Suleiman Kerimov: biography, activities in business and politics, net worth. Kerimov Suleyman Abusaidovich, Russian entrepreneur: biography, personal life, family, fortune Businessman Suleymanov and his family

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.

IN school years went in for 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. Went from economist to assistant general director

on 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 a lot 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 the affair with Kerimov, Vetlitskaya stayed huge house in New Riga at 3000 square meters

. There were also rumors about an apartment in Paris and various expensive jewelry being given to her.

Natalia Vetlitskaya

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) - daughter 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.

Entrepreneurial activity of Suleiman Kerimov

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 an 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 total size 3.2 billion US dollars, 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 70% of the shares "Polymetal"- one of the largest gold and silver mining holdings in Russia. In 2007, Polymetal successfully completed an IPO on the London Stock Exchange. 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 venture "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 25% of the shares "PEAK"- the largest developer in Russia. At that time, the PIK group of companies required additional financial resources: 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 a 37% stake in the company from Vladimir Potanin for $1.3 billion. 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. September 2, 2013 investigative committee 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.

Engaged in investments outside of Russia, but unsuccessfully. 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 profitable terms lending 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.

State of Suleiman Kerimov: V Forbes ranking“200 richest businessmen in Russia” 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 property in Antibes, total area 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 between $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, with Kerimov’s funds, a modern football stadium, Anzhi-Arena, was built near Makhachkala for 30 thousand spectators, and the Anzhi children’s football academy operates.

Political activities of Suleiman Kerimov

In 1999-2003, Suleiman Kerimov was a deputy State Duma Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the 3rd convocation from the LDPR, was a member of the State Duma Committee on Security. 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 Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, 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.

In 2007, Suleiman Kerimov registered in Derbent and paid income tax - 2.5 billion rubles, or almost $100 million at the then exchange rate. “We also joked that it’s enough for the republic not to work, it’s enough to have 5-6 Suleyman Kerimovs,” jokes an interlocutor in the administration of the head of Dagestan. Today is one of richest people Russia is accused by French authorities of tax evasion and money laundering. How did it happen that a businessman got into such a situation?

Two nights in the gendarmerie

A stone's throw from the main street of Nice, just a kilometer from the Promenade des Anglais, lies the imposing gray five-story gendarmerie building. Previously, these were barracks. In the Second world war Jews were held here during the German occupation. And at the beginning of the week, billionaire Kerimov spent two days in the gendarmerie, writes Le Figaro. He was detained immediately upon arrival in Nice late in the evening on Monday, November 20. And on the night of November 23, the judge released the businessman and senator on bail of 5 million euros. Kerimov has been charged with tax evasion and money laundering. He is subject to the strictest judicial control: he must remain in the Alpes-Maritimes department, report to the local police several times a week, “surrender his passport and not have contact with certain persons.” The list of these persons is not disclosed, RIA Novosti reports.

The AFP agency, citing a source, reported that Kerimov is suspected of hiding tens of millions of euros from tax authorities when purchasing a villa on the Cote d'Azur through intermediaries. Kerimov may be one of the largest real estate owners, although his name is not formally associated with any property, Nice-Matin reported in the spring. According to the publication, on February 15, searches were carried out at the Hier villa in the case of the legality of the acquisition of this property. This is one of the most beautiful villas on the Cote d'Azur (area - 12,000 sq. m). Villa Hier was officially purchased by Swiss businessman Alexander Studhalter for 35 million euros. The neighboring villas Medy Roc, Lexa and Fiorella are also designed for it. Law enforcement they suspect that “through a chain of companies registered in Monaco and Luxembourg, and French banks,” the real owner of the villa may be Kerimov, wrote Nice-Matin; and only Hier publication estimated the real cost at 150 million euros. In addition, the justice authorities suspect that the value of the property was undervalued to evade taxes. Similar properties on the Cote d'Azur could cost a total of about 300 million euros, says Marina Shalaeva, director of the foreign real estate department at Knight Frank.

“Kerimov is not the owner of the property mentioned in the publications or any other property outside the Russian Federation. An exhaustive list of property is indicated in his official declaration,” commented Kerimov’s assistant Alexey Krasovsky in the spring. He has now declined to comment.

Vedomosti found documents that traced the connection between a man named Alexander Studhalter and Kerimova. The annual report of the Swiss charitable foundation Suleyman Kerimov Foundation for 2016 states that a person with exactly the same first and last name - Alexander Studhalter - was the president of the foundation. And the board of the foundation included Philip and Albina Studhalter. Suleyman Kerimov Foundation is registered in Lucerne, Switzerland at the address: st. Matthofstrand, 6. The same address is listed as a contact on the website of the law firm Studhalter Rechsanwalte (site in three languages, including Russian), which, according to its own data, provides services including family office, registration of trusts and inheritance of property. Among the employees of this company, Philipp Studhalter is represented on the site.

Career of a politician and businessman

1999
Became a deputy of the State Duma
Bought shares in the oil trading company Nafta-Moscow, the successor to the Soviet monopolist Soyuznefteexport.

2003-2004
Nafta-Moscow began to buy shares of Gazprom and Sberbank with borrowed funds

November 25, 2006
When entering Nice, the Ferrari Enzo, driven by Kerimov (Tina Kandelaki was in the passenger seat), crashed into a tree and the car caught fire. Kerimov, with serious burns and injuries, was taken by helicopter to the burn center in Marseille.

