Observers and analysts of Rumafia note that there have been some topics in the media for the last few days, either “cross-cutting” or raising new information layers. First of all, publicizing on scandals around the Ministry of Defence was going on. And new names (for example, State Secretary - Deputy Minister Nikolay Pankov) and new facts having the character of an open PR-attack (like a scandal with shakeups of “the most beautiful women” of the ministry or Valentin Yudashkin’s interview) appear there as well. Practically in every information resources, there were materials relating to Konstantin Malofeev and Rostelecom. Unexpectedly, a lot of attention was being paid to credit relationship of Suleiman Kerimov and SMP Bank. The court and near-court events around the famous St. Petersburg businessman Vladimir Barsukov were being commented. And upcoming changes in the cohort of Russia’s richest businessmen were being analyzed.

 

Ratings as indicator of business transactions

In the media, it was appeared a review of information materials connected with the change of the amount of funds of well-known Russian businessmen. It in details reveals not only the structure of Victor Vekselberg’s additional income from sale of the block of shares of BP in Rosneft - at 1.5 billion dollars, but also some little known to general public information about some internal conflicts among the shareholders of Rosneft. It was said about an essential increase of funds of little known to the general public businessmen German Khan (up to $ 10.3 billion) and Alexey Kuzmichev (up to 8 billion).

Perhaps, for the first time it is quite officially reported about the size and growth of personal capitals of Gennady Timchenko (the head of the Gunvor oil trader) which considered V.V.Putin's close friend. This so wide revealing of sizes of personal capitals and their growth for the last year makes it possible to surmise a certain shift in the paradigm of positioning of the power and big business in the Russian Federation.


Scandal widens and deepens

The Stats-Secretary and Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov has appeared to be involved in the arrangements on receiving the land lot near the Black sea resort Anapa, intended for the placement of a radar station. Then a summer cottage for Anatoly Serdyukov was built there. In addition, in 2010, after Pankov and Serdyukov had visited the Rostov Officers' Club, the figurines of bronze deer, decorating the lobby, inexplicably disappeared from there. Knowing Nikolai Pankov, one can hardly believe in his similarity to the “blue petty- thief Alhen” from the Ilf and Petrov's novel. But, anyway, Pankow was considerably responsible for personnel policy, and it is important to Sergey Shoigu to carry out a “clean-up”.

Three plots on the Ministry of Defense have been designed to influence public opinion: the Ryazan Museum of retro-cars, the Valentin Yudashkin’s interview that he isn’t guilty in poor quality of the modern Russian military uniforms (he offered a good uniform but for 50 thousand rubles, and the ministry made it for 3 thousands, but bad one), “job shakeups” of the most beautiful women (a broad hint on the amorous Serdyukov).
At the same time, a large scandal between the law enforcement agencies involving in cases on the Ministry of Defense has broken out. SK RF (the Investigative Committee) was outraged that the Main Directorate of Economic Security and Anti-Corruption of the MVD RF and the Department of Military Intelligence of the FSB too actively shared information with the media. In response, a very detailed scheme of the thefts carried out by Slavyanka JSC was published. The quite lawful demarche of the Investigative Committee wasn’t heard, and it confirms the primarily political, and not juridical, background of the carried-out activities.


And what's the crime?
The materials about receiving by SMP-Bank of the second subordinated deposit from one of the companies belonging to businessman Souleiman Kerimov were issued. The credit aimed to improve one of bank standards (capital adequacy). And it is reported that the SMP-Bank is the third bank, after Sberbank and VTB, lending to Russian regions. And it is reported that Suleiman Kerimov keeps accounts, serving the Anji Football Club, just in the bank. It is a striking example of compromising with a plus sign.


Fight of night and day
The Kuibyshev district court of St. Petersburg considered a case on assassination attempts and raider captures of ten companies. The sentence to the raider Albert Starostin became the subject of lively consideration in electronic media. The case was heard in a special order. Starostin received 8.5 years in a general regime colony (including 3 years done). He is not going to appeal.
On November 22, it was published that all of the defendants on the case of the U Kazanskogo JSC (including businessman Vasily Vladykovsky, also named Vasya Bryansky, and the honored lawyer of the Russian Federation Alexander Kozlik) were not defendants. It was stated that they appeared in the list of the defendants due to falsifications of the criminal case admitted by the previous head of the investigative group Oleg Pipchenkov. Instead of them, the whole group of persons of Georgian nationality and the Russian “businessman” Evgeny Panov, regarded steadily connected with the known raider Badri Shengelia, were accused.
Thus, it invited attention to the obvious commitment of Pipchenkov and his group. And it hinted at possible shifts in the affairs of the former “night governor’ of St. Petersburg Vladimir Barsukov. If the latter is true, it should be connected with weakening of influence of the former “day governor” Valentina Matvienko.

 

 REFERENCE 1 Rumafia.com

The early career of Vekselberg is attributed to the time when he was still the head of the Laboratory at the Special Design Bureau. One of his former subordinates shared his memories with the press: there was a firm «KomVek» (the "Company of Vekselberg"), "Olympus", and other co-operatives organized. Business of Vekselberg was associated with copper from the cables buying at the price of one hundred dollars per ton. Then copper was sold to Germany for $ 3000 per ton. Then for the "copper" money Vekselberg bought through the company «Renova» computers in the West , and reportedly changed them for vouchers. 
Source: "Interlocutor" on 07/12/2006

Viktor Vekselberg appears in the press in connection with an odd story about ownship changes in the Severouralsk Bauxite Mine (SUBR) in 1999. They wrote in the media a mass buying up of shares from the mine workers happened at that time. As a result, SUBR had got a new owner - the Siberian-Urals Aluminum Company (SUAL). According to press reports, the owners became on a par Viktor Vekselberg and Ural businessman Vasiliy Anisimov (Group “Transkonsalt"). But the co-management did not last long. On April 12, 2000 the daughter of Vasily Anisimov was found dead in her apartment. Galina was a well-known DJ of the Radio station "Pilot" in Yekaterinburg.  It turned out that two drug addicts had committed the crime. After that story Anisimov sold his stake to Viktor Vekselberg.
Source: "Russia's Vesti from 02.11.2005," Power »? 40 (442) on 09.10.2001

Press mentioned Viktor Vekselberg in connection with the scandal surrounding the bankruptcy of the “First City Bank” (FCB). It was reported that FCB started experiencing problems with the customers in the summer of 2002, when the bank suddenly ceased making any payments. In 2003, after customers of FCB realized that they could not get back the frozen $ 40 million they prosecuted the bank for thefts of client funds under Art. 196 of the Criminal Code (deliberate bankruptcy). Press transferred the opinion expressed by the member of Committee  of creditors and depositors of the bank Armen Rshtuni (former vice president of petrochemical holding company Sibur and former adviser to chairman of the board of directors of Yukos, Semyon Kukes). He argued that during the investigation it became clear that some funds from the FCB had settled on the accounts of the company SL Capital Services, a wholly owned subsidiary structure of the bank "Alba-alliance". And one of the bank's shareholders was Viktor Vekselberg. Investors accused Vekselberg of acquiring a collection of Faberge eggs on the money disappeared from the FCB. In this regard, they even filed a lawsuit in the Zamoskvoretsky court of Moscow demanding to seize a collection of jewelry as an interim measure. But the claim reportedly was dismissed.

