than fifty percent of the shares. This deal was valued at five billion dollars. For this purpose, Suleiman Kerimov (Dagestan) even took out an impressive loan from VTB.

At that time, Uralkali, together with Belaruskali, sold their own products through a common sales company. In the summer of 2013, this mutual partnership agreement was terminated. The initiator of the break was the Ural company. In addition, the company reported a reduction in prices for its products and an increase in production volumes. Of course, Belarusians could hardly like such behavior. Since then, the once friendly countries have had rather strained relations.

The interesting biography and extraordinary personality of the billionaire attract the closest attention of ordinary people to his person. Television, newspapers and magazines are full of a wide variety of information, sometimes even contradictory. Rumors, gossip, scandals associated with famous people are interesting to many. If you didn’t know what Kerimov was before, perhaps this article helped you understand it.

Early years.
Education, service

In 2001, Kerimov became the owner of the Nosta steel mill (today Ural Steel), the insurance company Ingosstrakh and Avtobank.

In 2005, through the joint efforts of Suleiman Abusaidovich and the Moscow City Hall, the telecommunications company Mosteleset appeared. Kerimov also owned shares in the developer PIK, the companies Polyus Gold, Uralkali and others, was involved in the restoration of the Moscow Hotel, invested in foreign projects and companies, and financed the Anzhi football club.

Policy

Car accident

Charity

If you are interested in learning more about the oligarchs on our planet, then you should get acquainted with one of the representatives of the oligarchs - Suleiman Kerimov. This man once had a rather interesting position: deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the fourth convocation. At the age of 50, he managed to achieve a lot.

Celebrity family

Successes during military service

Since 1984, Suleiman Abusaidovich served for two years as a rocket scientist in the strategic forces. He became a senior sergeant and was the head of the Strategic Missile Forces crew. This man was not lazy - he went in for sports in the army. As a result, he won and became a real champion. This applies to kettlebell lifting.

Kerimov returned from the army in 1986. After that, he transferred to the Faculty of Economics of the University of Dagestan.

This man's life is full of ups and downs. But he never gave up. All the time I tried to move only forward, upward, towards the intended goal. This is what every person should do.

After all, having given up our hands, we will go to the bottom - does anyone need this?

This man managed to work at the plant - until 1995, he went from an ordinary economist to an assistant to the general director dealing with economic issues.

Already in 1995, Suleiman became deputy general director. It was the well-known company Soyuz-finance. A couple of years later, he became a research fellow at the International Institute of Corporations, and then vice president of a non-profit organization. This man began to earn his initial capital in the 90s. Using the example of this hero, you can make sure that everyone can achieve their goal. The main thing is to believe that everything will work out, to strive to achieve what you want. Stock up on willpower and patience, and you will definitely succeed - you can rest assured.

Kerimov Suleiman Abusaidovich is a Russian businessman, politician, and philanthropist.

Early years.
Education, service

Suleiman Kerimov, Lezgin by nationality, was born in Derbent on March 12, 1966. His father was engaged in legal activities and worked in the criminal investigation department. Mother was an accountant. In addition to Suleiman, the family also raised his brother (who became a doctor) and sister (who became a teacher of Russian language and literature).
As a teenager and young adult, Suleiman was interested in sports and mathematics. He practiced judo and kettlebell lifting and participated in math olympiads. He has repeatedly won prizes in sports and scientific competitions.
In 1983, Kerimov graduated from high school with honors and entered the Dagestan Polytechnic Institute at the Faculty of Construction. A year later, Kerimov was drafted into the army. Until 1986, Suleiman served in the Strategic Missile Forces. He held the rank of senior sergeant and served as crew chief. Returning from the army, Kerimov was reinstated at the institute, but transferred to another faculty - economics. During his studies, he was involved in social activities - he was deputy chairman of the university trade union committee. In 1989 he graduated from the university.

Entrepreneurial activity

Immediately after defending his diploma, Suleiman Kerimov, with the help of his newly-minted father-in-law, chairman of the Dagestan Council of Trade Unions, got a job as an economist at the Eltav plant. By 1995, Kerimov took the post of assistant general director for economic affairs.
In 1993, Suleiman Abusaidovich was sent to work in Moscow, where partners of the Eltav plant opened the Fedprombank bank. Very soon Kerimov became the controlling owner of the bank, and in 1995 he took the position of head of the trade and financial company Soyuz-Finance.
In the spring of 1997, Suleiman Kerimov became a research fellow at the International Institute of Corporations in Moscow. Two years later he became vice president of this enterprise.
In the late 1990s, Suleiman Kerimov began to actively engage in business. At the end of 1999, he bought shares in the Nafta-Moscow oil company. The company existed until 2009, after which it was liquidated. While working at Nafta, Suleiman received a huge profit.
In 2001, Kerimov became the owner of the Nosta steel mill (today Ural Steel), the insurance company Ingosstrakh and Avtobank. In 2005, through the joint efforts of Suleiman Abusaidovich and the Moscow City Hall, the telecommunications company Mosteleset appeared.

Kerimov also owned shares in the developer PIK, the companies Polyus Gold, Uralkali and others, was involved in the restoration of the Moscow Hotel, invested in foreign projects and companies, and financed the Anzhi football club.
In the 2000s, Kerimov took over the Razvitie construction holding, and a few months later sold it, earning about $200 million.

Policy

From 1999 to 2007, Suleiman Kerimov was a State Duma deputy from the Liberal Democratic Party. For several years he was deputy chairman of the committee on physical culture, sports and youth affairs. In 2008, Kerimov joined the Federation Council of Russia, the upper house of the Federal Assembly, and became a representative of Dagestan.
For some time, Kerimov was a deputy in the People's Assembly of Dagestan. In early autumn 2016, Suleiman Abusaidovich was re-elected as a senator from Dagestan in the Federation Council.

Car accident

On November 26, 2006, Suleiman Kerimov had an accident in Nice. The businessman was driving his Ferrari Enzo, and he was accompanied, by the way, by Tina Kandelaki. Suleiman was seriously injured and received severe burns. After that incident, Kerimov began wearing flesh-colored gloves to hide his mangled hands from prying eyes.

Charity

Suleiman Kerimov is a famous philanthropist. In 2007, he founded the Suleyman Kerimov Foundation, whose main activity is to financially and otherwise support initiatives aimed at improving the lives of young people around the world. The Foundation is engaged in promoting projects to improve the situation in the areas of healthcare, sports, and culture. In addition, the Suleyman Kerimov Foundation helps those in need and works closely with many Russian and foreign charitable organizations.
Since 2006, Suleiman Kerimov has been the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Wrestling Federation. The businessman is also a member of the board of trustees of the Sirius educational center for gifted children in Sochi and Sirius-Altair in Makhachkala.
After the accident in 2006, Suleiman donated one million euros to the Pinocchio Foundation, which works with children affected by burns.