2007
Kerimov became the largest private shareholder of Gazprom and Sberbank with shares of 4.25% and 5.6% of shares, respectively.

2008
Kerimov became a member of the Federation Council from Dagestan. He sold his shares in Gazprom and Sberbank for a huge profit. Kerimov invested most of his funds in Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse and other global banks. But due to the crisis and the subsequent collapse in quotes, I lost my securities due to margin calls

2009
Became the owner of 25% of the shares of the largest developer in Russia - PIK group
Nafta-Moscow bought from Vladimir Potanin for $1.3 billion a 37% stake in Polyus Gold, the largest gold producer in Russia.

2010
Kerimov and his partners bought a 53% stake in Russia's largest potassium producer, Uralkali. Next, its only domestic competitor, Silvinit, was purchased and merged into the company.

January 2011
Bought 100% of the Anzhi football club. Two years later, the team will win medals for the first time - bronze at the Russian Championship 2012/2013.

2013
Kerimov transferred the rights to all assets to the Suleyman Kerimov Foundation.
Sold shares of Uralkali to Mikhail Prokhorov and Dmitry Mazepin.
Sold a stake in the PIK group to Sergei Gordeev and Alexander Mamut.
At the start of the new season, Anji announces a radical budget cut and the sale of stars.

2014
Kerimov’s 19-year-old son Said bought the largest chain of cinemas in Russia, Cinema Park, from Vladimir Potanin’s Interros.

2016
100% of the parent company Polyus Gold, Polyus Gold, was transferred to Said Kerimov.

Source: Vedomosti

In addition, in 2012, Forbes wrote that Kerimov’s personal assets were registered in the Swiss holding company Swiru Holding. In the so-called “Paradise File” (published in early November, a database of documents from the offshore registrar Appleby on the website of the consortium for investigating organized crime and corruption - www.occrp.org), the company Swiru Holding is mentioned as the manager for the Bahamian Altitude 41 (liquidated). The shareholders of the latter are named Kerimov and Nariman Gadzhiev (a person with the same last name and first name served as the Minister of Press and Information of Dagestan), and among the directors of Altitude 41 is Alexander Studhalter. Kerimov himself, in a declaration filled out in 2011 before the State Duma elections, indicated that he owned 5% of the Bahamian JSC Altitude 41.

In the French Republic, tax rates are very high, and the charge of a tax crime is considered serious, says Dmitry Gorbunov, partner at the law firm Rustam Kurmaev and Partners. According to BMS Law Firm partner Timur Khutov, for malicious tax evasion, French law provides for one to five years in prison and a fine of up to 250,000 euros in addition to the return of the unpaid amount. In addition to the actual term of imprisonment, arrears are collected from the guilty person by foreclosure on all assets available in France, the European Union and countries that cooperate in the legal sphere on a mutual basis with France, continues Gorbunov. According to him, property and property tax is one of the three largest sources of funding for the French budget.

Suleiman is a lucky guy, handsome, so he will figure it out, the interlocutor in the administration of the head of Dagestan is sure.

Olympiad winner

“Suleiman grew up in a poor family, and since childhood he won mathematics Olympiads. It is very difficult to achieve success in business and politics in Dagestan without the support of a large family, but he was able to make himself,” says an employee of the Dagestan administration. A native of Derbent, Kerimov really had no influential relatives: his father was a lawyer, his mother was an accountant. There is a version that they appeared when he married Firuza, a classmate at the Dagestan State University. Kerimov's father-in-law, a former major party functionary, is the chairman of the Dagestan Trade Union Council Nazim Khanbalaev. It is wrong to connect the story of successful businessman Kerimov with a successful marriage, his acquaintance assures.

In the early 1990s. Kerimov moves to Moscow. What he did during these years is not known for certain. Some believed that he represented the interests of a narrow circle of Dagestan businessmen. It was with their money that the oil trader Nafta-Moscow was purchased in 1999, says an acquaintance of Kerimov.

Kerimov worked for the future - he carefully built the right connections, Vedomosti’s interlocutor continues. He was open in communication and did not skimp on expensive gifts. Kerimov has an amazing ability to establish contacts, he knows how to win over anyone, says one of his former partners. It was this ability that helped him acquire the necessary contacts and become the richest businessman in the country.

Blue chips

In 1999, Kerimov became a State Duma deputy. In the early 2000s. he already has excellent relations with the mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov, the leadership of Sberbank, he is friends with the chief of staff of the Russian government (now first deputy prime minister) Igor Shuvalov, billionaires Roman Abramovich and Oleg Deripaska. In 2001, in the interests of the latter two, he gained control over the empire of businessman Andrei Andreev - the Nosta steel mill (now Ural Steel, part of the " Metalloinvest"), insurance company " Ingosstrakh"and Autobank. Andreev himself has repeatedly accused Kerimov, Deripaska and Abramovich of raider takeover his business.

“He’s the kind of person, all the risk is on him!” - this is how Shuvalov characterized him. Kerimov brilliantly demonstrated this quality by investing in blue chips - shares of Gazprom and Sberbank. In October 2003, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised that liberalization of the Gazprom share market was a matter of months. Kerimov did not wait. He took out a loan from VEB and began buying up shares of the monopoly.