According to press reports, investors sent a letter to the Swiss federal prosecutor. According to their information, the purchase of Faberge collection was paid by the Swiss accounts controlled by Vekselberg companies. Assets of FCB were deduced to Switzerland also. Referring to the investigation results by law enforcement agencies, creditors claimed to the prosecutor that during the period of July-September 2002 considerable assets of OAO KB 'First City Bank' had been transferred to KB “Alba Alliance”; afterwards KB “Alba Alliance” made the dubious transfers with elements of the legalization of more than $ 70 million through the offshore banks White Knight Merchant Bank (Nauru) and Forex Capital Bank (Montenegro), as well as non-resident companies “Jeffrey Investments Limited', Ballard Industries Ltd, “Subihon Enterprises Limited', SL Capital Services Ltd. Investors contended with reference to the investigation that part of those funds had been transferred to the accounts of several companies in the Swiss banks Credit Suisse and UBS, as well as in the Swiss offices of French bank Credit Lyonnais and Credit Agricole Indosuez. The  letter-writers pointed out that companies controlled by Viktor Vekselberg - Peregrin Ltd, Sabislend Ltd, Market Financial Corporation Securities, Pikeston Investments Ltd and Sibux Finance SA - had accounts in the same banks. Thus the FCB creditors concluded that Vekselberg managed the legalization of illegal funds.

There is no information in the media whether the Swiss prosecutor had responded to the letter, as well as no reports on the investigation results of the cases filed in Russia. However,  Armen Rshtuni reportedly was a defendant in the criminal case. He was suspected of frauds with bills of FCB. 
Source: www.newsru.com of 26 May 2004, "Kommersant" # 66 (3397) on 14/04/2006

Media wrote about Viktor Vekselberg in connection with the conflict between the Cyprus offshore Norex Petroleum and Tyumen Oil Company (TNK) because of the "Yugraneft”. According to media reports, Norex Petroleum accused TNK of illegal alienation of controlling stake of JSC "Corporation 'Yugraneft' which belonged to a Canadian company and which was founded in 1991 to develop Malochernogorskoe field in Western Siberia. As reported, in 2002 TNC won arbitration court in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District, thus the capital contribution by Norex to "Yugraneft” was recognized to be illegal. As a result, the share of Norex in the company fell to 20%. In response, the Canadian company turned to the Federal Court for the Southern District of New York with a claim for damages. According to the press, the defendants appeared to be TNK, its shareholders Access / Renova and Alfa Group, the offshores affiliated with them, as well as current and resigned co-owners and managers of those companies - Viktor Vekselberg, Leonard Blavatnik, Simon Kukes, Joseph Bakaleinik and Elliot Spitz. As the press wrotу then, Norex accused the defendants of the world scale conspiracy which had been controlled from New York aimed at seizing control over the Russian oil industry. Norex called alienation of “Yugraneft” shares as "only a special case of the conspiracy”. “Norex” required to compensate its loss of $ 500 million, and to recover $ 1.5 billion from the defendants under the law against organizations which were under the influence of extortionists, or affected by corruption (RICO).

According to press reports, in February 2004 the court dismissed the suit of "Norex" as it considered  the case beyond its jurisdiction. Plaintiffs asked to move the proceedings to Russia. But Norex filed a motion in the Federal Court of Appeals in USA to overturn the decision. The latter considered Russia an inappropriate place for the claim investigation of Norex; it approved the request of the Canadian company and sent the case back for retrial. In a supplemental complaint Norex Petroleum  expanded the list of defendants by including the company BP (by the time it bought 50% of TNK), "TNK-BP, the chairman of its board of directors Lord John Browne, the then President of TNK-BP Robert Dudley, and the board member of TNK - BP Robert Sheppard.

No information on the completion of the judicial saga is available in open sources. 
Source: "Kommersant" # 242 (3326) on 23/12/2005

Vekselberg was mentioned in the press regarding the conflict between TNK-BP and “Gazprom” because of the Kovykta gas condensate field in the Irkutsk region. According to press reports, Kovykta was one of the biggest assets of TNK-BP in Russia. TNK had kept it in reserve for many years without elaborating. But in 2003, "Gazprom" that used every opportunity to expand the resource base – became interested in Kovykta. It was reported on a conflict of interests between “Gazprom” and Rusia Petroleum, a subsidiary of TNK-BP and the licensee for the deposit. They wrote that all talks about the compromises had obviously failed.

As reported, the president of TNK-BP Robert Dudley was summoned by the chairman of the Audit Chamber, Sergei Stepashin. The press did not tell what the topic of the conversation was. But in the official press release the Chamber stated that its head explained to the entrepreneur the essence of the government policies.

The last day of 2003 the “Gazprom” head Alexei Miller made the last proposal to the executive director and co-owner of TNK-BP Viktor Vekselberg. As reported, “Gazprom” criticized the idea of exporting gas from the Irkutsk region to China, and offered to send raw materials to Europe.

Press wrote that the following actions of the owners of TNK-BP demonstrated that they took into account the experience of colleagues in the oil business and not only agreed to share, but personally demonstrated their love of the homeland.

