Dmitry Vasilievich Firtash: biography, personal life, state

March 13, 2014 in one of his offices in the Austrian capital, Vienna, was arrested Dmitry Vasilyevich Firtash, a gas magnate who is considered one of the richest people in Ukraine and the most influential oligarch of the country. On March 21, he was released under a record bail of 125 million euros, but still faces possible extradition to the United States, where he is wanted by the FBI on suspicion of corruption and the creation of a criminal organization. According to the Federal Bureau, the accusations were the result of an investigation of the international corruption conspiracy that it had been carrying on for several years and were not related to the events in Ukraine. Firtash's legal representatives circulated a statement that he was confident in the political motivation for the arrest and its complete baselessness. All this raised questions about who this is and why it is needed by the FBI.

Dmitry Firtash: biography

Few people have heard of this man before his arrest in Austria. According to the information on the businessman's website, he was born 02.05.65 in the village. Bogdanovka (now Sinkov) Zaleshchitsky district, Ternopil region. Ukraine. The parents of Dmitry Firtash - Vasily Dmitrievich, the driver, and Maria Grigorievna, who worked as an accountant at a sugar factory. The main earnings the family received from its site, which grew tomatoes. Gathering the harvest, the father and son hired GAZ and transported vegetables to Belarus and the Baltics. Dmitry learned to drive when he was a teenager.

He graduated from the Krasnolymansky railway vocational school, directly from which he joined the army, where he served from 1984 to 1986. Upon his return he began to think about getting married. With his first wife, Dmitry Firtash met in the third grade. Lyudmila Grabovetskaya was the daughter of the school principal, and her mother taught mathematics. After the wedding, Firtash decided to settle in the depot as an electric locomotive driver, but only diesel engines were available. Having bought equipment for greenhouses on the money of his parents, he again began to grow tomatoes, and when it became unprofitable, he started breeding foxes, which brought great incomes. During the reorganization, the matter became unprofitable, and Firtash moved to Chernivtsi, where his uncle, by acquaintance, arranged him as a firefighter. In my spare time I was engaged in trade.

In 1989, he fell seriously ill and in two years died the father of Firtash. The head of the fire department, a friend of the family, recommended him to his partners - Zinoviy and Marina Kalinovsky and Peter Moskal. Biography Firtash received a new vector. They opened the company "KMIL", which became the basis of the future RosUkrEnergo. They traded canned food, juices, sugar. But the biggest profit came from the sale of 4 thousand tons of dried milk to Uzbekistan. To negotiate went Firtash with Marina Kalinovskaya. They paid them wool, the realization of which brought 200-250 thousand dollars.

Then Firtash moved to Moscow, where representatives of all the former Soviet republics sought to exchange their products for essential goods. There he settled in the largest in Europe (before its demolition in 2006) hotel "Russia". Located near Red Square, it was a city business center. Here he met a representative of the Ministry of Trade of Turkmenistan, responsible for organizing food supplies in exchange for gas. The trade was organized after acquaintance with Igor Bakai (NAK Naftogaz Ukrainy), which had a quota for the supply of blue fuel to Ukraine. Later, Bakay replaced Itera, which was replaced by Eural Transgas, created in 2002.

In 1995, Firtash was suspected of smuggling a large batch of alcohol. Trade in vodka he did after acquaintance with the entrepreneur from the Russian Federation Oleg Palchikov. He was arrested, but later released. And in 1996, after he received a gunshot wound in the restaurant "European" in Chernivtsi and miraculously survived, Firtash and Kalinovskaya decided to take their families to Germany for permanent residence. We left on the "Jewish line". This required documentary confirmation of their nationality. Dmitry Firtash and Marina Kalinovskaya lived in Germany until 1999, where they established a company for the transport of MDF Transspeditions and established contacts with influential Turkmen businessmen and officials.

Gas Baron

Many Ukrainian and Russian oligarchs, who suddenly appeared in the economic arena after the collapse of the USSR and the proclamation of Ukraine's independence in the early 1990s, began almost from scratch and quickly increased wealth and influence during the country's transition to a market economy. The biography of Firtash was no exception. He founded his own trading company, established commercial ties in Central Asia and organized barter trade with food in exchange for natural gas with this region.

In May 2000, KMIL received a license for deliveries of blue fuel to Ukraine, and soon Firtash and Kalinovskaya were offered cooperation by the largest gas trader Itera at that time. For the supply of food to Turkmenistan in 2001, the Cyprus company Highrock Holding Ltd. was established. Firtash and Kalinovskaya owned 34%, and the same number belonged to Agatheas Trading, which in 2001-2003. Headed by Galina Telesh, the former wife of Semyon Mogilevich. Later it was replaced by Firtash himself. In addition, they were linked with Mogilevich lawyer Zeev Gordon, he is Vladimir Averbukh, representing the personal and business interests of both.