The Russian stock market was constantly growing, so for the owner of Nafta the scheme was a win-win, Forbes wrote: he pledged shares against a loan from banks, the value of the collateral grew, which made it possible to take out new loans, buy more shares, pledge them, etc. 2006 Kerimov collected 4.25% of Gazprom shares and 5.64% of Sberbank shares. For 2004–2006 the capitalization of Gazprom increased 4 times, Sberbank - almost 12 times. Having borrowed about $3.2 billion to purchase shares, Kerimov became the owner of securities, which by the end of 2006 were worth more than $15 billion. Kerimov was able to earn such a fortune thanks to good relationship with the leaders of Sberbank - Chairman of the Board Andrey Kazmin and his first deputy Alla Aleshkina.

Good relations with Luzhkov allowed Kerimov to become the owner of the largest construction holding in the capital - SEC Razvitie, which united the corporations Glavmosstroy, Mospromstroy and Mosmontazhspetsstroy. This episode went down in history - the head office of the SEC “Razvitie” in Granatny Lane, 3, was stormed by 200 people armed with baseball bats and metal rods. By the mid-2000s, no one was receiving assets like this anymore. “Methods of capturing and absorbing enterprises are what Development itself practices today. Perhaps this is a boomerang returned by the SEC to a situation that it itself has repeatedly created at various enterprises,” Sergei Tsoi, press secretary of the Moscow mayor, commented on the situation to Vedomosti at the time. Less than six months later, Kerimov sold the company to Deripaska. The SPK cost Kerimov less than $50 million, and he sold it for $200–250 million, sources said.

At the request of the city authorities, Kerimov also intervened in the conflict between the capital’s mayor’s office and ex-State Duma deputy Ashot Eghiazaryan regarding the Moscow Hotel in 2009. Then Eghiazaryan accused Kerimov and the Moscow mayor’s office of a raider takeover of the hotel. This conflict led to the initiation of a criminal case against Yeghiazaryan for fraud and deprivation of his deputy status. However, London International arbitration court back in 2014, he ordered Kerimov to pay Yeghiazaryan $250 million, which was spent on the construction of Moscow. On this moment the dispute over this amount has been completely settled, say two sources close to different parties to the litigation.

Yeghiazaryan's representative declined to comment.

hit or miss

By the beginning of 2008, Russian assets were at their peak in value. According to Forbes, Kerimov sold them and received about $26 billion; after paying debts, approximately $20 billion remained. The businessman decided to enter international level. He invested almost all of it in shares of Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse and other banks. But due to the global economic crisis, the securities began to rapidly fall in price, margin calls followed, and as a result, Kerimov lost almost everything.

After this, Kerimov changed his investment strategy and began buying large blocks of shares in order to be able to influence the companies in which he invests. Fortunately, he already had a similar experience. In October 2005, Nafta-Moscow bought 100% of the silver producer from the East group of Alexander Nesis. Polymetal"for $900 million. In February 2007, during the IPO, 24.8% of the company's shares were sold for $604 million. Almost half of the amount was received by Nafta-Moscow, the rest by Polymetal. And in June, the remaining 70% of the company’s shares from Kerimov was bought back by Nesis together with the Czech PPF. The transaction amount was not announced. A Vedomosti source said then that the price was close to stock exchange quotes. 70% of Polymetal on the stock exchange was then worth $1.8 billion.

In the spring of 2009, Kerimov acquired a 25% stake in the largest developer in Russia, the PIK group (later increased the stake to 38%). The company was in crisis: the debt reached $1.98 billion, and capitalization fell to $279 million. Kerimov pulled out PIK - thanks to his lobbying, the company was the first among the builders to receive government guarantees for 14.4 billion rubles, he says former top manager groups. At the end of December 2013, the company’s capitalization increased fivefold to $1.4 billion. At the same time, Kerimov profitably exited the project by selling his stake to businessmen Sergei Gordeev and Alexander Mamut.

Bad experience

In addition to the failure to invest in shares of Western banks, Kerimov had other business failures. In June 2010, he and his partners acquired a 53% stake in the potash giant. Uralkali» by Dmitry Rybolovlev. The deal was valued at $5.3 billion. Next, Kerimov and other partners bought another potassium producer, Silvinit, and merged both companies.

But in July 2013, Uralkali broke the cartel alliance with Belaruskali. The company announced that its priority now is not maintaining high prices by cutting fertilizer supplies when necessary, but increasing market share. To achieve this, Uralkali intends to increase production to maximum capacity.

The decision caused crazy negativity among the leadership of Belarus, 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 an application to Interpol to put Kerimov on the international wanted list. Later, the Belarusian authorities withdrew the request and closed all criminal cases. But in December 2013, Kerimov had to sell 21.75% of Uralkali shares to businessman Mikhail Prokhorov and 19.99% to Uralchem owner Dmitry Mazepin.

Business is over for now

Coincidentally, at the same time Kerimov distanced himself from business, say top managers of several large private companies and two state bankers. The reason was the ban introduced in 2013 for civil servants to own assets abroad.

Boutique, aviation and syringes

The Bonum Capital group, which, as stated on its website, is engaged in private investments, is associated with Kerimov. The chairman of its board of directors is Murat Aliyev, who previously worked in the treasury of Nafta-Moscow. There he was involved in operations on the stock market, says an acquaintance of Kerimov. Five years ago, Aliyev created Bonum Capital, which began working on the stock market; former employees of Nafta-Moscow began to cooperate with it. Forbes wrote in 2015 that the Kerimov family is one of Bonum Capital’s largest clients. Two Vedomosti sources also connect Bonum Capital with Kerimov. A fund representative declined to comment. The fund has few direct investments: it owns 41% in Aizel.ru LLC, which owns the Aizel multi-brand boutique on Stoleshnikov Lane. Bonum Capital also owns 25% in Aviapatrul LLC (air patrol services) and a share in the manufacturer of syringes Pascal Medical, according to materials on the fund’s website.