P.S. At one time, Suleiman Kerimov, among many regions of Dagestan, provided charitable assistance to the Rutulsky district. In particular, in our area, comfortable small mosques were built on the territory of sacred places so that travelers on the road would have a place to pray. He also provided funding for the Hajj for the residents of our Rutul district for several years in a row, for which the entire jamaat of the multinational Rutul district expresses its gratitude to him!

A couple of years ago, in an interview with ND, the director of the Dagagropromproekt Institute, Nazim Khanbalaev, speaking about the cost of mistakes and miscalculations in the design of urban areas, spoke about a certain Grigoriev, who many years ago headed the Daggiprovodkhoz design institute. This comrade, when preparing the project for the reconstruction of the KOR, decided to save three million rubles and did not include in it the work on improving the territory of the water protection zone of the canal. And although Grigoriev was fired from his job for this miscalculation, the consequences of his mistake as a designer still reverberate today. Thanks to him, today we have a vulnerable, constantly polluted KOR, which has turned into a branch of the city garbage dump.

For many years, Makhachkala was built up without a master plan, solely at the whim of our mayors. At the same time, the requirements for the quality of construction were regularly reduced, and as a result, the city was handed over to Maalin developers - specialists in the construction of life-threatening, low-quality, but at the same time very cheap housing. I have written more than once about the direct consequences of such “urban planning policies,” so I will not repeat them. I’ll tell you only about one indirect thing.

This week, the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of the Russian Federation calculated the average market value of a square meter of housing in the regions for the third quarter of 2018. For Dagestan, this figure has not changed, remaining at the same level - 29 thousand 665 rubles.

This indicator is calculated as follows: builders submit reports to the Statistical Office indicating the cost per square meter of housing in the houses they have built. It is clear that cheap Maalin housing has greatly adjusted this indicator. So much so that former Minister of Construction Ibrahim Kazibekov, at a meeting with builders, tearfully asked developers to urgently redo the reports, maximizing the cost of the “square”. They say that he made the same request to the employees of the Statistical Office, who had cut their teeth on compiling agricultural reports. As a result, through joint efforts we came up with difficulty at 29,665 rubles.

Kazibekov’s concern is easily explained. After all, all federal tranches in the field of construction are calculated using this indicator, and primarily funds for the construction of houses as part of the program for relocating citizens from dilapidated and dilapidated housing.

The cheaper the square footage, the less money the republic will receive.

The real cost of building a reliable frame in Dagestan today is estimated at approximately 28-29 thousand rubles per square meter. The most budget “finishing” will cost another 6-7 thousand rubles. It turns out that even at the stage of financing in Dagestan, the same finishing money was stolen from displaced people from dilapidated and dilapidated housing (after all, housing must be delivered “turnkey”).

And if we take into account the appetites of our officials and developers who won the tender, for a “square”, as the experience of constructing the “poor fellows’ quarter” at the Hippodrome shows, less than 20 thousand rubles remain. And it turns out that the Maalin residents not only disfigured the city, but also set new construction standards for many years to come. Such are the things.

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Society

New evidence has been discovered of the involvement of Russian businessman Suleiman Kerimov in villas on the Cote d'Azur in France.

At the end of November, Russian senator and billionaire Suleiman Kerimov was detained in France. He is suspected of fraud in the purchase of luxury villas, from which he could have failed to pay “tens of millions of euros” in taxes. Kerimov himself denies that he owns any real estate on the Cote d'Azur. However, statements by the official owner of the property indicate that the houses are managed by a holding company, which in the 2000s was the focus of the Russian businessman’s business. In addition, the Dozhd TV channel discovered in the architectural plans of one of the French residences a mention of three possible inhabitants of the villa.

Russian senator Suleiman Kerimov was detained at Nice airport on November 20. Two days later, the billionaire (net worth $6.3 billion, according to Forbes) was taken to court and charged with tax evasion and money laundering, Nice prosecutor Jean-Michel Prétre said. Kerimov’s passport was eventually taken away and he was released on bail of 5 million euros. In addition, the senator must fulfill a number of conditions. “Remain on the territory of the Alpes-Maritimes department, come to the police several times a week and not come into contact with certain persons, the list of whom I cannot tell you,” the prosecutor listed.

According to a Reuters source, Kerimov was charged with laundering money hidden during tax evasion. The senator is accused of purchasing several residences on the Cote d'Azur through shell companies, thanks to which he allegedly saved on taxes. The total damage could amount to “tens of millions of euros,” Le Temps wrote, citing AFP, which cited a source close to the investigation.

How they found Kerimov

The local publication Nice-Matin connects Kerimov’s arrest with the searches at the Hier villa that took place in February this year. The publication wrote that then the police seized the draper's invoice for 580 thousand euros, as well as family photographs and documents that may indicate that the villa actually belongs to Kerimov. French authorities began investigating in 2014 when they were tracking a lawyer linked to Kerimov suspected of fraud and money laundering. From his wiretapping it followed that the cost of the villa could be 127 million euros, and the purchase price was deliberately lowered to reduce taxes.

61 million euros could have been transferred to the seller’s Swiss bank account, Nice-Matin wrote, citing the case materials.

According to documents, the owner of the villa is Swiss businessman Alexander Studhalter. He confirmed that he bought it in 2008 for 35 million euros. “Suleiman Kerimov, with whom I have also had business and personal relationships for many years, is neither the owner nor the economic beneficiary of Villa Hier,” Studhalter responded.

French authorities suspect that through a “labyrinth” of offshore companies, French banks and Luxembourg companies, the villa actually belongs to Kerimov, Nice-Matin wrote, citing investigative documents. The senator himself, through a representative, rejected these accusations, emphasizing that all of Kerimov’s property was indicated in his declaration. In 2016, it listed two apartments in Russia, with an area of ​​37 and 53 square meters.

Four villas in the "Billionaires' Bay"

The area in the south of Cape Antibes, where Villa Hier is located, is called “Billionaires’ Bay” by locals. The most expensive residences are located here, some of which belong to Russian oligarchs and businessmen from the Middle East, real estate agent Olivier Maugery-Pont told The Telegraph. Roman Abramovich, Andrei Melnichenko and Minister for North Caucasus Affairs Lev Kuznetsov, who indicates a plot in France in his declaration, live in the neighboring villas. Realtors call Kerimov “the Russian Gatsby” because of the parties he hosted here. In 2005, at Cape Antibes, a search was carried out at the residence of Boris Berezovsky. Forbes wrote in 2015 that one of the neighboring villas belonged to Kerimov.