In 2003, Ukrainian businessman Dmitry Firtash acquired the only plant in Estonia producing ammonia fertilizers, established in Hungary a gas and power company Emfesz, became a shareholder of OJSC Rivneazot, which is the largest producer of nitrogen fertilizers in the west of Ukraine.

In 2004, Firtash and the state-controlled monopoly Gazprom jointly founded RosUkrEnergo, which sold natural gas to the EU and Ukraine. Then he became the owner of the Austrian Zangas Hoch und Tiefbau GmbH, specializing in the construction of gas pipelines, and also gained control over the Crimean Titan in Armyansk and Krasnoperekopsky Crimean Soda Plant.

Later in 2007, to consolidate the management, Firtash established an international Group DF group, whose main business is the production of fertilizers and titanium, gas distribution, banking, agricultural production, media, energy infrastructure and real estate. The holding company operates in Austria, Ukraine, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, Tajikistan and Estonia.

Firtash began to gain influence outside the country in 2006, when the company RosUkrEnergo received a monopoly on all gas sold from Russia to Ukraine. The agreement was canceled in 2009 after a scandalous contract signed by Prime Ministers Yulia Tymoshenko and Vladimir Putin, whose goal was to eliminate intermediaries in the gas trade between the two countries. Later, Tymoshenko was sentenced to 7 years on charges of abuse of office in connection with this agreement.

In addition to business, the Ukrainian oligarch is also engaged in charity. In 2008, Cambridge University received from him $ 6.7 million to launch a research program "aimed at promoting the study of the rich cultural heritage of Ukraine in the United Kingdom and beyond." In 2010, thanks to his donations, two scientific posts were opened: the teacher of Ukrainian studies and the Ukrainian language.

Does he have political interests?

Although Dmitry Firtash claims that he is not a member of any political party or movement, he is believed to be close to the overthrown Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. He was also one of the main lobbyists of Russian interests. This explains the step that surprised many. In October 2013, the Russian Federation offered Kiev a discount on gas sold directly to the company "Osthem", owned by Firtash, bypassing the state-owned Naftogaz. This was interpreted as an attempt to persuade Ukraine not to sign the Association Agreement with the EU at the summit in Vilnius.

Due to its geographical location between Russia and the European countries that produce oil and natural gas, Ukraine really has a strategic importance in the world of energy. According to EU statistics in 2010, a large percentage of energy imported into the EU is of Russian origin, including 35% of oil and 32% of gas. And most of them pass through Ukraine. In other words, the energy security of the European Union largely depends on these two states. Twice in the last decade (in 2006 and 2009), the Russian Federation cut off gas supplies during disputes over the price, which also affected some European countries. Thus, the gas agreement between Ukraine and Russia ensures the security of Europe's energy supply.

Compromising connections

However, all this does not explain the arrest of Dmitry Firtash. In the warrant, the FBI mentions an "international corruption conspiracy" without specifying more precise details. The only specific information is the reports of his connections with the leader of the Russian organized criminal group Semyon Mogilevich. According to the diplomatic dispatches published by WikiLeaks, in 2008 Firtash admitted this during negotiations with the US ambassador in Kiev William Taylor, to whom he said that he had asked Mogilevich for permission to set up his business. The oligarch explained that in the early 1990s it was impossible to come into contact with government officials without first meeting with members of the organized criminal group because of the lawlessness that reigned in Ukraine after the collapse of the USSR. He denied any close relationship with Mogilevich, but admitted that he was required, and he received permission from Mogilevich to set up various enterprises, since otherwise it would be impossible to do so.

The US considers Mogilevich to be the leading mafia leader - he is on the list of the 10 most wanted criminals and has to do with the "multi-million dollar scheme of deceiving thousands of investors in the shares of a public company incorporated in Canada, headquartered in Newtown, Pennsylvania, between 1993 and 1998 ", but there is no reference to Firtash's participation there.

Offshore UK

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russian and Ukrainian oligarchs acquired their wealth mainly through corruption. Because of this way of enriching their condition is not entirely legal. In this sense, Firtash is no exception. Many oligarchs can freely travel and live as they please. Some even invested heavily abroad, especially in the United Kingdom. According to the magazine "Economist", because of the huge sums that oligarchs are pumping into this country, it will be difficult for the British government to deal with them. Until they commit too obvious crimes in Western jurisdiction or directly threaten European or American interests, they are relatively safe. Perhaps this is why Firtash is not included in the list of persons drawn up by the EU after the annexation of the Crimea, whose assets were frozen on suspicion of abuse of public funds or human rights violations.

Why is he being sought by the FBI?