Top managers of several large companies and two state bankers confirm this - Kerimov was not involved in any major transactions. The Russian Nafta-Moscow LLC, from which Kerimov’s empire once began, was liquidated back in 2009, and its parent structure, registered in Cyprus Aniketa Investments Limited, was liquidated in 2013. “Nothing major, small portfolio investments for abroad, the stock market” – this is how one of the bankers now describes Kerimov’s field of activity.

In 2013, Kerimov transferred the 40.22% of shares that belonged to him at that time Polyus Gold International (the parent company of Russia's largest gold producer - Polyus Gold) into a blind trust of the Suleyman Kerimov Foundation. Nafta-Moscow bought this asset from Vladimir Potanin in 2009 for $1.3 billion. Now it is the main asset of the Kerimov family, and the share in the company has grown to 82.44%.

But Kerimov himself no longer has a direct relationship with him. In 2014, the senator’s son, 19-year-old Said Kerimov, was named the second beneficiary of Polyus Gold under a trust agreement. And on November 28, 2016, it became the only one, the company reported.

The only major deal that the Kerimov family considered in Lately, say Vedomosti’s interlocutors, – purchasing a package UC Rusal. A year ago, Prokhorov’s Onexim put up for sale a 17.02% stake in the aluminum company market value almost $900 million. But in the end the deal did not take place.

Vedomosti's interlocutors explain the absence of major deals not by Kerimov's cooling of business, but by a general calm. “Judge for yourself. Lately there have been major deals only in the oil industry, but [a private investor] has nothing to do there. And there’s nothing else,” says a top manager of a large industrial company. If a good asset comes along, Kerimov will probably consider it, Vedomosti’s interlocutor believes. It’s not about money - the businessman has no problems with debts, the state banker assures. Previous sales – PIK group, a share in the Moscow Hotel, the Eurasia Tower - helped Kerimov pay off his debts, Forbes wrote a year ago.

Suleiman Abusaidovich Kerimov is a famous Russian businessman, member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation from Dagestan, owner of the Russian football club Anzhi.

Early years. Family

Suleiman Kerimov was born in Derbent, a Dagestan city with centuries-old history, located on the Caspian coast. He became the third and most youngest child in family.

His father, Abusaid Kerimovich, was a lawyer, served in the Dagestan criminal investigation department, and his mother worked as an accountant at Sberkass. Suleiman graduated from a regular Soviet school, like his older brother and sister. According to teachers and classmates, Kerimov loved mathematics and, unlike many schoolchildren, not only studied well, but also devoted a lot of time and effort to sports. Suleiman developed reaction speed, agility and speed in judo training, and strength and endurance in training with weights. Moreover, these were not momentary hobbies - later, at the institute, Kerimov became a master of masters in judo, and in the army he won the division championship in kettlebell lifting.

Kerimov graduated from school in 1983, receiving a certificate with honors. Success in the exact sciences helped him successfully pass exams at the Dagestan Polytechnic Institute and enter the Faculty of Construction. In those years, students day department there was no deferment from the army, so in 1984 Suleiman went to serve in Strategic Missile Forces troops. Kerimov's determination and responsibility were repeatedly noted by commanders, and he successfully completed his service in 1986 with the rank of senior sergeant.

Upon returning from military service, Suleiman transferred from the Polytechnic University to the Dagestan State University, changing the faculty of construction to economics. Classmates spoke of him as intelligent, charming and responsible person. Kerimov also developed his responsibility and ability to find a common language in his social work, in particular, as deputy chairman of the university trade union committee.

Career and first capital

After graduating from university, Suleiman Kerimov was hired as an economist at the Eltav plant in Makhachkala, one of the largest in Dagestan. For six years, Kerimov’s career went uphill: from an ordinary economist, he worked his way up to assistant general director.

After the collapse of the USSR, the Eltav plant became one of the co-founders of the Federal Industrial Bank. The bank was necessary for the interaction of production with related enterprises and consumers who were in different countries. Kerimov began to represent the interests of the plant in the bank, eventually moving to the capital permanently.

That time, as well as the people who earned their first capital back then, can be assessed in different ways. But regardless of personal preferences and political beliefs, everyone who knew Suleiman Kerimov at that time noted his attention to detail, lightning-fast reaction and ability to make non-trivial decisions.

Nafta Moscow

By 1999, Kerimov acquired and increased his stake in Nafta Moscow, a Russian oil trader, to 100%. From that moment on, the process of reorganizing the company into a full-fledged investment holding began.

According to some counterparties, Suleiman Abusaidovich conducted his business quite harshly. But in business, as in politics, players are judged by a single criterion: results. And Kerimov had no problems with this. In a short period of time, his company Nafta Moscow broke into the top three leaders of the mergers and acquisitions market, taking pride of place on a par with Oleg Deripaska’s Rusal and Roman Abramovich’s Millhouse, with whom he later began to cooperate. Such proximity shows an undeniable result, and only profitability indicators can be more objective. Kerimov is also doing well with them - for some transactions the figures reached 600%.