According to Nice-Matin, French authorities suspect that the senator owns four villas: Hier, Medy Roc, Florella and Lexa. Their total area is more than 90 thousand square meters. One of the most famous villas, Medy Roc, is included in the French list of cultural heritage sites. After a change of ownership in 2008, a separate exhibition was put together in New York from the interior items removed from it.

In the neighboring Villa Hier, where the searches took place in February this year, director Frank Oz filmed the film “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” in 1988. All four villas are located next to each other and, according to documents, belong to the Swiss entrepreneur Alexander Studhalter.

Familiar name

As follows from the French registry, the Hier villa, where the searches took place, is registered to the company VH Antibes SAS registered in the name of a Swiss entrepreneur. The Swiss's name is also included in the founding documents of the nearby villas Medy Roc, Florella and Lexa.

As follows from Studhalter’s words, he manages the villas through the Swiss holding company Swiru. Studhalter is the sole beneficiary of the Swiru holding and “the property that he manages through subsidiaries,” including villas, the businessman said.

The name of this company appeared in publications about Kerimov’s business in the 2000s. Since 2008, the Swiss has also headed Kerimov’s charitable foundation, the Suleyman Kerimov Foundation, which has managed the senator’s assets since 2013, including through a complex network of offshore companies in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Cyprus and the USA. The fact that the villas in the “bay of billionaires” and the Kerimov foundation are managed by the same person is evidenced by Studhalter’s signatures on the company documents:

Studhalter said that he came to the Russian market back in the 90s, and then, having created the Swiru holding (from two words SWIss and RUssian), he began investing in Gazprom, Nafta Moscow OJSC, Vnukovo Airlines and Sberbank. All these assets were in one way or another connected with Kerimov: in 1997-1998 he owned Vnukovo Airlines, in 1999 he acquired the oil trader Nafta-Moscow, and in the period from 2003 to 2008 he owned 4.24% of the shares Gazprom and 5.6% of Sberbank.

In 2005, Kommersant wrote, citing sources, that “Kerimov’s business is confined to the Swiru holding.” In 2012, both Kommersant and Forbes, also citing sources, claimed that the entrepreneur’s personal assets were registered in this holding. “Mansions in France and England, two yachts, several planes, perhaps some money in the accounts,” Forbes said. At that time, Studhalter was already listed as the owner of villas on the Cote d'Azur.

Even more information about Kerimov’s connection with Studhalter and Swiru became known after the publication of the “Panama” and “Paradise Papers” in 2016 and 2017. From these documents it followed that Swiru was the founder of the Bermudian company Altitude 41, of which Kerimov was a co-owner. The senator reported in his declaration in 2011 that he owns 5% of the Altitude company in Bermuda.

Swiru is also connected with Russia by another offshore company with a similar name - Altitude X3 Ltd, the shareholder of which was a Swiss holding. As it became known after the publication of the Panama Archives, this company owned the plane that, as Alexey Navalny claimed in his investigation, Igor Shuvalov and his wife use. Another owner of the offshore was Nariman Gadzhiev, the namesake of the ex-Minister of Press and Information of Dagestan, whom Forbes calls a relative of Kerimov.

Home for Guli, Amina and Said

In 2009, the London design bureau MMM architects was approached by a “client” with a request to create a design for his residence in Antibes. We were talking about Villa Medy Roc. The bureau published the proposed design on its website, along with handwritten notes. Among them are the signatures “Gulas bedroom” (Guli’s room), “Eminas bedroom” (Emina’s room) and “entrance to Saids” (entrance to Said). Kerimov has three children: daughters Gulnara and Amina and son Said. The description of the villa states that the proposal to develop the design came while working on a London project for the same client. Forbes wrote in 2012 that Kerimov also has property in London.

MMM architects did not answer Dozhd’s written question about who the customer was.

Work on this and the neighboring villa in 2010 was also carried out by the architectural bureau CAP Architecture group. In the company’s portfolio, the Medy Roc villa garden project is simply labeled “oligarch.” The following year, the bureau published another project, this time at Villa Florella, the description says that this is the territory of Medy Roc.

Kerimov's representative Alexey Krasovsky did not respond to Dozhd's emailed questions.

In total, four people are involved in the Kerimov case: in addition to the Russian senator and Studhalter, charges were brought against Philippe Borghetti and French tax lawyer Philippe Chiaverini, Le Temps wrote, citing the lawyer of one of them. If Kerimov’s guilt is proven, he faces up to 10 years in prison, Forbes writes.

Articles on management - Popular management - Ordinary Russian oligarchs. A story of non-trivial success: Suleiman Kerimov

“You love money, but I have a lot of it, and I part with it easily”

Suleiman Kerimov became, as many experts believe, the true cause of the “potassium war” between Belarus and Russia; it was because of Kerimov that the decision was allegedly made to organize the United Football Championship (UCF) at all costs, which we will talk about separately. . And also - a scandalous accident in a luxury supercar with Tina Kandelaki, fifteen billion (at least) dollars of personal assets at the peak of her business career and many, many, and even too many other aspects. The success story of this man is quite worthy of attention.

Suleiman Abusaidovich Kerimov was born on March 12, 1966 in a far from simple family in Derbent (Dagestan): his mother held a very significant position in Sberbank, and his father was an employee of the criminal investigation department. In the North Caucasus, a child with such parents was automatically guaranteed a secure life, both then and today.

Suleiman was a sporty and intelligent child: he was involved in weightlifting, wrestling, and had obvious inclinations in the exact sciences. Admission to the Polytechnic Institute (not in Moscow - in Dagestan) after school ended a year later with conscription into the army and service in the Missile Forces and, by the way, their elite unit. After the army, Kerimov resumes his studies, but is transferred to the Faculty of Economics, where he meets his future wife Feruza. Feruza’s father was a match for Suleiman’s own parents: a prominent party worker who helped his son-in-law take the position of economist at the prestigious Dagestan enterprise Eltav. The plant produced products from a category of great shortage - electronic equipment. In 1993, this successful enterprise needed its own bank. This was created and received the name “Federal Industrial Bank” (Fedbank), its representative was sent to Moscow. The representative was none other than Suleiman Kerimov.

After a couple of years of Moscow life, Suleiman Abusaidovich became the general director of the Soyuz-Finance company. In 1998, the businessman invested fifty million dollars in acquiring a controlling stake in the future Nafta-Moscow holding. After another 2 years, cooperation with Roman Abramovich and Oleg Deripaska allows Kerimov to receive part of the profits from companies such as Ingosstrakh, Avtobank, Nosta and others - no less successful. Stop! Here we need to analyze what is happening in much more detail.