For example, after meeting with Alexei Miller Viktor Vekselberg had been stating to reporters that he was ready to cooperate with Gazprom, while TNK-BP was ready to share Kovykta field with it. 
Source: "Money» # 5 (460) from 09.02.2004

In February 2004 the press reported that Vekselberg bought a collection of Faberge Easter eggs from the family of Forbes publishers. Moreover, as reported, he did it several months prior to the auction of Sotheby. 
Source: lenta.ru on 27/08/2009

The amount of the deal was not disclosed. But, as written in the press, Sotheby's had intended to bail out of a collection not less than 90 million dollars. They concluded that the purchase price could reach 100 or even 150 million given the short time of its commission. The newspapers reported that in addition to the Easter eggs Vekselberg had bought about 190 items - brooches, snuff and inkstand by Faberge. And he declared that he bought the eggs not for himlelf, and not even for the collection of his company “Renova”, but for "the people"; he was going to put them either in the Kremlin, or in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The media associated the expensive purchase with the desire of Vekselberg to show that he was not like any Abramovich or Khodorkovsky, but a genuine Russian merchant, taking a good care of the motherland. And thus to solve his business problems. According to press reports, at that time TNK was suffering troubles with Gazprom because of the Kovykta gas field. Buying eggs could influence the decision of officials in a dispute with Kovykta in favor of TNK. 
Source: "Globalrus.ru" on 05/02/2004

In the media Viktor Vekselberg is mentioned in connection with a strange story that preceded the decision on privatization of OAO "Slates Plant" (it was engaged in calcining coke for aluminum plants). In April 2004 the media reported that a corporate conflict took place in the company. A group of individuals, referring to the decision of the Board of Directors and its main shareholder - the Federal Property Management Agency (at that time 55% of company shares were owned by Rosimushchestvo, 33% were managed by a nominee - Bank Eurasia, and the rest were scattered among individuals) and tried to change the general director of the plant. As the then Acting Director General of “Slates” Dmitry Goryachkin was telling the press, at night of March, 29 five cars drove to the building of the plant,  several men came out accompanied by a cameraman. Three of them staged a fight, apparently working on a camera. According to Goryachkin, visitors presented him the protocol of the Board of Directors of “Slates” of March, 24 . According to the document, the company had a new CEO. But the protocol itself was allegedly signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of "Slates" Svetlana Stefanenko who was also an adviser to the Federal Property Management Agency, according to that time data.

The new Director was not let in the plant . Instead of him the representatives of the local police, prosecutors office and even the FSB came for a check. Goryachkin told reporters that in his opinion the company had underwent a capture raid. He said that recently the information had appeared that a well-known businessman Viktor Vekselberg had been interested in the plant. Goryachkin suggested that the invaders decided to take control of the enterprise in order to resell it with profit. According to the press, the company “Renova” denied they had any designs on the "Slates Plant". 
Source: "Kommersant-SPb" # 61 (3392) on 07/04/2006

Citing the Leningrad region government,three months later the structures of Viktor Vekselberg had been negotiating to buy 40% stake of JSC "Leningradslanets which was adjacent to the "Slates" and had formed with it a chain of production. In this regard, as the press was writing, the government of the Leningrad region explained to reporters  that the company "Energoprom” (controlled by Viktor Vekselberg, as well as “Renova”) owned 37% shares of the plant "Slates”.  According to the press, although “Energoprom” officially denied its involvement in the “Slates”, a source close to “Renova Group” confirmed it. 
Source: "Kommersant" # 128 (3459) on 15/07/2006

Four months later it was reported that the plant "Slates" had been deleted from the list of strategically important enterprises; that news paved the way for its privatization. As written in the press, experts supposed that "Renova" was the most likely contender for the purchase of state shares of the plant.  As reported, “Renova” owned 33% shares of “Slates” - at that time there was no reference to confidential sources. The company was called a principal owner of the plant along with Rosimushchestvo (56%). At the same time, it was reported that the group "Renova" controlled 82% of shares "Leningradslanets". The company refused to comment on their plans for the Leningrad enterprises at that time. 
Source: www.rbcdaily.ru on 26/11/2007

In early 2009, information appeared in the press that the state held 41.75% stake of “Slates”, more than 30% of shares were in the group «Renova» by Victor Vekselberg, about 20%  were owned by a number of minority shareholders-individuals. And besides, as reported, "Slates" was  listed in Rosimushchestvo privatization plan for 2009-2010. 
Source: "Kommersant" № 6 (4061) on 16/01/2009

In autumn 2009 the press wrote that the Russian President's plenipotentiary representative of  NWFD Ilya Klebanov proposed the Deputy Prime Minister Sechin to transfer the state-owned shares of  OAO "Slates Plant" to the  company "Energoprom" of the group "Renova", a minority shareholder of the plant. General Director of "Slates" Samuel Gandelman said then that he doubted the possibility of the plants' state shares transfer to «Energoprom», as the company was not a shareholder of the plant. «Renova» group refused from commenting again. 
Source: www.regnum.ru 15.09.2009

In February 2010 the news appeared in the media that the Government of Russia decided to include the 41.75% shares of OAO "Slates" in the list of enterprises under federal ownership; its shares were scheduled for privatization in 2010. 
Source: www.maonline.ru from 10.02. 2010

In 2004, the press discussed the scandal with SUAL which applied business schemes known as internal tolling. Tolling — a customs regime under which the export of products manufactured from  raw materials imported to the country for processing - are exempt from VAT. Working under this scheme, Russian refineries provided services of raw materials processing only. The owner of the raw material (alumina) and finished products (aluminum) was a foreign company. Tolling was legal in the Tax Code of RF. It was reported that by 2004 more than 90% of Russian aluminum exports had been proceeded under such a scheme. But the companies frequently engaged in the processing of foreign goods made on commission together with Russian raw materials (the so-called scheme of batching).The Federal Tax Service (FNS) has the right to bring claims to  companies in case of  batching .

According to the press, tolling operations of SUAL in 2002-2003 attracted attention of the Accounting Chamber. It estimated the losses of the federal budget at 420 million rubles. In the same year representatives of SUAL announced that they had completely abandoned the tolling scheme. In the press there was no data on whether the Chamber claims had grown into something bigger. However, in 2006 they talked about the SUAL merging with Rusal (Oleg Deripaska). then an opinion was expressed in the media that the transaction would help Vekselberg avoid problems with the Chamber. They hinted at the legendary administrative resource of the "Rusal" owner. 
Source: "Kommersant" № 176 (3015) from 22.09.2004, "The Secret Companies» № 31 (166) from 28.08.2006

Vekselberg appeared in media reports related to the scandal with “Togliattiazot» - one of the largest chemical plants in Russia. It was reported that according to the tax officials, in 2004 the company underpaid taxes on profits, as well as VAT to the all- level budgets of at amount of 2.582 billion rubles. According to press reports, within 6 months the tax authorities conducted more than 120 inspections at the factory, and claimed for $ 100 million. The searches also became regular. They wrote that on August 29, 2005 MIA and OMON riot police conducted seizure of documents in the building «Togliattiazot”.

