The Russian companies of Mykhailo Fridman, the Ukrainian-born oligarch whose name has been sanctioned by the West, are allegedly widely supporting Russia’s military efforts, according to investigative journalists affiliated with Radio Free Europe (RFE). Independent Kyiv.
Journalists of the “Schemes: Investigating Ukraine” project claim that Fridman, through the company he co-owns, Alfa Insurance, insures cars of units of the National Guard of the Russian Federation (Rosgvardiya), including those stationed in Ukraine, reports the website of Russia’s state procurement. .
These include units of the Russian Guard based in the Bryansk, Voronezh, Tula and Kaluga regions. “Schemes” found images of some of the vehicles insured by “Alfa Insurance” in social networks.
The company also provides services to the Main Directorate of Special Programs of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which, among other things, protects him.
Another company owned by Friedman, X5 Retail Group, also cooperates with the Russian military, Schemy reports. One of the group’s businesses, a chain of grocery stores, has had a joint project with the Ministry of Defense of Russia since 2014.
After the start of a full-scale war, they established cooperation, opening new stores under the joint brand “Pyaterochka Voentorg” throughout Russia. According to the “Schemes” investigation, these stores collect donated goods for the Russian military.
When Schemes asked Friedman questions, the oligarch said he stepped down from running his Russian affairs after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.
The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine told investigative journalists that these revelations could be the basis for a possible seizure of Friedman’s assets in Ukraine, because the journalists showed that he supported Russia’s war through his business.
After the story aired, Luxembourg-registered ABH Holdings, which owns Alfa Insurance, publicly announced its intention to completely withdraw from Russia.
In March 2023, the Financial Times wrote that Friedman, the co-founder of Alfa Group, and his business partner Petr Aven, who ran the bank until last March, decided to sell their stake in Alfa Bank to try to get the sanctions lifted. imposed by the West against them because of their ties to the Kremlin.
According to the Forbes ranking of the world’s richest billionaires in 2023, Mykhailo Fridman ranks 9th with a fortune of $12.6 billion.
- The number of Russian billionaires in 2023 increased despite Western sanctions / Who is the richest Russian oligarch now – Forbes
According to Forbes April 2023, he owned shares in Alfa Bank, Wintershall DEA, VEON, Turkcell, Dia and X5 Group.
- Follow the latest developments from The 440th day of the war in Ukraine LIVETEXT on HOTNEWS.RO.
Source: Hot News
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