As we remember, Suleiman Kerimov was in Moscow a representative of Fedprombank, created for the Eltav plant. His “countrymen” helped the Dagestan bank extremely actively, as a result of which the financial institution quickly grew and developed. And Kerimov actively bought his shares. At the same time, the charismatic businessman acquired useful connections in the Russian capital, tried to seek happiness in large and new projects, and even took part in the sale of Vnukovo Airlines. True, the Accounts Chamber had many uncomfortable questions about the deal, but Suleiman Abusaidovich avoided trouble.

Over the course of “a couple of years,” the purchase of shares in an ever-growing bank gave excellent growth to the initial capital of the future billionaire.

The end of the 90s in Russia was the era of a great war for resources. At that time, Suleiman Kerimov did not yet have sufficient “muscles” in business for large wars, so he concentrated his efforts on a relatively “small” object by the standards of billionaires - the Varieganneft company, which, of course, dealt with oil. Having won the property, Kerimov did what he would do in the future with all captured assets: he sold it (in this particular case, to Mikhail Gurtsiev).

And then there was the Nafta company. Suleiman Abusaidovich got this once powerful flagship of the business “on the cheap”: for $50 million in 1998. The businessman acted in the style of Sam Zell's "Bone Dancer", taking advantage of other people's problems.

Remark: Nafta was initially headed by CEO Anatoly Kolotilin. His son worked at the Unibest bank, through which Kolotilin thought it was profitable for his family to circulate money. But - 1998, crisis. Unibest collapsed, and Nafta lost $400 million of its funds because of this and still remained $100 million in debt to Surgutneft. In a word, Nafta would be happy to sell itself to anyone, just to resolve the issue of its debts.

Suleiman Abusaidovich did not like trading oil. The assets of the company, purchased for 50 million, were quickly sold by Kerimov for $400 million. And then a new campaign for money began.

Now this is called a “hostile takeover”, no one goes to the law enforcement agencies to complain about anything, silence remains. But behind such a businesslike name were hidden boys with bats and crowbars, decisions of courts in very distant regions on the appointment of new boards of directors, criminal cases against intractable owners and things that are generally not customary to talk about out loud.

year 2001. Avtobank was lucky with the assets of dozens of promising enterprises, including an entire iron and steel plant, Ingosstrakh, Ingosstrakh-Soyuz, etc. I was unlucky with something else: the attention of the three main sharks of that time: Roman Abramovich, Oleg Deripaska and, of course, Suleiman Kerimov. The latter eventually won, and the owner of Avtobank, Andrei Andreev, according to him, received nothing except the prefix “ex” to the status of the owner.

In 2005, Kerimov already became the owner of billions of dollars, but still begins the hunt for another object: Mosmontazhspetsstroy, Glavmosstroy, Mospromstroy - all three corporations were part of the Razvitie SEC, whose office was located a couple of hundred meters from the Kremlin . But cute boys with heavy bats and crowbars came to visit this office, while Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov demonstrably demonstrated: “Come on, it’s a simple economic dispute that has nothing to do with us.” True, it was Luzhkov himself who asked Suleiman to “sort out a little” with the presumptuous leadership of Development, who loved forceful methods. Kerimov “figured it out,” very quickly reselling the extracted object for $80-85 million.

Forbes once wrote that the businessman’s acquaintances often mentioned one ethnic trait of Suleiman Abusaidovich: he certainly strove to take what was “bad,” and he needed forceful actions psychologically. Hot Dagestan mentality of a calm, pretty businessman.

If Kerimov had relied on “takeovers” alone, he would not have been the Kerimov he is.

Do you remember how it all began in Moscow? Connections and investments in your own bank. And also my mother, who worked at Sberbank. It was along this line that Suleiman Abusaidovich began to build an interesting game.

It’s one thing to buy shares in Fedprombank, which has enough of its own capital, but it’s another thing to buy “bundles” of shares in Gazprom and Sberbank of Russia. From 2004 to 2006, the cost of the first increased by 4 times, and the second - by all 12, and the businessman during this period (or rather, at the beginning) already managed to buy 4.25% and 5.26% of their shares, respectively. How? Very simple. He borrowed money and bought shares with it. And he left as collateral... Purchased shares. The shares rose in price, the amount of collateral increased, the opportunities grew - and so on in a circle.

And who borrowed, you ask. Well, first VEB, then “some other” banks. But the bet was made on Sberbank. It was so simple: you take money from Sberbank, buy its shares, leave them as collateral - and again buy shares from it. All risks go to Sberbank, all profits... That's right.

Filaret Galchev and Vadim Moshkovich worked with Sberbank according to a similar scheme, but it was to Kerimov that this bank paid real curtsies. For example, Sberbank does not consider it possible to issue more than 25% of its capital to one lender.

“Nafta” approached the limit and, when it seemed that it was absolutely impossible to take out new loans, the rule worked: if it is impossible, but it is strongly necessary, then it is possible. Since 2005, the company ZAO New Project took out loans instead of Nafta-Moscow, and although the owner was the same, the bank did not notice this. Why? Firstly, business in Russian allows this, and secondly, re-read the words in the epigraph again.

In 2007, it became clear that Sberbank of Russia was coming under the control of German Gref. Kerimov repays loans (which eliminated the awkward questions “who sanctioned?”, “who will be responsible?”, etc.) for 4 billion dollars and leaves himself a huge profit.

In addition, there is another state bank that is ready to lend to a dear client with all generosity - VTB. Maybe Kerimov’s connections at that moment were already extremely powerful, or maybe it was just an accident and VTB credited all the businessman’s ideas without a second thought and “just like that.”

Indeed, it’s somehow frivolous: everything is Russia and Russia. But what about the expansion of capital to the West? In fact, the question was not the desire of Kerimov himself: he wanted, he believed that “there will be more there.” By 2006, his business was going so well that he could take on the world. But... “There” were not particularly in a hurry to cooperate with the oligarch “from the dashing Russian 90s.”

And here we must certainly introduce a new character: Allen Wine was not just a top manager, but a director of the Russian branch of Merrill Lynch. Later he met Kerimov, they struck up a friendship, and over time, a partnership. Wine leaves Merrill Lynch and heads one of the oligarch’s structures, the Millennium Group. Vine became Kerimov’s guide to the West. He will be his translator and the “key” to enter those offices in which the young and rich Dagestani was not particularly wanted to be seen before.