The media reflected the opinions of experts who considered the tax specialists requirements to be the next stage in the long struggle for the enterprise. It was reported that along with tax evasion, they started testing the legality of the enterprise privatization.  President of ToAZ Vladimir Mahli controlled the 75 percent stake, and he was put on the wanted list.

They called the situation an attempt of capture raid at the plant; as written in the press, they took the view that it was initiated by “Renova Orgsintez» -  a structure controlling the chemical assets by Viktor Vekselberg (in 2007 he owned 9,14% shares of “Togliattiazot”). They explained  in «Togliattiazot»: "Renova" had been accumulateing large blocks of shares in other companies of the industry - 34% in Volgograd "Chimprom», about 70% in Samara "Promsintez», and 100% in Irkutsk «Sayanskkhimplast». It was suggested that TOAZ overset the plans of Vekselberg — which consisted in pooling the assets of «Togliattiazot” with Renova; that would strengthen the position of the latter at the methanol market.

As they believed, "Renova" carried out penetration to the plant through the minority shareholder of “Togliattiazot” - an offshore company «Tringal Equities Inc» (2% of ToAZ). TEI accused TOAZ of inflicting significant losses to its shareholders, and in particular it reproached the enterprise managers for the agreement concluded with the Swiss petrochemical trader "Nitrohem». TEI stated that the plant sold ammonia "at artificially low prices compared to the world ones".  In the court the minority shareholder assessed the compensation at $ 42 million to $ 73 million.

It was reported, the tax claims were associated with TEI also, since verifications became more frequent after the company had become a minority shareholder. "Renova" denied any relations with offshore companies. As  journalists noticed,  the head of TEI Alexei Kozlov previously served as general manager of «Renova Orgsintez". And the representatives of TEI brought documents with logo of "Renova" in the court.. 
Source: "The Company" from 19.08.2007, www.wek.ru of 09.08.2007

In November 2006 the press reported that the Ninth Arbitration Court of Appeal upheld the validity of tax claims of the state to the company "TNK-BP Holding" for an amount of 3,9 billion rubles for 2001. It was also mentioned that TNK-BP had already paid the Federal Tax Service additionally accrued taxes for 2002-2003 at the amount of 39 billion rubles - nearly a half billion dollars. More tax has been demanded from Yukos only. 
Source: www.newsru.com on 13/11/2006

In 2005, Viktor Vekselberg filed in the Nagatinsky District Court in Moscow a claim on protection of honor, dignity and business reputation. The respondent was a correspondent of the Investigations Division of the newspaper "Moskovsky Komsomolets" Nadezhda Popova and magazine "Compromising". The reason for the trials was the article "9 eggs of Vekselberg" published in the 27-th issue of the magazine in January 2005. The material contained negative feedback on Vekselberg and his business in Karelia.

In particular, the journalist told about the 18-year old Dima Kuzin in the Karelian village Nadvoicy, where the aluminum plant was. According to the information at the time, it was owned by SUAL. The young man  was sick with fluorosis like many other inhabitants of that countryside, and because of the disease his teeth was severely destroyed. As reported in the article, the boy sued, won and was supposed to get 50 thousand rubles from Vekselberg. As soon as he had not received anything then, he turned to the European Court of Human Rights.

As Popova wrote, other villagers of Nadvoicy followed Dima Kuzin in the court (they were about 15 thousand). In such a situation, she reasoned, the plant could simply go under.

But Vekselberg was not angered by a tragic story of Kusin, or by a widespread information that the aluminum smelter had contaminated the surrounding area with fluorine, benzapyrene and heavy metals. As Popova told to the press, on the basis of a lawsuit one could conclude that Vekselberg was offended by the words "landlord" and "bill of exchange" used in the article. In addition, Vekselberg denied his involvement in the vectors of the disease fluorosis  in the village Nadvoicy. He also did not like the phrase that he, as the journalist expressed in the article, had given the sack to investors of the "First City Bank» buying Faberge eggs for 140 million dollars. 
Source: "Компромат.Ru", 27.01.2005, www.mediaatlas.ru from 29.08.2005

Vekselberg demanded of Nadezhda Popova and three founders of the magazine "Compromising" to pay him 100 thousand rubles each. But, according to the media, the founders of the journal Sergei Sokolov, Vadim White, and Alexei Chelnokov no longer came to the court, so the journalist was left  one by one with the plaintiff. The court sided the businessman. 
Source: www.stringer.ru from 20.01. 2006

Viktor Vekselberg was mentioned in the press as one of the principal actors in a scandalous story of the attempted privatization of the plant "Himpom" in Volgograd. According to the data by 2007, 51% of the plant were owned by the Ministry of the Government Property, 35%  - were controlled by “Renova-Orgsintez» company of Viktor Vekselberg. Party of Vekselberg intended to privatize the plant. But the problem was that  JSC «Khimprom» was in the list of enterprises of strategic importance and was not a subject to privatization (until 1987 Volgograd «Khimprom» was one of the key enterprises in the Soviet chemical weapons industry).

There was a scandal around "Khimprom" and "Renova". It was reported that in September 2006 some environmental organization from Nizhny Novgorod sent a letter to the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, describing the catastrophic situation that was around “Khimprom". It contained information about a possible environmental disaster and the death of thousands of Volgograd citizens. the State Duma Deputy Viktor Ilyukhin sent a request to the General Prosecutor's Office; it contained a suspicion that the CEO of "Khimprom» Stanislav Losev had been bringing the plant to bankruptcy, so that the group "Renova" could have got on the cheap . Governor of the Volgograd region Nikolai Maksyuta turned with the similar request to the Volgograd General Prosecutor .

It was reported that on behalf of the Prosecutor General's Office, the plant was tested by the Volgograd prosecutors. Management of the «Khimprom " came under the threat of criminal prosecution under articles 196 and 201 of the Criminal Code (" deliberate bankruptcy "and" abuse of authority " respectively). The federal and local media had brought a plenty of materials against Vekselberg. At the factory, according to press reports, some of the materials were considered biased, as well as verifications by law enforcement agencies.