Kerimov understood that huge amounts of money could be earned in the oil and gas industry. During the period from 2002 to 2008, the interests of Nafta Moscow concerned the acquisition of shares of various domestic enterprises. Representatives and managers of these companies spoke of Kerimov as a tenacious person who always achieves his goal. At the same time, many noted his oriental charm and the pronounced charisma of a born leader.

Since 2006, the interests of Suleiman Kerimov’s structures have been reoriented to Western markets and work with foreign securities. By analogy with the financial participation of Sberbank and VTB in domestic projects, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse were involved in cooperation abroad. At that time, starting to purchase shares of Western companies (including British Petroleum, Volvo, etc.), Kerimov personally met the directors of leading investment banks and largest companies, in particular, the founder of Microsoft Bill Gates.

The global economic crisis of 2008, according to various experts, cost Kerimov $20 billion. Some attribute this to faulty planning, others to excessive excitement. But regardless of the attitude towards what happened, everyone agrees that the huge losses did not unsettle Kerimov, in full accordance with Nietzsche’s postulate - “what does not kill us makes us stronger.”

Kerimov’s portfolio included shares of a variety of companies at different times, from monopolists such as Gazprom, Sberbank, Rosneft and Uralkali, to lesser-known ones, such as Varyeganneftegaz, Polymetal, Mostelecom, Mercado and others.

Polyus Gold

Kerimov acquired shares in Polyus Gold, the largest gold producer in Russia, in 2009. By 2012, the company entered an IPO on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), and in 2015, Kerimov’s structures consolidated the rights to 95% of the company’s shares by buying out shares from minority shareholders. In April 2016, Kerimov introduced his two eldest children to the board of the Polyus Gold company.

Kerimov's role in Charity

In 2013, the businessman transferred all his assets to the management of the Suleyman Kerimov Foundation, a charitable foundation he founded, which interacted very closely with the largest Russian and international charitable organizations.

The Foundation has existed since 2007 and implements humanitarian, educational and cultural projects not only in Russia, but also in many other countries - Armenia, Belgium, China, Germany, Greece, Israel. The most impressive sums are invested in Dagestan.

Since 2006, Suleiman Kerimov has been promoting the development of freestyle wrestling in Russia. His charitable foundation, together with the Russian Wrestling Federation and the New Perspective Sports Support Fund, finances the national program for the development of freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling “Fight and Win.”

He has been the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Wrestling Federation since its founding in 2006. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Sirius educational center for gifted children in Sochi.

Policy

Since 2008, Kerimov has represented the Republic of Dagestan in the Federation Council of the Russian Federation in the upper house of Parliament. Represents the legislative body in the Federation Council state power Republic of Dagestan. Since September 2016, the businessman was re-elected as a senator of the Federation Council from the Republic of Dagestan.

Before being elected as a representative to the Federation Council, he was a deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the 4th convocation, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs.

Personal life

Suleiman Kerimov has been married since his student years and has three children: the eldest daughter Gulnara (1990), the middle son Abusaid (1995) and youngest daughter Aminat (2003).

Suleiman Kerimov now

In 2016, the business publication Forbes estimated Suleiman Kerimov's fortune at $1.6 billion. The entrepreneur is one of the richest businessmen in the Russian Federation.

Suleiman Kerinmov is one of the richest and most influential businessmen in Russia. He is also a member of the Federation Council, where he was nominated from Dagestan. The oligarch's biography has ups and downs, but he learned from mistakes and built new, win-win combinations. The success story of a simple Soviet youth deserves attention.

Biography of the oligarch

Interlocutors notice Kerimov interesting feature: He communicates naturally and always anticipates the answer. An analytical mind, a subtle sense of profit and the wisdom characteristic of Eastern men helped him earn billions and influence in society. The main thing from the biography of the billionaire:

place of birth – Derbent, Dagestan;
nationality – Lezgin;
citizenship – Russian;
activity – investment;
wealth at the end of 2018 – $6.3 billion;
place in the list of the richest Russians (as of 2019) – 19.

The future senator spent his childhood in Derbent, the oil capital of the Republic of Dagestan. He became the third child in the family of a criminal investigation officer. Suleiman's father (Abusaid Kerimov) had a legal education. Mom worked as an accountant in one of the branches of the Savings Bank. In addition to Suleiman, the couple raised two more children: a son (now works as a doctor) and a daughter (became a Russian language teacher).

First educational institution Kerimova - school No. 18 in Derbent. During his studies, the young man delighted his teachers with his mathematical abilities. He loved chess and easily achieved first rank in it. Suleiman Abusaidovich also excelled in sports - his favorite sports were judo and weights.

Having brilliantly graduated from school, in 1983 the young man entered the construction department of the Dagestan Polytechnic Institute. However, a year later, my studies had to be interrupted due to conscription. military service. Until 1986, Kerimov repaid his debt to the Motherland. The army toughened him up and helped him discover leadership skills leader. He returned home with the rank of senior sergeant.

Kerimov received further education in Dagestan state university, choosing to study economics.

During his studies, he was distinguished not only by his high academic performance, but also carried out active social work. While graduating from DSU, the young man was listed as deputy chairman of the local trade union committee.

