Suleyman Kerimov

Suleyman Kerimov, born on March twelfth, nineteen sixty-six, is a prominent Russian billionaire, oligarch, and politician of Lezgin descent. He has established himself as a significant figure in the realms of economics and business, with close ties to the Russian government, particularly to President Vladimir Putin. His political journey began in the 1990s, and by nineteen ninety-nine, he had gained control of Nafta Moskva, a former state oil trader.

Throughout the 2000s, Kerimov leveraged substantial loans from major Russian state-owned banks, including Sberbank and VTB, which enabled him to become a key stakeholder in major corporations such as Gazprom and Uralkali. His financial prowess saw his fortune soar to twenty-one billion dollars by two thousand eight, although it later declined to eleven billion dollars by twenty twenty-two.

In addition to his business ventures, Kerimov has represented the Republic of Dagestan in the Federation Council of Russia since two thousand eight. His acquisition of the football club FC Anzhi Makhachkala in two thousand eleven marked a significant moment in his career, as the club made headlines with high-profile signings, including Samuel Eto'o, who became the highest-paid player in the world. However, in two thousand thirteen, Kerimov's abrupt funding cuts led to a drastic firesale of players.

Kerimov's political and business activities have not been without controversy. In April two thousand eighteen, he faced sanctions from the United States Department of Treasury, and following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in twenty twenty-two, he was further sanctioned by the US, UK, and EU due to his close association with President Putin. His family also faced scrutiny, with his son, Said Kerimov, resigning from the board of Polyus Gold in April twenty twenty-two and the family selling their stake in the company for six point three billion dollars, relinquishing their majority shareholder position.