"Renova" was considered to be a possible customer of media attacks on the enterprise. According to press reports, General Director of "Renova-orgsintez» Alexei Kozlov acknowledged his company's interest to the chemical assets of the plant. But he regularly denied charges of raids. As for Governor of the Volgograd region Nikolai Maksyuta who had been angry over the possible bankruptcy of "Chimprom", at a meeting with Vladimir Putin he reportedly asked to convey the company into a concession group of Vekselberg. 
Source: og.ru from 10.11.2006, www.expert.ru on 9.03.2007

Then the press reported that Vekselberg faced with opposition of the military in the process of "Khimprom" privatization. A conflict over control of the business burst between him and Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov. On February 9, 2007 Serdyukov was elected member of the Board of Directors of AO «Khimprom» (then he was head of the Federal Tax Service). Having occupied the post of Minister of Defense Serdyukov became chairman of the board of directors in "Khimprom». It was reported that the management conflict had put the plant on the brink of financial and environmental crisis. Rostekhnadzor even threatened to suspend the operation of the enterprise. 
Source: www.newsru.com of 7.05. 2007

According to press reports, by the end of 2007 it had become clear that "Khimprom" privatization  was not going to happen, and the controlling stake was going to be handed over to "Rostekhnology”. 
Source: www.forbesrussia.ru from 14.12. 2009

In 2009, Vekselberg was mentioned in the media in connection with the scandal of buying shares in a  major engineering company Sulzer. The deals were signed in 2006-2007. As reported, in April 2009 the Penal Service of the Ministry of Finance of Switzerland began an administrative investigation against Vekselberg and his partners. They were suspected of violating disclosure rules when buying the above-mentioned stocks. According to investigators, businessmen illegally owned 31.9 percent of shares. Vekselberg was accused of avoiding the Swiss law on which one should  publicly announce about purchasing more than 5 percent of the shares of a company. Based on the results of audit conducted by the Swiss service oversighting financial markets, all the claims against Vekselberg had been removed. But, as the press stated, the head of Zurcher Kantonalbank (the biggest Cantonal Bank in Zurich) Hans Veghel had left his post . He acknowledged that when dealing with securities of the Swiss company Sulzer, internal rules of the bank had been violated, so he asked to dismiss him from his post. However, head of bank operations in the stock market Markus Hoffmann resigned his job along with Veghel.

In the media in connection with the story of Sulzer shares buying wrote that the criminal proceedings in 2 years after the event strangely coincided with negotiations between Switzerland and the United States on lifting the bank secrecy from the accounts  of businessmen suspected of tax evasion in the United States. Furthermore, reporters wondered for what Vekselberg took control over the Sulzer, which made pumps for oil and gas, never produced in Russia. And they explain it: they were used in the economic and political project of the Government of Russia - building a pipeline that would bring Siberian oil to the Pacific coast. 
Source: lenta.ru of 27.08.2009, "Gazeta", 10.05.2007


REFERENCE 2 Rumafia.com

The first scandal with the name of Herman Khan appeared in the press in April 1995. Members of the Headquarters of Combating Organized Crime of the RF Interior Ministry raided the “Alfa-Eco”offices to detect drugs and discreditable documents. The search was provoked by the fact that in late March - early April 1995 a group poisoning of Khabarovsk residents with sugar had happened. During the investigation it came out that a high dose of drugs contained in sugar had caused the poisoning. It was found out that the containers with sugar had been previously rented by “Alfa-Eco" and used for transportation of consignment to the company «Harmaty and Co» , while Han was one of its founders. 
http://lpl.org.ua/biography-13.aspx, newspaper "Version", 06.06.1999

The press released information that the secret drug-related operations were carried out by the company “Alfa-Eco", headed by Herman Khan. He was also a founder of a number of firms, including the Hungarian «Harmaty and Co» (jointly with «Harmaty ech Tarrna») and the Czech «Alfa-Eco» (jointly with «Altex Ltd»). According to the constituent documents, both of those firms were engaged in export and sales of carpet products to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. However according to sources in the law enforcement bodies, their statutory activities served as a cover. In fact, «Harmaty and Co» and «Alfa-Eco» were involved in international drug trafficking and narcotic dollars laundering through some of the employees. In particular the companies were the chain links on which the transit of drugs from the South East Asia to Europe had been carried out. 
www.peoples.ru

In July 10 2003 the Moscow Arbitration Court (Case number A40-49954/02-21-494) acknowledged that the information did not correspond to reality and discredited the honor and business reputation of the Open Company “Alfa-Eco”.

In 1999, as a member of the board of directors of the oil company “Sidanco”, Herman Khan undertook attempts to establish the "Alfa-eko" companies’ control over the enterprises of “Sidanco” which were located in the Saratov and Irkutsk regions. To have an impact on managers and shareholders of "Saratovneftegaz" and "Saratovnefteprodukt" Khan involved criminal structures. They helped to wreck the shareholders’ meetings in both companies twice, local RUOP also assisted to Herman Khan in that case. Moreover Khan pressed in person the business leaders and even the governor of the Saratov region, Dmitry Ayatskov. 
Newspaper "Version", 06.06.1999

In early 2000 they said Herman Khan had a relation to Lieutenant of the General Ministry of Internal Affairs Alexander Orlov, a former assistant and second-hand of the Interior Minister, Vladimir Rushailo. Orlov carried out especially delicate orders of the ministerial command. There was a considerable quantity of materials in special services on Alexander Orlov’s contacts with the prominent businessmen. Herman Khan acted as one of Orlov's friends and sponsors. Thank to Orlov the structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs took the side of the businessman and other oligarchs in conflicts with their creditors and debtors: upon the request of one side they beat the debts out of the others. The cost of this was about 50 percent of the amount of the debt. 
"Novaya Gazeta" 28.05.2001

In the middle of 2001 Herman Khan was accused of gathering compromising material on the former Natural Resources Minister, Vitaly Artyukhov. At that time the Artjuhov’s file appeared in the editor’s office of “Novaya Gazeta”. It included information on legislation infringements by Artyukhov and in particular denounced Artyukhov of aiding and abetting to plunder of budgetary funds while being the Minister of Natural Resources. The possible reason of Khan’s interest to Artyukhov might have lain in the position of the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources. He could be a figure in a chain of many moves allowing the oligarchs, including Khan, to have an insider in public office, who would be obliged to protect the commercial interests of a certain circle of people. 
"Novaya Gazeta", 30.07.2001

The scandal around the name of Herman Khan took place in December 2002. That time «Alfa Group" formed an alliance with “Sibneft”, and as a result they won an auction sale of the state shares of “Slavneft”. This tactic deprived the government of an additional income that could be obtained through the more competitive auction. "Alfa-group" had been often criticized for its aggressiveness. At that time they started calling Herman Khan the most ruthless businessman of the country. 
«The Financial Times», 29.08.2003

In 2003, the State Duma deputy Vladimir Yudin appealed to the General Prosecutor of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Ustinov with inquiry concerning the activity of the “TNK-BP” management. Yudin pointed out that the District Court of New York was preceding the trial against the heads and owners of the company OAO “Tyumen Oil Company” (TNK). In the inquiry the deputy also pointed to the names of Herman Khan, Joseph Bakaleinik, Viktor Vekselberg, Semyon Kukes and Leonard Blavatnik. According to Yudin, the above-stated persons had flagrantly infringed Russian laws on mineral resources, bankruptcy, joint-stock companies, etc. in order to expand their oil business. While doing this they descended on the direct pressure on managers, court and law enforcement agencies. With reference to the documents received from Canada, in particular from the company Norex »(Norex), Yudin claimed that the U.S. court accused the above persons of the criminal cases, such as racketeering (extortion), threatening of physical violence to the heads of ZAO Yugraneft", OJSC " Chernogorneft "and" Norex ". 
Interfax, 02.12.2003.