Entrepreneurial activity

Kerimov’s first place of work was Eltav plant in Makhachkala. Nazim Khanbalaev (Kerimov’s father-in-law), who at that time headed the Dagestan Trade Union Council, participated in obtaining the prestigious position of economist. Hard work, abilities and connections helped Suleiman make a brilliant career - within five years he became deputy general director of the plant.

In 1993, the management of the enterprise founded a bank, which was registered in Moscow. Kerimov was appointed its director and he moved to the capital. Here he managed to make many useful contacts, since the bank’s activities extended to lending to enterprises in crisis. Representing the management of the plant, Kerimov was able to obtain the majority stake in the bank and finally settled in Moscow.

In 1995, the young director headed the Soyuz-Finance company, and in 1997 he became a researcher at the capital's International Institute of Corporations. Kerimov began to develop his business seriously in 1999. His first asset was a package of equity bonds valuable papers trading company "Nafta Moscow". Soon he managed to buy out 100% of the shares and became the sole head of the holding, from which he turned into a powerful business tool.

Managing a large enterprise, the young manager was able to bring it to the level of Rusal and Millhouse. This was largely facilitated by the fact that oil companies received the right to trade hydrocarbons without intermediaries. The manager was able to sell his assets and gain about $400 million. For these funds, from 2002 to 2008, Nafta Moscow acquired shares in large factories.

Additionally, loans from Vnesheconombank and foreign financial organizations were used as starting capital. The holding acquired shares in Volvo, Boeing, British Petroleum, and large financial magnates became Kerimov’s friends.

In 2009, the businessman decided to explore the real estate market. The starting project was the reconstruction of the Moscow Hotel - now it is the Four Seasons Hotel (5 stars). During the same period, an organization controlled by Kerimov bought a stake in PIK Group of Companies. Construction company was in crisis, but the businessman improved the business of the enterprise and gained a significant amount after the sale of its shares.

A major event in 2009 was the acquisition of shares in the gold mining company Polyus Gold from Vladimir Potanin. Initially, 37% of the shares were purchased, but three years later Kerimov already had 95% of the issue-grade securities. In 2016, Kerimov’s son Said (b. 1995) entered the management of Polus Gold, and headed the Suleyman Kerimov Foundation trust fund. In addition, the billionaire’s sphere of interests included:

creation of the investment company Millemium Group, which operated abroad;
acquisition of the Uralkali company and gaining control over its competitor Silvinit (in this Kerimov was ahead of Vladimir Potanin);
purchase of shares of the Bahamian JSC Altitude 41 (Kerimov was its shareholder along with his associate Nariman Gadzhiev), as indicated in the declaration filled out before the State Duma elections in 2011;
acquisition of the Anzhi football club.

There were also black streaks in Kerimov’s successful activities. The crisis at the end of the 2000s led to the loss of $20 billion that were abroad. The empire came under attack, but experience and instinct helped the financier get out of the crisis.

An investment of $200 million in the American instant messenger Snapchat in 2010 turned out to be unsuccessful. After purchasing the shares, their quotes went up, but soon fell sharply in price, which affected the investor’s income. In 2014, the businessman sold his assets and went into politics.

Events of 2017-2018

At the end of November 2017, Kerimov was arrested by French authorities after a transaction to purchase a villa on the Cote d'Azur. The prosecutor's charges related to non-payment of taxes during the transaction and the illegal transportation of cash across the French border. The amount in question was about 750 million euros. As a punishment, the appeal court offered the oligarch a written undertaking not to leave the place and a bail of 5 million euros. After the appeal, the bail amount increased 8 times.

The Russian political and business elite supported the senator. Peskov voiced the Kremlin’s position and emphasized that it is important to wait for a legal solution to the issue. In response to a request from the domestic prosecutor’s office about the basis for the arrest of the oligarch, the French responded that Kerimov was without diplomatic documents. In 2018, the charges were dropped, the senator became a witness in the case and returned to Russia. Within a month, the growth of Polyus’s quotes brought it $5.7 billion.

Charity and titles

In 2007, the businessman established the Suleyman Kerimov Foundation. Its goal is to support initiatives that improve the lives of young people. In addition, the foundation promotes projects in the field of culture, sports, and provides assistance to those in need. According to Forbes experts, in 2013 Kerimov closed the top three major Russian philanthropists.

The Kerimov Foundation cooperates with other charitable institutions. Among them are the Gorchakov Foundation, “Give Life”, and “Health of the Nation”. The Kerimov Foundation participated in the reconstruction of the Cathedral Mosque in the capital, sponsored youth festivals, sporting events, and raised funds for people with serious illnesses.

The oligarch is one of the trustees of the Sirius educational center. In addition, since 2006 he has headed the Board of Trustees of the Russian Wrestling Federation. Over the years of his activity, Kerimov was awarded a number of awards: the title “ People's hero Dagestan", honorary citizen of Derbent, medal "For Services to the Fatherland".

Contribution to politics

Politics takes up a lot of space in the life of the oligarch. He twice served as a State Duma deputy, defending the interests of the Liberal Democratic Party (1999-2007). In 2008, Kerimov became a member of the Federation Council, where he represents the interests of the Republic of Dagestan. While working in Parliament and Senate, the businessman’s assets were in trust management, and since 2013 they were transferred to the Suleyman Kerimov Foundation.

In October 2018, the senator spoke to the leadership of Derbent and announced plans for the development of the city. He defined the vector economic growth(tourism), emphasized the construction of new generation clinics and promised to increase the city budget 5 times. All that remains is to observe the affairs of the politician, who has repeatedly proven that he keeps his word.