Firtash's bodyguards in Vienna did not prevent his arrest by the Austrian police. The FBI has been following the oligarch's trail for almost 8 years, investigating his possible participation in an organized criminal syndicate. The DF group, based in Switzerland, confirmed that his arrest was initiated in connection with the investment project he started in India in 2006. The oligarch is accused of having paid 18.5 million for obtaining a license outside the tender for the development of titanium deposits $.

Under the threat of extradition

The court in Austria in the case of Dmitry Firtash on February 21, 2017 granted a request for his extradition to the United States, where he is awaited by a process, the consequences of which can affect both Washington and Moscow. The Vienna prosecutor's office subsequently arrested the oligarch after the order to satisfy the arrest warrant, which was issued in Spain on charges of legalizing money obtained by criminal means. The Minister of Justice of the Austrian Republic may now have to choose between American and Spanish requests.

The authorities detained him in March 2014, a few days after his political patron, pro-Russian politician Viktor Yanukovich, as a result of street protests was removed from the post of president of Ukraine. Since then, he stayed in Austria, paying a record bail of 125 million euros thanks to a loan given to him by a Russian businessman close to the entourage of Russian President Putin.

The Spanish media reported that a year earlier they had filed a request for extradition of Dmitry Firtash, alleging that he was in charge of a network of enterprises engaged in legalizing illegal proceeds in Catalonia. With two businessmen of Syrian origin, Hares Youssef and his son, he is suspected of legalizing 10 million euros through real estate transactions and through a restaurant business owned by companies based in the Virgin Islands and Cyprus. The law enforcement officers came to the organization thanks to documents found during the search of Stepan, ex-mayor of Kyiv, arrested during the Variola operation in July 2016.

Connection with Trump

According to media reports and court documents, Firtash's biography was supplemented 10 years ago by the fact of conducting transactions with American property with the participation of American political consultant Paul Manafort, who for some time was in charge of Trump's election campaign. Manafort departed from the role of head of the campaign against the backdrop of emerging questions about his business and political ties in Ukraine and in Russia. Prior to that, he advised Yanukovych, helping the Prime Minister twice to become president in 2010. Dmitry Firtash discrediting persistently denied and argued that the US, supporting a pro-Western post-revolutionary leadership, was fabricating a politically motivated case against him.

Unexpected verdict

The court in Vienna overturned last year's decision of the Austrian court to reject the extradition request. According to the judge, who has satisfied the appeal against the decision of the lower court, this does not mean that someone without a court is guilty, just the question of guilt or innocence will be decided in another country. This was a complete surprise for Firtash and his entourage. Now the extradition of the oligarch in the US is a mere formality. The final decision on the extradition of Dmitry Firtash should be made by the Minister of Justice, who can "take into account Austria's interests and legal obligations".

Gloomy prospects

Even if a request from the United States is refused, Vienna may be forced to deport the Ukrainian oligarch to Spain within the framework of a European warrant issued in Madrid.

The state of Dmitry Firtash significantly decreased, after the post-revolutionary government tightened the gas market. Some of its chemical plants in Eastern Ukraine were closed due to ongoing military operations for more than 3 years, led by Russian-backed separatists. Assets of Dmitry Firtash "Forbes" estimates in 251 million dollars, although in 2012, according to the same edition of their value reached up to 673 million dollars. Focus Magazine names the sum of $ 623 million, although in 2014 it reached $ 2.7 billion.

Ukrainian citizenship and nationality of Dmitry Firtash will not help him either. Returning to the homeland of the oligarch is also risky, especially after the closure of his bank and statements that his past actions as a partner of Russia in the domestic gas market are being investigated, and an arrest warrant may be issued.

Dmitry Firtash: personal life

With his first wife, he divorced after two years of family life. In this marriage, in 1988, his daughter Ivanna was born.

The second time Firtash married his business partner Marina Mikhailovna Kalinovskaya as a guarantee of her investments in his company. Divorce in 2005 was accompanied by a scandal over the division of property. With Lada Pavlovna, who became his third wife, Firtash met in 2000. Officially, the relationship was registered in 2008. Dmitri Firtash's children from this marriage are daughter Anna (2005) and son Dmitry (2007).

In 2008, together with his wife, he founded the Firtash Foundation, whose office is located in Leeds, UK. The main direction of his activity is system support of education and culture, increase of creative and intellectual potential of Ukrainian youth. For example, in 2013 the fund financed the Days of Ukraine in the UK. In addition, Firtash established a scholarship that provides an opportunity to obtain a master's degree at the University of Cambridge, where he is supported by a program of Ukrainian studies, including a course in language, culture and history of the country. For his contribution to the development of education he was awarded the honorary award of the Chancellor of Cambridge.

In 2011, the head of the ROC awarded him the Order of St. Serafim Sarovsky II degree for funding the construction of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in the village. Banshee of the Chernivtsi region.