The task was simple: Morgan Stanley was the first to decide to check the “purity” of Kerimov’s assets. This decision of the bank was partly due to the fact that Wine and the head of MS, John Mack, were old friends, and partly due to the natural charisma of the oligarch. In addition, no one dug very hard, and it was impossible to find real buyers for a number of transactions. After the first “due diligence”, 12 more banks in Europe and the USA began to cooperate with Suleiman Abusaidovich.

At this time, a lover of fast driving and thrilling experiences gets into a serious accident together with Tina Kandelaki. A businessman receives severe burns, he is treated in the best clinics in the world, he maintains the business rhythm against all odds and partly thanks to a special silicone suit.

From 2007 to 2008, Western bankers helped the oligarch sell off assets in Russia, buying assets abroad. 26 billion were received, 20 billion went to debts and other expenses, 6 billion went “as change.”

The package of new acquisitions by Suleiman Kerimov looked like an exhibition: there were shares of almost all structures with large assets and a big name. Deutsche Bank, British Petroleumm, Royal Bank of Scotland, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, E.On, Deutsche Telekom, Barclays, Boeing, Credit Suisse, Fortis and more, more, more...

Then it was a big game, Kerimov became the largest private shareholder in the history of Morgan Stanley itself, he began to play a significant role in voting in the key concerns of the planet. And then there was ruin and revival, a conflict between Moscow and Minsk due to the actions of a businessman and the epic with Anzhi Makhachkala, the story of the OC and other scandals. No one has written about much of what we will tell before, but this will be in the next article.

Kerimov Kerim Alievich - First Deputy Director of the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering for Flight Control, Chairman of the State Commission for Flight Testing of Manned Spacecraft, Lieutenant General.

Born on November 1 (14), 1917 in the city of Baku, Baku province (now the Republic of Azerbaijan). Azerbaijani. Patronymic at birth - Kerimov Kerim Ali ogly. In 1936 he graduated from the 10th grade of school in Baku. In 1936-1939 he studied at the energy department of the Novocherkassk Industrial Institute, and in March 1942 he graduated from the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute.

In the army since April 1942. In October 1943 he graduated from the weapons department of the F.E. Dzerzhinsky Artillery Academy. He served as a senior military acceptance technician (1943-1945) and assistant military representative (March-October 1945) at plant No. 538 in Moscow, which produced shells for BM-13 Katyusha rocket launchers. For providing the front with ammunition he was awarded the Order of the Red Star.

After the war, he served in the 4th Directorate of the Main Artillery Directorate of the Armed Forces: senior assistant department head (1945-1946), senior department engineer (May-December 1946), senior department officer (1946-1949), deputy department head (1949-1950) ) and head of department (1950-1953). In 1946-1949, he repeatedly traveled to Germany and Austria to study and restore captured German jet weapons.

From 1953 - Deputy Head of the 3rd Directorate, in 1955-1959 - Deputy Head of the 1st Directorate, in 1959-1960 - Head of the 1st Directorate, in 1960-1963 - Head of the 4th Directorate, in 1963-1965 - Head 3rd Directorate of the Main Directorate of Missile Weapons. He oversaw the development and testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles, and then military space objects. He was the chairman of three State Commissions for flight testing of systems: communications - "Molniya-1", meteorological - "Meteor-1" and an oriented satellite for sensing the Earth.

Since April 1965 - head of the Main Space Directorate of the USSR Ministry of General Engineering, which was involved in the creation of rocket and space technology. In 1974-1991 – 1st Deputy Director of the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering for flight control. Oversaw work related to the preparation of the joint Soviet-American Soyuz-Apollo flight, as well as the launch and operation of the Mir orbital station. At the same time, from 1966 to 1991, he was chairman of the State Commission for Flight Testing of Manned Spacecraft. For 25 years he made the final decision on the launch of all spacecraft with astronauts.

For his great contribution to the development and flight testing of manned spacecraft and complexes, the implementation of international space programs, by the “closed” Decree of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of December 4, 1987, Lieutenant General Kerim Alievich Kerimov was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor with the Order of Lenin and a gold medal “ Hammer and sickle".

Since February 1991, Lieutenant General K.A. Kerimov has been retired. He worked as a chief specialist - scientific consultant at the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering.

Lieutenant General of the Engineering and Technical Service (1967; Lieutenant General - 1984). Awarded 2 Orders of Lenin (06/17/1961; 12/4/1987), 2 Orders of the Red Banner of Labor (10/25/1971; 01/15/1976), Order of the Red Star (09/16/1945), Russian Order “For Services to the Fatherland” 4th degree (7.01.2001), Azerbaijani Order of Glory, medals.

Laureate of the Lenin Prize (1966, for the creation of the Zenit satellite reconnaissance complex), the Stalin Prize of the 3rd degree (1950, for the development of the Don radio measuring system), the USSR State Prize (1979, for the creation of a complex of means for the orbital space station "Salyut- 6").

Honorary member of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan.

Composition:
The road to space (Notes of the Chairman of the State Commission). Baku, 1996.

Military ranks:
Lieutenant technician (03/04/1943)
Senior technician-lieutenant (7.10.1943)
Engineer-Captain (01/15/1947)
Engineer Major (02/12/1951)
Engineer-Lieutenant Colonel (07/18/1953)
Engineer-Colonel (08/06/1948)
Major General of Engineering and Technical Service (05/09/1961)
Lieutenant General of Engineering and Technical Service (10/25/1967)
Lieutenant General Engineer (11/18/1971)
Lieutenant General (04/26/1984)

Suleiman Abusaidovich Kerimov (Lezg. Kerimrin Abusaidan hva Suleiman). Born on March 12, 1966 in Derbent (Dagestan). Russian entrepreneur and politician.

By nationality - Lezgin.

Father is a policeman.

Mother is an accountant, worked in the Sberbank system.

Suleiman is the youngest in the family. Has a brother, a doctor by profession. He also has a sister, she is a teacher of Russian language and literature.

During my school years I was involved in sports - judo and kettlebell lifting. Repeatedly became the winner of various competitions. He studied well at school, exact sciences were easy for him, and his favorite subject was mathematics.

After his first year, he was drafted into the army and served in the Strategic Missile Forces from 1984-1986. He was demobilized with the rank of senior sergeant as a crew chief.

After demobilization, he transferred to the Faculty of Economics of the Dagestan State University, from which he graduated in 1989. While studying at DSU, he was a social activist and deputy chairman of the university trade union committee.

After graduating from university, he worked as an economist at the Eltav defense plant. He worked his way up from an economist to assistant general director for economic affairs, which he became in 1995.

Suleiman Kerimov's height: 182 centimeters.