Family life and high-profile romances

The personal life of the oligarch resembles a fascinating novel. The main woman in his life is Firuza Kerimova (Khanbalaeva), the daughter of the chairman of the trade union council. The marriage was concluded in student years, the couple had a son Said and two daughters Gulnara (Gulnara Kerimova) and Aminat. The billionaire's wife is not a public person and does not go out with her husband. She is successfully engaged in business and is the founder of a number of enterprises. Suleiman Kerimov and his wife Firuza - you rarely see a photo of this kind on the Internet.

During social events, the oligarch is accompanied by other ladies. In the latest news you can often see how Suleiman Kerimov and his women in the photo spend time. Don Juan's list looks impressive:

Natalya Vetlitskaya. At the beginning of the 2000s, the lady was often noticed in the company of the oligarch. At the time of meeting, she was not worried best period in a singing career. Suleiman invested a lot of money in filming new videos and organizing concerts. The relationship lasted about four years. As a farewell, the mistress received a house, a private plane and an apartment in Paris.
Suleiman Kerimov and Anastasia Volochkova. The romance between two famous people became quite discussed, although at one time only a small circle of people knew about it. Suleiman insisted that the ballerina quit her job, and this became the reason for the scandalous separation. Volochkova spoke out on Instagram that her dismissal from Bolshoi Theater- Kerimov's revenge.
Tina Kandelaki. Many Russians learned about Kerimov after car accident on the Cote d'Azur (2006). The oligarch's car crashed into a tree on the way to Nice. Some of the fuel spilled out and caught fire, causing the businessman to suffer burns. Tina Kandelaki was in the car. The TV presenter was not injured, but the accident revealed a relationship that the married lady did not want to advertise. Since the accident, Kerimov has been wearing flesh-colored gloves that hide his burned hands.
Ekaterina Gomiashvili. The beautiful daughter of Archil Gomiashvili (performer of the role of Ostap Bender and a successful restaurateur) did not go unnoticed by the rich man. Kerimov helped the young lady promote the Mia Svili clothing brand. Boutiques also appeared in Europe, but Ekaterina decided to close the business due to pregnancy. She did not name the child's father. Soon the couple separated. Catherine received a villa in Spain from the oligarch. It is known that he spends funds on the maintenance of his daughter Katya.
Passing hobbies. In addition to high-profile novels, the billionaire was seen in relationships with Zhanna Friske, Olesya Sudzilovskaya, Ksenia Sobchak and others socialites. His reputation as a collector of beautiful women was firmly established.

Kerimov Suleiman Abusaidovich(Lezg. Kerimrin Abusaidan hva Suleiman) - famous Russian entrepreneur, billionaire, deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation in 1999-2007, member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation from the Republic of Dagestan (since 2008).

Childhood and education of Suleiman Kerimov

Father - Abusaid Kerimov- A lawyer by training, he was an employee of the criminal investigation department. Mother worked as an accountant in the Sberbank system. Kerimov has a brother, who now works as a doctor, and a sister, a teacher of Russian language and literature.

During his school years, Suleiman Kerimov was fond of judo wrestling, as well as kettlebell lifting. He took part in various competitions and became a winner several times. Suleiman Abusaidovich was an excellent student, the future billionaire’s favorite subject was mathematics, he won Olympiads in this subject, as noted in his biography in Vedomosti.

Subsequently, the Belarusian authorities withdrew the request and closed all criminal cases.

In December 2013, Suleiman Kerimov sold shares of Uralkali Mikhail Prokhorov And Dmitry Mazepin, and the share in the PIK group is Sergei Gordeev And Alexandru Mamutu.

"Anji" by Suleiman Kerimov

The Makhachkala football club Anzhi became the property of Kerimov in 2011. Not far from Makhachkala, at the expense of Suleiman Kerimov, a modern Anzhi-Arena stadium with a functioning children's Football Academy was built.

At first, Suleiman Kerimov decided to make powerful investments in the club, trying to create a European-level superclub in Makhachkala. Under Kerimov they moved to Anzhi Yuri Zhirkov(Chelsea London), Brazilians Roberto Carlos(Corinthians Sao Paulo), Willian("Miner"). Cameroonian super forward was bought Samuel Eto'o(Inter, Milan).

In 2013, Suleiman Kerimov decided to reduce the club’s annual budget to $50-70 million (reducing it by 3 times), the stars were sold, and the club relied on youth. Soon Anji left the top division, but then returned to the elite. Now Anzhi actually owns the club Osman Kadiev.

Politics of Suleiman Kerimov

Despite the fact that a business career required a lot of attention and enormous efforts, Suleiman Kerimov entered politics in the late 90s. From 1999 to 2003, Kerimov was a deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the 3rd convocation and was a member of its security committee. Then, until 2007, he was a deputy of the Duma of the 4th convocation, where he served as deputy chairman of the committee on physical culture, sports and youth affairs.

In 2008, Kerimov took a post in the Federation Council (FC), and since March 2011, Suleiman Abusaidovich has represented Dagestan in the upper house of the Russian parliament. In 2016, Suleiman Kerimov was again elected to the Federation Council.