At the bottom of the conflict between Norex and TNK was the JSC "Corporation" Yugraneft ", created in 1992 by the Canadian company (60%) and" Chernogorneft (40%) for the small deposits development. In 2000, the bankrupted "Chernogorneft" went to “TNK”, and in summer 2001 the TNK management appointed its own general director of "Yugraneft". The Khanty-Mansiysk Arbitration Court invalidated the Norex’s contribution to the charter capital of “Yugraneft”, and the share of “TNK” got increased up to 80%. Norex was unable to defend their interests in the Russian courts, and in 2002 filed the lawsuit in New York. 
The newspaper "Vedomosti", 03.12.2003

Press had also exaggerated the visit of Herman Khan to Ukraine in April 2005 in order to decide an issue of introduction of limited selling prices for fuel. Shortly before the visit of Khan to the government of Ukraine, agency “Interfax-Ukraine" had circulated information that the Prosecutor General of Ukraine sent a complaint to the State Property Fund and “TNK-Ukraine" on the illegal privatization of the Lisichansk refinery, owned by TNK-BP. This information allowed the Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to make Herman Khan agree on selling gasoline at filling stations on the prices set by the Ministry of Economy. Immediately after the meeting with Khan, the Prime Minister said that TNK-BP was going to lower prices for gasoline at the filling stations to the level established by the Government. 
www.newsru.com, 22.04.2005

Herman Khan appeared to be in the conflict epicenter in September 2005, when lawyers, attracted by the International Union of veterans of the armed forces and law enforcement officials had indicated that the “Alfa Group”, co-owned by Herman Khan, had been doing the oil business with law infringements. Herman Khan, Mikhail Fridman, Alexei Kuzmicheva, Leonard Blavatnik and Viktor Vekselberg were accused of fraudulent embezzlement of 40%-stake of TNK, of usage of transfer pricing, tax evasion and fraudulent establishing control over the "Nizhnevartovskneftegaz” and artificial bankruptcy of "Chernogorneft .

At the same time, deputy Nikolai Pavlov complained to the General Prosecutor that representatives of Alfa Telecom offered him a compensation in case he testified at the trial of "MegaFon" (it was a long-lasting lawsuit of “Alfa Telecom” and Bermuda fund IPOC for 25.1% shares of cellular operator "MegaFon"). They assumed that the owner of IPOC, Jeffrey Galmond helped the Union of Veterans of the armed forces “to expose” the Herman Khan’s company. 
The newspaper "Vedomosti" 26.09.2005

In spring 2008, the shareholders of TNK-BP came into a conflict because of the consortium AAR (Alfa Group by Mikhail Fridman, Access by Leonard Blavatnik and Renova by Viktor Vekselberg's) which was representing the interests of the Russian shareholders demanded the resignation of the operating director of TNK-BP, Robert Dudley. They asserted he had been managing the company in interests of the British. One of the main accusations against Robert Dudley was the fact that he exceeded the amount of capital investment over the agreed limit of 3.5 billion pounds up to 900 million pounds. In their turn, the British experts of BP argued that according to the analysis results of TNK-BP and BP reports and data of Forbes magazine about the states of the richest people in the world, Herman Khan had received 2.1 billion dollars of dividends, as well as 1.7 billion dollars on the growth of shares rate of TNK-BP Holding. In early September, the shareholders of TNK-BP agreed that Robert Dudley was going to leave the post of the operating director; the new one would be nominated by BP and approved by the Board of Directors of the company. Insiders of TNK-BP reported on their fears that Russian main shareholder, Herman Khan could use the interim period to take the company under his control and use the financial crisis to restructure the company at his own discretion. In November 2008 TNK-BP announced the reduction of workplaces on 15% due to the rapid decline of oil prices. Some former heads of BP argued that Khan used the reduction as an excuse to oust the former BP representatives from the company. 
www.newsru.com, 01.12.2008

In January 9, 2009 the owners of TNK-BP signed an amended agreement on joint management of the company. The election of a new independent president of the company and inclusion of three independent members to the board of directors caused conflict of the shareholders around the TNK-BP. 
www.newsru.com, 11.01.2009 g.

At the same time, the British media reported on the prosecution, which could have led to freezing of the accounts of Herman Khan in the western banks. The conflict occurred because of confrontation between BP, on the one hand, and the Russian partners in TNK-BP, as well as the Russian authorities, on the other hand (the American Robert Dudley who had been appointed by BP to the post of chief executive officer of TNK-BP, left Moscow and went into hiding in Europe). At that time the representatives of BP sought for legal advice in order to initiate proceedings in the commercial court of Sweden against the Russian shareholder consortium AAR (Alfa Group by Mikhail Fridman, Access by Leonard Blavatnik and Renova by Viktor Vekselberg). They charged the shareholders with infringements of corporate domestic law. 
Kompromat.ru, 28.07.2008

The conflict occurred in the TNK-BP during the TNK-BP shareholders negotiation with the former general director of Norilsk Nickel, Denis Morozov. Morozov was proposed to take a post of CEO of TNK-BP. According to one of the versions, the shareholders promised that the new director would be able to form his own management team. However in January 2009 they announced that managers-shareholders and operating directors -Viktor Vekselberg and Herman Khan – were going to stay in the new rule. Morozov in his turn insisted on clear delineation of his responsibilities and the powers of the shareholders. Khan and Vekselberg disagreed with Morozov and began to search for the new candidates. 
www.newsru.com 21.01.2009 g.