Personal life of Suleiman Kerimov:

Married. His wife’s name is Firuza, she is his classmate at DSU. Father-in-law is a former major party functionary, chairman of the Dagestan Council of Trade Unions Nazim Khanbalaev. With his help, Kerimov took the first steps in the career of a successful businessman.

Has three children.

Suleiman Kerimov, wife Firuza, children and mother

Had many high-profile novels. His scandalous personal life is constantly in the spotlight of the media.

He was in a relationship with a 1990s star singer. He openly appeared with the artist at social events. At one time they were even considered almost husband and wife. The businessman showered Natalya with expensive gifts and literally showered her with money. “He doesn’t spare anything for me. He gives me money in bags,” Vetlitskaya boasted to her friends.

After her affair with Kerimov, Vetlitskaya was left with a huge house in New Riga of 3,000 square meters. There were also rumors about an apartment in Paris and various expensive jewelry being given to her.

Natalia Vetlitskaya

Anastasia Volochkova

However, the romance with Volochkova quickly ended. Persons familiar with the situation explained this by the excessive greed of the ballerina, which pushed the businessman away from her. After breaking up with Kerimov, Volochkova began having problems in the theater.

Nastya tried to return her rich lover, even publicly confessed her love to him, but to no avail.

Anastasia Volochkova about Suleiman Kerimov

Olesya Sudzilovskaya

Zhanna Friske

The businessman had an affair with a TV presenter. This became known after Kerimov got into an accident in his Ferrari Enzo on November 26, 2006 in Nice (France) - he crashed into a tree. The airbags softened the impact, but burning fuel splashed out of the fuel tank, causing a fire. The businessman, engulfed in flames, fell to the ground, trying to extinguish his flaming clothes. Teenagers playing baseball on the lawn came to his aid. This saved his life, although French doctors fought for it for a long time. He suffered severe burns and is now forced to wear flesh-colored gloves.

Tina Kandelaki was also in the car with Kerimov. In memory of this incident, Tina received two tattoos. On the left wrist there is one of the Reiki symbols - chokurei (Japanese 超空霊 chōkurei), the meaning of which has several interpretations, one of which allows you to speed up the healing process of wounds. On the left thigh is a Chinese character that means “mother.” The tattoos are applied to burns received as a result of the accident.

Tina Kandelaki

For 4 years he was in a relationship with designer Katya Gomiashvili (born 1978), the daughter of a famous actor (played Ostap Bender in Gaidai’s “12 Chairs”).

At the time of her relationship with Kerimov, Ekaterina Gomiashvili opened a number of boutiques in Moscow and London. Top models Kate Moss and Devon Aoki took part in the advertising of Gomiashvili's clothing collections.

After breaking up with Kerimov, Ekaterina retired and went to Bali, where she gave birth to a daughter. There were rumors that this could be Kerimov’s child, but officially the father is a certain Italian.

Since 1993, he has lived and worked in Moscow - since the Eltav company and its affiliates established the Federal Industrial Bank. Suleiman was sent there to represent the interests of Eltava.

In Moscow, his circle of business acquaintances expands sharply. The energy of the young businessman, the professionalism of the manager, and the desire for independence did not go unnoticed.

In 1995, Kerimov accepted an offer to become deputy general director of the Soyuz-finance company in Moscow.

Since April 1997 - researcher at the International Institute of Corporations (Moscow).

At the end of 1999, Suleiman Kerimov bought shares in the oil trading company Nafta-Moscow, the successor to the Soviet monopolist Soyuznefteexport. Subsequently, this company became Kerimov’s main business tool.

In 2003, Nafta-Moscow received a loan from Vnesheconombank, which was invested in shares of Gazprom OJSC. Over the next year, Gazprom's share prices doubled and the loan was repaid within four months. In 2004, Sberbank provided Kerimov’s structures with a loan in the total amount of $3.2 billion, which was also invested in shares and subsequently fully repaid. By 2008, Nafta-Moscow owned 4.25% of Gazprom shares and 5.6% of Sberbank shares. In mid-2008, Kerimov completely withdrew from the share capital of Gazprom and Sberbank.

In November 2005, the Nafta-Moscow company acquired a 70% stake in Polymetal, one of the largest gold and silver mining holdings in Russia. In 2007, Polymetal successfully completed an IPO on the London Stock Exchange, after which Nafta-Moscow sold shares of the company.

In 2005, the Moscow mayor's office and one of Kerimov's structures created a joint telecommunications enterprise Mosteleset, which became the sole shareholder of the largest cable operator in Moscow, Mostelecom. In 2007, telecommunications assets were merged into the National Telecommunications holding and a year later sold to a consortium of investors led by Yuri Kovalchuk’s National Media Group for $1.5 billion.

In 2003-2008, Nafta-Moscow developed the Rublevo-Arkhangelskoye project, which was called in the press “the city of millionaires”; the idea of ​​​​creation belonged to Kerimov. Subsequently, the project was sold to the president of B&N Bank, Mikhail Shishkhanov.

In the spring of 2009, Kerimov’s structures began a project for the reconstruction of the Moscow Hotel. After the reconstruction was completed, a five-star Four Seasons hotel with a shopping center, offices and apartments was opened in the building. In 2015, Belarusian businessmen the Khotin brothers bought the hotel from Kerimov’s structures.

In the spring of 2009, Kerimov’s structures purchased a 25% stake in PIK, the largest developer in Russia. At that time, the PIK group of companies needed additional financial resources: the debt reached $1.98 billion, and capitalization dropped to more than $279 million. Nafta-Moscow later increased its stake in PIK Group to 38.3%.

During the first 2 years of Kerimov’s ownership (from 2009 to 2011), PIK restored financial stability and strengthened its position in the market. In December 2013, Kerimov sold the entire stake to Russian businessmen Sergei Gordeev and Alexander Mamut.

After losses during the economic crisis of 2008-2009, Kerimov changed his investment strategy and began buying large enough blocks of shares to be able to influence the strategies of the companies in which he invests. In 2009, Nafta-Moscow bought from Vladimir Potanin for $1.3 billion a 37% stake in Polyus Gold, the largest gold producer in Russia. Later the stake was increased to 40.22%.

In 2012, the company held an IPO on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). At the end of 2015, Kerimov’s structures consolidated the rights to 95% of the shares of Polyus Gold by purchasing shares from minority shareholders. The offer was followed by the delisting of Polyus Gold from the London Stock Exchange.

In April 2016, the entrepreneur’s children, Said and Gulnara, were included in the board of directors of PJSC Polyus Gold.