Suleiman Kerimov's accident in France

In December 2006, Kerimov (then still a State Duma deputy) for the first time donated food for the news of Russian yellow publications: he was in a terrible accident in France, at the entrance to Nice. A luxury Ferrari Enzo crashed into a tree and caught fire, leaving Kerimov severely burned. His companion, then an aspiring TV presenter, was also injured. Tina Kandelaki. Suleyman Kerimov and Tina Kandelaki were saved by airbags. But Kerimov’s clothes caught fire, and he rolled on the grass, trying to put out the flames. He was flown by helicopter to a burns center in Marseille, then flown from France to the Queen Astrid military hospital in Brussels.

While recovering from this accident, Suleiman Abusaidovich wore a special suit filled with silicone.

After this accident, Suleiman Kerimov donated 1 million euros to the Pinoggio charity, which helps children cope with burn injuries. After an accident in France, Suleiman Abusaidovich began wearing flesh-colored gloves.

Charity Suleiman Kerimov

Kerimov Suleyman Abusaidovich transferred in 2013 all the assets of his enterprises to the Suleyman Kerimov Foundation, which was founded by the billionaire in 2007.

Suleiman Kerimov was one of the initiators of the reconstruction of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, provided the annual Hajj for several thousand Muslims, international youth and cultural festivals and more.

Among other things, he has headed the board of trustees since the founding of the Russian Wrestling Federation in 2006. For many years, his foundation was the main sponsor of this organization, financing, along with the New Perspective support fund, the national program for the development of freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.

Income of Suleiman Kerimov

Suleiman Kerimov's fortune in 2016, according to Forbes magazine, was $1.6 billion. In the ranking Forbes income“200 richest businessmen in Russia 2017” Kerimov took 21st place with an amount of 6.3 billion dollars. In 2011, it was in 19th place in terms of income with $7.8 billion.

Scandals involving the name of Suleiman Kerimov

Suleiman Kerimov was detained on the evening of November 20, 2017 at Nice airport - he arrived in France on personal business. Later it became known that the Russian senator was suspected of laundering funds hidden as a result of tax evasion. French media news, citing the Nice prosecutor, reported that Kerimov illegally imported about 750 million euros into France.

Employees of the Russian Foreign Ministry sought Kerimov's release, betting that he enjoyed diplomatic immunity. At the same time, a RIA Novosti source noted that the senator arrived in France without a diplomatic passport - this document issued only in case of an order to be sent on a business trip.

The news reported that according to the Nice prosecutor Jean-Michel Pretre, money was transported by Kerimov in cash in suitcases and in non-cash form. At the same time, as the prosecutor noted, money laundering occurred through the purchase of real estate at a reduced cost. Pretra also emphasized that the purpose of the operation was not the purchase of real estate itself, but the legalization of funds.

Local prosecutors asked to either arrest the senator or increase his bail to 50 million euros. On December 6, news came that Suleiman Kerimov remained at large. At the same time, the amount of bail increased from five to forty million euros, and the circle of people with whom the oligarch cannot communicate has expanded. This decision was made by the Court of Appeal of the French city of Aix-en-Provence.

“An official note from the Russian Foreign Ministry is currently being sent to the French authorities, which states that Kerimov is official Russian Federation and has immunity from coercive actions on the territory of other states,” RIA Novosti quoted the head international committee Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev.

In addition, representatives of France in the Russian Federation were summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry to explain the current situation.

Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow will make every effort to protect the interests of Senator Suleiman Kerimov, detained in Nice.

Personal life and hobbies of Suleiman Kerimov

Suleiman Kerimov is married. Oligarch's wife Firuza Nazimovna Khanbalaeva— born in 1967. Suleiman met her at the university - they studied at the same faculty. The family has three children: two daughters - Gulnara (born in 1990) and Amina (2003), and a son, Abusaid (born in 1995).

Sometimes it is Kerimov’s marriage to Firuza Khanbalaeva that is explained successful start his business career. The fact is that Firuza Nazimovna is the daughter of a major functionary, chairman of the Dagestan Council of Trade Unions Nazim Khanbalaev.

There is little material in the media about the wife of Suleiman Kerimov, the life of Firuza Khanbalaeva passes away from the media, her photos are not published in magazines.

But the news often reported on the oligarch’s lovers. Thanks to them, the country learned how loving the politician and oligarch are. Among his passions was the singer Natalia Vetlitskaya, actress Olesya Sudzilovskaya and a ballerina Anastasia Volochkova(Kerimov even allegedly intended to marry her). After the senator was detained in Nice, the ballerina came out with warm support for her idol.

“He is a representative of the Caucasian man, in whom there is nobility, honor, dignity. I have never loved anyone in my life more than him. This is the first, most serious love in my life!” Volochkova told reporters.

Son of Suleiman Kerimov - Abusaid(Said) Kerimov— in November 2014, he became the owner of the Cinema Park cinema chain (30 cinema complexes in 18 Russian cities), as reported in the news.

19-year-old MGIMO student Said Kerimov became the beneficiary of the company Wandle Holdings Limited, which owns 40.22% of the Polyus Gold company. On the company's website, Said Kerimov is mentioned on the board of directors as a member of the strategy committee. In 2017, Kerimov’s son became the main owner of Makhachkala airport.

Suleiman Kerimov is interested in football and martial arts. In addition, Suleiman Abusaidovich loves sea travel.

Kerimov has a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) 737−700 and two yachts. As Forbes reported, in 2015, Suleiman Abusaidovich sold his 90-meter yacht Ice to a representative of the clan of the President of Equatorial Guinea Obiang.