At the same time, the British shareholders supported the candidature of Denis Morozov and demanded the resignation of Herman Khan. Otherwise the Denis Morozov’s authority in the company would be significantly limited. 
www.newsru.com, 19.01.2009 g.

The decision was taken in November 2009 - Board of Directors of TNK-BP unanimously supported the decision to appoint Maxim Barski to the post of the Chief Executive Officer starting from 1 January 2011. Till that time Mikhail Fridman, an executive chairman of the Board of Directors of TNK-BP had been acting as temporary chief operating director.

Lately they have been connecting Herman Khan with the Deputy Prime Minister, Igor Sechin. In the next month or two, an administrative attack on the Agriculture Minister Elena Skrynnik (protege of vice-premier Viktor Zubkov) might be organized by the concerned group of officials. With support of Sechin they try to promote the co-owner of “Rostselmash”, Konstantin Babkin to that place. "Rosagroleasing" is also expected to get changed as they plan to convert it into a state corporation. In this connection a staffing struggle of Sechin against Viktor Zubkov may be initiated in order to relocate AIC. To strengthen his position, Sechin picks up a strong team and Herman Khan is a part of it. 
www.newsru.com, 10.02.2010 r.

 

REFERENCE 3 Rumafia.com

In the mid of 90's the name of Suleiman Kerimov was mentioned in an ugly story about the theft of the budget funds by his business partner Magomedtagirov Abdulbasirov, head of the Federal Food Corporation under the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia. In 1993, when Karimov headed "Eltava", the Federal Industrial Bank (Fedprombanke) was created for the convenience of the settlements between disparate enterprises, factories and subcontractors in Ukraine and Belarus. Suleiman Kerimov was to represent the interests of "Eltava" in Fedprombanke. In 1994, countryman of Kerimov Magomedtagirov Abdulbasirov headed up the Federal Food Corporation under the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, in 1994-1996 the corporation received approximately $ 500 million from the budget forn government purchases of food; and Kerimov, as representative of Fedprombank, participated in the distribution of the money. He did business with Abdulbasirov. and gradually electronic factories came out of the capital Fedprombank - Kerimov redeemed their shares, and by the end of 1996 he gained a controlling stake. Shortly after Abdulbasirov was accused of embezzling budget funds, Kerimov name was not mentioned.in connection with the theft 
Source: "Russian Forbes», June 2006

In 1996, they talked about Kerimov's acquaintance with the owner of Airlines Eagle Air, Sergei Isakov (who, in turn, introduced him to Vladimir Zhirinovsky). Soon the structures controlled by Kerimov purchased a controlling stake in Vnukovo Airlines, the Murmansk aviation enterprise, and Transport Clearing Chamber. FPG became a legal entity of the aviation business of Kerimov. "Rosaviakonsortsium", its largest shareholder was Fedprombank. Then Kerimov went conflicting with the Chamber, according to which the investment commitments in the privatization of "Vnukovo Airlines» had been imitated by contracts on supplies of aircrafta Tu-204, and paid by illiquid promissory notes. Kerimov was accused of failing to meet investment program of 150 million dollars, and bringing the "Vnukovo Airlines» to loss of the main part of the fleet, financial insolvency, and the planned absorption by the airline "Siberia". The Trade union leader of "Vnukovo Airlines» Gennady Borisov, who tried to fight the abuses in the company, as well as with the policy of Kerimov, was killed in his apartment building in January 1999. Kerimov's partners in "Rosaviakonsortsium» were Ibrahim Suleimanov and Tatevos Surinov (later criminal proceedings were instituted against both of them on the fact of illegal sale of the navigational equipment of airport "Kazan" in 2002). While Karimov left the capital of Vnukovo Airlines and Fedprombank back in 1998. 
Source: "Russian Forbes», June 2006

When the company Nafta Moskva "(Retail oil company) was put up for sale with respect to the debts appeared in November 1998, Kerimov purchased it for $ 50 million. President of Transneft Dmitry Saveliev helped Karimov then. In 1999, Karimov bought about 20% of preferred shares of Transneft for 100 million dollars, and a half year later resold them for more than 400 million dollars. Subsequently Kerimov bought a stake in «Surgutneftegaz» in the "Nafta Moscow", and a year and a half later he brought his share of" Nafta» to 100%, eroding the share of small shareholders by issuing additional shares. Vladimir Zhirinovsky helped Kerimov in several major "Nafta» deals, for example, deals with the Iraqi oil the program "oil-for-food program». 
Source: www.lpl.org.ua

In December 1999, Karimov was buying assets. In that period he formed a business relationship with Roman Abramovich and Oleg Deripaska, known for their reputation of raiders. In June 2000, "Nafta-Moskva» bought the company" Varyeganneftegaz "- a subsidiary of SIDANCO, towards which the bankruptcy proceedings had been initiated. At that point, Karimov gained control over 70% stake in OAO «Varyeganneft”. Brothers Bazhayev (group "Alliance") challenged the "Nafta's” 38,9% stake in «Varyeganneft", accusing Kerimov of force capture of their business. But the company still came under the influence of Kerimov, and in spring of 2001 «Slavneft» headed by Mikhail Gutseriev bought "Varyeganneft" for $ 200 million, and thus became "bona fide acquirers”. 
Source: www.lenta.ru

One of the most scandalous transactions by Suleiman Kerimov was the acquisition of Andrey Andreyev's business, the former OBKHSS employee. Andreev himself accused Suleiman Kerimov, as well as Roman Abramovich and Oleg Deripaska in the forcible take-over of his businesses. Andreev controlled Avtobank, insurance company «Ingosstrakh», insurance company «Ingosstrakh-Rossiya”, Orsk-Khalilovsk metallurgical complex, Bank «Ingosstrakh-Soyuz», animal-breeding sovkhoz in Moscow and a number of other enterprises. In autumn of 2001, all those companies were registered on the companies, controlled by Kerimov, Deripaska and Abramovich. Transactions were signed on behalf of Andreev by a Krasnoyarsk gang leader Radik Hamzayev and chairman of Avtobank Natalia Raevskaya — for that purpose Kerimov, Deripaska and Abramovich provided physical and moral pressure on her. Subsequently, the companies owned by Andreev, were sold by Kerimov by the piece: Avtobank — to NIKoil, Ingosstrakh and Nosta — to Oleg Deripaska's structures, animal-breeding sovkhoz — to a group of BIN. ... Shortly after this story Kerimov parted with his partner Dzhabrailov Shikhaliyev who had signed all papers on those transactions on behalf of «Nafta Moscow», andtook to bosom Alexander Mosionzhik, a specialist in acquisitions and investments, who became the CEO of «Nafta Moscow". 
Source: Vedomosti № 223 (1750) on 27/11/2006