In June 2010, Kerimov and his partners Alexander Nesis, Filaret Galchev and Anatoly Skurov acquired a 53% stake in the potash giant Uralkali from the previous owner Dmitry Rybolovlev. The deal was valued at $5.3 billion. For this purchase, Kerimov received a significant loan from VTB.

Being the world's largest producer of potash fertilizers, Uralkali sold products on the world market together with Belaruskali through a common sales company (BKK). In July 2013, Uralkali announced that it was withdrawing from the sales agreement with Belaruskali, reducing prices and increasing production to maximum capacity in order to increase market share. On September 2, 2013, the Investigative Committee of Belarus opened a criminal case against Kerimov and a number of Uralkali employees for abuse of power and official authority. On the evening of September 2, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus demonstratively sent a request to Interpol to put Kerimov on the international wanted list, but Interpol denied the message of the Belarusian authorities about adding Kerimov to the “red list”, seeing a political motive in the request. Subsequently, the Belarusian authorities withdrew the request and closed all criminal cases.

In December 2013, Kerimov sold 21.75% of Uralkali shares to a businessman and 19.99% to the owner of Uralchem, Dmitry Mazepin.

He was involved in investments outside of Russia, but was unsuccessful. In 2007, as markets around the world began to tumble, Kerimov reduced his stakes in Gazprom and other Russian blue chips and approached Wall Street about investing a significant portion of his fortune. In exchange, Kerimov was supposed to receive more favorable lending terms for future loans. In 2007, Kerimov invested billions of dollars in Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse and other financial institutions. Although neither Kerimov nor Western banks have disclosed the exact size of his investment, it is quite significant. Forbes magazine called Kerimov the largest private investor in Morgan Stanley. By 2008, according to Forbes, he withdrew the bulk of his capital from Russia, investing in shares of foreign corporations. Analysts estimate that during the economic crisis, this decision led to the loss of almost $20 billion as a result of margin calls.

Suleiman Kerimov’s net worth: in the Forbes ranking of “Russia’s 200 richest businessmen” for 2017, he took 21st place with $6.3 billion. In 2016, according to Forbes magazine, his fortune was $6.1 billion. In previous years: 2013 - $7.1 billion; 2012 - $6.5 billion; 2011 - $7.8 billion; 2010 - $5.5 billion

Criminal prosecution of Suleiman Kerimov in France:

November 20, 2017. Later it was clarified that - several tens of millions of euros. Four more alleged accomplices were detained along with him. He was ordered to surrender his passport as a citizen of the Russian Federation to the French police and pay a bail of 5 million euros to avoid detention. In addition, he is obliged to “refuse to meet and contact with a list of persons that we cannot disclose,” the prosecutor indicated. This means that the billionaire senator will not be able to leave France.

Earlier in March 2017, the newspaper Nice Matin reported about a search at the Hier villa in France, which allegedly belongs to Kerimov. The searches took place on February 15 in connection with an investigation into the acquisition of real estate in France. According to the publication, the senator owns real estate in Antibes, the total area of ​​which is 90 thousand square meters. The area of ​​the villa itself reaches 12 thousand square meters. The billionaire's assistant then stated that Kerimov had no property outside Russia. According to him, the newspaper's information is unreliable.

In June 2018, he himself was transferred to the category of witnesses.

From January 2011 to December 2016, Suleiman Kerimov was the owner of the Anzhi football club (Makhachkala), which plays in the Russian football Premier League. Under him, the club acquired such famous players as Yuri Zhirkov (Chelsea London) and Roberto Carlos (Corinthians Sao Paulo), super forward Samuel Eto'o (Internazionale Milano).

In 2013, as part of the development of a new long-term development strategy for the club, it was decided to reduce the club's annual budget to $50-70 million, compared to the previous budget of $180 million per season. Most of the expensive foreign stars were sold, and the club relied on young Russian players.

In addition to financing Anzhi, Kerimov’s funds were used to build a modern football stadium, Anzhi-Arena, for 30 thousand spectators near Makhachkala, and to operate the Anzhi Children’s Football Academy.

In 1999-2003, Suleiman Kerimov was a deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the 3rd convocation from the LDPR, and was a member of the State Duma Security Committee. In the period from 2003 to 2007, Kerimov was a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the fourth convocation from the LDPR, and also served as deputy chairman of the Committee on Physical Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs.

Since 2008, Kerimov became a member of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, the upper house of the Federal Assembly, and represents the Republic of Dagestan.

Throughout Kerimov’s tenure as a member of parliament and then as a senator, shares of enterprises owned by him, as well as other business assets, were in trust management, and since the end of 2013 they have been transferred to the Suleyman Kerimov Foundation.

In September 2016, he was re-elected as a senator from Dagestan in the Federation Council. In this regard, he prematurely terminated his powers as a deputy in the People's Assembly of Dagestan.

People who communicate with Suleiman Abusaidovich claim that it is difficult to talk to the oligarch. This person predicts the answer in advance. A mathematical mindset, Eastern wisdom and a subtle sense of profit brought billions to the owner of a large Russian financial and industrial group. Suleiman Kerimov's biography has ups and downs, but as a true chess player, he always quickly analyzed mistakes and played a new combination. As a rule, it’s a win-win.

The future oligarch spent the early years of his biography in Derbent, the oil capital of sunny Dagestan. Suleiman was born in 1966, on March 12. He became the third child in the family of a criminal investigation officer. Abusaid Kerimovich, the boy’s father had a higher legal education. Mother was involved in accounting in one of the local branches of Sberbank. At the time of his birth, Suleiman had a brother, who now works as a doctor, and a sister, who teaches Russian language and literature.

From an early age, Suleiman became addicted to sports. His main hobbies were judo and kettlebells. The boy excelled at chess and subsequently received 1st category. While studying at school No. 18 in Derbent, he delighted his teachers with his mathematical abilities. However, he mastered other subjects without difficulty. The future billionaire graduated from the first educational institution with honors, which gave him the right to enter a prestigious university.

Suleiman Abusaidovich Kerimov

After graduating from school in 1983, the young man successfully passed the exams at the Dagestan Polytechnic, where he studied at the Faculty of Construction for a year. In 1984, the educational process was interrupted due to conscription into the army. Until 1986, Kerimov repaid his debt to his homeland by servicing strategic missiles. The years spent in the army hardened the young man and revealed the leadership trait in him. He returned from service with the rank of senior sergeant.

Suleiman continued his higher education at Dagestan State University. He chose economics as his future specialty.

The student combined brilliant academic performance with active social work, and by the end of DSU, he was listed as deputy chairman of the local trade union committee.

