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Putin's allies |  Sports

Putin’s allies | Sports

The few who play important roles in sports and stand by the Russian President

Vladimir Putin’s influence in sports, not just football, is huge. Why actually? Among other things, because the Russian president maintains close relations with the oligarchy. Overview:

Cycling

Igor Viktorovich Makarov (59 years old, estimated fortune: $2.1 billion, oil and gas business): “His life is the culmination of pure dedication, mental strength and unwavering commitment.” This is how Makarov describes himself. From 1979 to 1986 he accepted as an international cyclist competitions, he was part of the Olympic team of the USSR. After his active career, he remained loyal to the sport. In 2008, Makarov founded the Katusha cycling team (now Katusha-Alpecin, the image of the Kremlin can be seen on T-shirts for a while), from 2010 to 2016 he was the head of the Russian Cycling Federation, and since 2011 he has been on the board of directors of the UCI World Cycling Union . Makarov, in the words of German publicist Jürgen Roth, “can count himself among Putin’s inner circle.” The oligarch has numerous allegations of money laundering and mafia connections. The FBI investigated him in 2002 about a possible bribery of a member of the US Congress. Interesting: in the Ibiza video, which began with the downfall of the then Austrian Vice-Chancellor Heinz Christian Strache, the decoy pretended to be Makaru’s niece. Then the billionaire expressed his anger and made it clear that he was the only boy.

Fence

Alisher Usmanov (68, estimated net worth at $16.8 billion, media mogul): First of all, Usmanov can only be a person with basic integrity. Because Thomas Bach, full-time president of the International Olympic Committee, congratulated “my friend Alisher Usmanov on his re-election as FIE president.” And now without irony: from 2008 to at least 2024 Usmanov headed the International Fencing Federation. Bach not only gave warm words, but also gave the “International Olympic Committee Trophy for Olympic Values”. Alexei Navalny Usmanov, a shareholder in Arsenal, was accused of financing the Kremlin. Usmanov responded in the video from his 154-meter yacht, saying, “I spat on you,” according to the Guardian. Usmanov wrote to the World Anti-Doping Agency that the “merciless fight” against doping “must not turn into an extrajudicial killing.” The 68-year-old is said to own several villas in Tegernsee and have invested in Everton FC.

chess

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov (59): The chess world should be glad that Kirsan Ilyumzhinov honored him with his earthly presence. According to numerous interviews, Ilyumzhinov is sure that he traveled through space with extraterrestrials in 1997. The ex-politician from the Russian Republic of Kalmykia and a confidant of Putin headed the World Chess Federation from 1995 to 2018. Ilyumzhinov, as head of Fide, met with Saddam Hussein and played chess With Muhammed Gaddafi. Because of his business contacts in Syria, Ilyumzhinov is on the US sanctions list. Arkady Dvorkovich took over the Chess Federation. A Russian politician who was one of Putin’s five personal advisors from 2008 to 2012. When the Fide President is elected, each member state has one vote. It is said that Ilyumzhinov won the countries voting on his side with gifts.

shoot

Vladimir Lisin (65, estimated fortune: $31 billion, steel magnate): In 2018, Vladimir Lisin won the General Assembly in Munich as president of the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF). Lesin became president of the Russian Shooting Federation in 2002 and has also headed the European Shooting Federation since 2009. The 65-year-old is also a member of the Russian Olympic Committee and has close ties to Putin.

football

Roman Abramovich (55, estimated fortune: $12.6 billion): In The People of Putin, writer Catherine Bilton writes that in 2003 Putin commissioned Abramovich to buy Chelsea FC in order to increase Russia’s influence. Abramovich sued the book. He cannot get rid of the rumors that he is one of the most important oligarchs in the Putin regime. nms