Investigative bodies of the General Prosecutor of Russia at the time were interested in the theme of the acquisition of a major real estate by the chief of staff of the Government Igor Shuvalov. Shortly before the elimination GOSINKOR (the State Information Corporation) transferred the ownership of suburban residence "Zarechie - 4", (which is in Odintsovo district, Moscow region) to the company controlled by Shuvalov. The market value of the residence was estimated at 10 million dollars. The sponsor of the deal was considered to be Suleiman Kerimov who was close to Shuvalov. Those funds were actually paid to the previous management of GOSINKOR, but they never came to the corporation's cashier. 
Source: "APN" from 11.04.2003

In the mid of 2004 Suleiman Kerimov started buying shares of Gazprom» and «Savings bank” on credit. Kerimov took credit under "Nafta Moscow" in the Savings Bank, bought the papers of «Gazprom», and then used them as collateral for a new credit. Later he began to buy shares of the Savings Bank also. Pledged shares may not be sold, but if they grow in price, the shares can be released from the pledge and be taken for a new loan. That was what Kerimov did. Loans were first processed at "Nafta Moscow", and then at another company of Kerimov- ZAO "New Project". As a result, he managed to acquire 4.5% stake in Gazprom and 6% of the Savings bank. Most of his package Kerimov purchased from two other private shareholders of the Savings Bank - owner of the cement holding «Eurocement Group» Filaret Galchev, and the owner of the agro-industrial group "Rusagro» Vadim Moshkovich. Was it legal to use the Savings Bank's funds to purchase its own shares? - the central bank made comments on that occasion, but the first deputy chairman of Sberbank Alla Alyoshina found the arguments in support of Suleiman Kerimov , as well as the credit policy of the Savings Bank as a whole. Alyosha is believed to be a major benefactor of Kerimov. 
Source: www.smoney.ru on 23/08/2008

The high-profile scandal involving Suleiman Kerimov, occurred in 2005. SPK "Development" (agricultural production co-operative), the largest enterprise in the construction market in Moscow changed the owner - unwillingly by the forceful takeover. Some media reports appeared that was Suleiman Kerimov the capturer. He was interested in the assets of SPK, including "Glavmosstroy", "Mosstroyekonombank", "Mospromstroymaterialy" and "Mosmontazhspetsstroy». In April 2005, "Nafta" by Kerimov became a co-owner of «Mosstroyekonombank», after a couple of months "Nafta" gained control of the SPK "Development" ( "Glavmosstroy," Mospromstroymaterialy "and" Mosmontazhspetsstroy "), and in July became the owner of 17% of the common stock in "Mospromstroy». Karimov subsequently sold the business in parts - SPK "Development" was bought by "Basic Element» of Oleg Deripaska (Kerimov earned about $ 200 million on the transaction), and «Mospromstroy» and «Mosstroyekonombank» was acquired by BIN, headed by Saito Gutseriev (brother of Mikhael Gutseriev) . 
Source: "Novye Izvestiya" on 02/03/2005

Suleiman Kerimov hit the pages of the media in connection with the conflict situation around Mosstroyekonombank. After the shareholders meeting, Alexey Guskov - former top manager of Bin-bank close to "Nafta" - was approved the Chairman of the Board instead of Kazibek Tagirbekov. At the same time, one of Moscow's major construction companies «Inteko», headed by the wife of Moscow Mayor Elena Baturin, refused to cooperate with the bank, after it had been obtained by Kerimov. It was a bad thing for Suleiman Kerimov: Inteko planned to act as co-investor with the former management of the bank in order to build a second line of "Smolensky Passage", the total investment estimated at 150 million dollars. Baturina refused to work with Alexei Guskov. There were people who accused Kerimov of contributing to the fabrication of criminal cases against the former president of the bank Kazibek Tagirbekov. Tagirbekov was released from prison only after the bank's assets had been fully under the control of Kerimov. 
Source: Vedomosti № 116 (1397) on 28/06/2005

Suleiman Kerimov become a shareholder of "Mospromstroya" - the owner of more than 150 buildings in Moscow. The process of shares buying by the company «Nafta Moskva "controlled by Kerimov was also associated with a scandal. Someone started buying shares from small owners, and the company management publicly announced an attempt of capturing absorption. Trying to keep the company, its management invited Yuri Luzhkov to join them under the control of shares and transfer them to a specially created management company. But the Moscow authorities failed to protect the executives' Mospromstroy "and after some time" Nafta Moscow "bought 17-percent stake in the enterprise. 
Source: Vedomosti № 123 (1404) of 07.07.2005

On November 25, 2006 Suleiman Kerimov and Tina Kandelaki got in a car accident on the seafront Promenade des-England in Nice; sports car Enzo Ferrari of Kerimov lost control, crashed into a tree and caught fire. Tina Kandelaki with minor burns went to Moscowon the same day , Suleiman Kerimov received severe burns and was taken to hospital in Marseilles, and then he moved to Belgium at the request of Professor Jean-Louis Vincennes from the hospital Erasme; he asked Defense Minister of Belgium Andre Flao to provide a specially equipped aircraft and a brigade of Belgian military doctors to transport Kerimov. In January 2007, Suleiman Kerimov returned to Moscow. 
Source: "Kommersant" № 222 (3553) on 28/11/2006

Suleiman Kerimov is attributed to have love affairs with well-known singers, dancers, actresses. They said those were Natalya Vetlickaya, Zhanna Friske, Anastasia Volochkova, Ksenia Sobchak, Olesya Sudzilovskaya, Tina Kandelaki. He was generous with his beloved: to the 38-th anniversary of Vetlitskaya he gave her a pendant with diamonds for 10 thousand dollars, and when they parted - plane and an apartment in Paris. For Anastasia Volochkova Kerimov hired a guard, as Vetlickaya promised to deal with her by resorting to the help of criminal networks. 
Source: "Express Gazeta" on 28.07.2007

The scandal with the name of Suleiman Kerimov appeared in the press, when his mistress Catherine Gomiashvili, the daughter of the actor Archil Gomiashvili, was pregnant by him. Their affair lasted for four years, Karimov helped the girl get in a big design business. Gomiashvili opened boutiques in London and Moscow for Kerimov's money. The shop in London was designed by the popular British architect Eb Rogers; opening a boutique cost Kerimov about 3 million euros. 
Source: "Express Gazeta" on 28.07.2007