Having received a diploma in economics, in 1989 Suleiman Kerimov began working. His first place of work in his biography was the Makhachkala plant "Eltav". Obtaining a position at a prestigious enterprise was not without the participation of Nazim Khanbalaev, who headed the Dagestan Council of Trade Unions and by that time was Suleiman’s father-in-law. Thanks to his hard work and abilities, as well as connections, within 5 years the young specialist made a dizzying career and rose from an ordinary economist to deputy general director of the plant. In the middle of this five-year plan, the management of the enterprise created a bank registered in Moscow. Representing the management of the plant, Kerimov managed to take control of the shares of this organization. Fedprombank provided loans to industrial enterprises in crisis. Since that time, the entrepreneur has settled in the capital of Russia.

Since 1995, the businessman has headed the trade and financial company Soyuz-Finance, and 2 years later he became a researcher at the Moscow International Institute of Corporations.

Suleiman Kerimov's real business began in 1999, with the acquisition of shares in NTK Nafta-Moscow, which, with the arrival of a new owner, began to transform from a mediocre oil trader into a powerful holding.

In managing a large enterprise, Kerimov revealed himself in all his glory. His instincts and precise calculations allowed him to raise the company to the level of Millhouse and Rusal, which set the tone in the Russian oil market. During 2002-2008, Nafta-Moscow energetically expanded its assets by acquiring shares of promising industrial enterprises. Loans from Vnesheconombank, and later from foreign financial organizations, are used as starting capital. The holding acquired shares in Volvo, British Petroleum, etc. During this period, Kerimov met the most famous financial tycoons, in particular, Bill Gates became one of his friends.

In 2009, Kerimov expanded the scope of his holding’s activities and began to engage in real estate. The “breakthrough” was the reconstruction of the Moscow Hotel, which became a five-star Four Seasons hotel. At the same time, an organization controlled by the businessman took possession of a quarter of the shares of the PIK group of companies, which was the main developer of the country and was in a crisis situation. Kerimov improves the affairs of this enterprise and by selling its assets receives a substantial profit.

Another significant event in 2009 was the purchase by Nafta of a 37% stake in the gold mining company Polyus Gold and after 3 years Suleiman Kerimov took almost complete control over it (95%). Since 2016, the oligarch’s son has been on the board of Polyus Gold.

In 2011, the oligarch became the owner of the Anzhi football club (Makhachkala), and in 2014 he got rid of most of his assets.

Among the “dark streaks” in the entrepreneurial activity of Suleiman Kerimov, one should mention the friction between the entrepreneur and Belarusian law enforcement officers that arose in 2007 in connection with shady affairs surrounding the largest fertilizer producer, the Uralkali company. Major losses for the businessman were unsuccessful investments in foreign enterprises. An attempt to save capital during the global crisis in 2008 cost Kerimov and his organization $20 billion.

The life of Suleiman Kerimov is closely connected with politics. Twice serving as a deputy of the State Duma of Russia (1999 – 2007), the oligarch successfully defended the interests of Zhirinovsky’s party. Since 2008, the billionaire has been a member of the committee of the Federation Council, where he deals with financial problems and represents the Republic of Dagestan.

The current political activity has distracted Suleiman Kerimov from business. Having handed over the reins of control of the companies he owned and got rid of foreign assets, the oligarch remains a prominent person in financial circles; his photos and videos are often found in the media.

The dynamics of a businessman’s entrepreneurial activity can be analyzed based on data provided annually by Forbes magazine (year – $, billion/place in Russia):

• 2004 – 0,58/48;
• 2005 – 2,6/16;
• 2006 – 7,5/11;
• 2007 – 12,8/7;
• 2008 – 18,4/8;
• 2009 – 3,1/13;
• 2010 – 19/5,5;
• 2011 – 7,8/19;
• 2012 – 6,5/19;
• 2013 – 7,1/20;
• 2014 – 6,9/19;
• 2015 – 3,4/31;
• 2016 – 1,6/45;
• 2017 – 6,3/21;
• 2018 – 6,4/20.

Having a direct relationship with the power structures of the Russian Federation, Suleiman Abusaidovich could not avoid the April 2018 sanctions. The oligarch’s losses amounted to $1.4 billion, which is equal to more than a fifth of the businessman’s fortune.

Since 2005, Suleiman Kerimov has owned the magnificent yacht “Ice”. The ninety-meter four-deck ship is made using the latest technologies. Its approximate price is $160 million.

The oligarch's second yacht, Millenium, looks somewhat more modest, three times smaller than the first, but amazes with its speed, which reaches thirty-one knots. This “toy” cost the billionaire €8.9 million.

Until recently, Suleiman Abusaidovich used a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) 737-700 as an air vehicle. The cost of the luxury “flying office” exceeds $130 million.

As for Kerimov’s real estate, the scandal regarding the acquisition of properties in Nice by the Dagestan senator has still not been hushed up. The oligarch himself claims that he has no housing abroad.

It is known for certain about his personal life from the biography of Suleiman Abusaidovich that he found his soul mate while still a student. His chosen one was fellow student Firuza Nazimovna Khanbalaeva. It was thanks to her father that the current oligarch began his successful career. The wife gave the businessman three children. In 1990, the eldest daughter was born, to whom her parents gave the name Gulnara. Five years later, the family was replenished with a son, Abusaid, and in 2003, the businessman became a father for the third time. His youngest daughter's name is Aminat.

The billionaire’s second personal life is full of rumors and gossip, often appearing on the pages of printed publications and on the Internet. His scandalous novels often involve women with star names. Among them: Vetlitskaya, Volochkova, Friske, Kandelaki and others.

Suleiman Kerimov's charitable activities were marked by the transfer of €1 million to the Pinocchio children's burn center. The reason for this was a car accident in which the oligarch got into in 2006. After which he underwent a long rehabilitation course. The billionaire's concern for children was also evident in his work on projects to provide targeted assistance to orphans and sick children.

Since 2013, an international charitable foundation created by Kerimov has been operating. It was here that the Dagestan senator donated the lion's share of his assets.

Thanks to the funds of Suleiman Abusaidovich, Makhachkala acquired a modern Anzhi Arena stadium. Under the guardianship of the billionaire is the Russian Wrestling Federation and the Sochi Center for Gifted Children “Sirius”.

According to the latest news, Suleiman Kerimov recently suffered from a heart disease. Now, after recovery, he is in France, where legal proceedings regarding his tax violations continue.

Claims that the Dagestan senator is completely removed from business are refuted by reports of his participation in the affairs of Potanin and Deripaska, who are fighting for ownership of Norilsk Nickel.

Just like in his youth, the oligarch today continues to be interested in sports, of which he prefers wrestling and football.

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