Kostantyn Hryhoryschyn

Kostjantyn Iwanowytsch Hryhoryschyn ( Ukrainian Костянтин Іванович Григоришин , also known as Konstantin Grigorishin ; born November 16, 1965 in Zaporizhia , Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic ) is a businessman from Ukraine , who now lives in Russia . According to Forbes magazine , his net worth was $ 1.1 billion in March 2015 .

Career

Hryhoryschyn was born in the city of Zaporizhia in what is now Ukraine. He studied at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and graduated in technical physics . In the late 1980s , Grigorishin began trading in metal , agricultural products and oil in the Soviet Union .

After 1991

With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the privatizations that followed, Hryhoryschyn became a rich man by buying Ukrainian assets cheaply and later selling them on at higher prices. Hryhoryschyn was primarily active in the energy sector, where he brought several local utilities under his control, which eventually became the basis for his company, the Energy Standard Group . In 1995 he moved back to Ukraine, where he maintained good relations with Pavlo Lasarenko , who was Prime Minister of Ukraine from 1996 to 1997 . After his resignation, Hryhoryschyn forged an alliance with the oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk . This broke up in 2002 when Hryhoryschyn was imprisoned for one week for illegal possession of weapons and cocaine. After his release, Hryhoryschyn fled to Russia again. From there he supported the Orange Revolution in Ukraine in 2004 , and he also maintained close economic ties with the later Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko , whom he also supported politically. In the beginning there were also close relations with Viktor Yushchenko , who was President of Ukraine from 2005 to 2010. After Hryhoryschyn accused the Yushchenko government of corruption in 2008 , this alliance broke up and Hryhoryschyn was even banned from entering Ukraine. In 2010, Hryhoryshyn acquired Cypriot citizenship.

Under President Poroshenko

Hryhoryschyn's role during the presidency of his confidante Petro Poroshenko is controversial. During this period he is accused of having used his influence on the government in the style of an oligarch for his own economic benefit, including by bringing confidants into important offices and management positions. Again and again allegations of corruption against Hryhoryschyn came up, including in tenders in the energy sector, which is still the most important economic activity for Hryhoryschyn. In 2015, a criminal tax evasion case against Hryhoryzhyn was opened in Russia , as a result of which he was again mainly in Ukraine. He was convicted in Russia in April 2015, but could not be arrested due to his absence. He then accepted Ukrainian citizenship .

In 2017, the High Court of Justice ruled Hryhoryschyn and his Energy Standard Group to pay US $ 300 million to companies belonging to his former business partner, Vladimir Lukyanenko. The reason for the verdict is the illegal transfer of profits from a joint venture in which both were involved.

Eastern Ukraine conflict

As part of the war in Ukraine since 2014 , Hryhoryschyn also came under criticism again. The reason for this is in particular the Luhansk Energy Association, which is a subsidiary of Hryhoryschyns Standard Energy Group. As Luhansk is one of the focal points of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, business activity in this region has been questioned as the company has been accused of supporting the Russian separatists with its activities. In response to the criticism, the separatists set up their own energy supplier, which took over many plants from the Luhansk Energy Association. The close cooperation between the two companies fueled rumors of Hryhoryschyn's cooperation with Russia. Hryhoryschyn was also affected by the new Russian sanctions against Ukrainian business people and companies from November 1, 2018.

politics

Hryhoryschyn uses his wealth again and again to support politicians or political parties. Among other things, he supported Petro Poroshenko on his way to the presidency. In addition, his financial commitment was particularly aimed at liberal parties. He also occasionally supports the Communist Party of Ukraine . He has a certain nostalgia for the Soviet Union because he sees it as a more progressive and prosperous state than the Ukraine today. But he condemns the totalitarian features of the system. Nonetheless, he has great visions for Ukraine; he is counting on an economic upswing with annual growth rates of 6 to 7%. In addition, he repeatedly criticizes the corruption and influence of the oligarchs in public, but sees himself confronted with similar allegations.

Others

Hryhoryschyn is married and has three children. He is a major art collector whose collection has been valued at US $ 300 million. He is also a big fan of swimming . In order to promote the development of this sport, he founded the International Swimming League , which aims to contribute to the spread and commercialization of the sport.

supporting documents

• Article on Grigorishin at Kyiv Post

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Konstantin Grigorishin. Retrieved October 4, 2019 . 
2. ↑ Sara Farolfi, David Pegg, Stelios Orphanides: The billionaires investing in Cyprus in exchange for EU passports . In: The Guardian . September 17, 2017, ISSN  0261-3077 ( theguardian.com [accessed October 4, 2019]).
3. ^ London Court arrests assets of Grigorishin's Energy Standard Group - media. Retrieved October 4, 2019 (American English). 
4. ^ Making Sense of Russia's New Draconian Sanctions on Ukraine. In: Atlantic Council. November 2, 2018, Retrieved October 4, 2019 (American English). 
5. ↑ The International Swimming League's Konstantin Grigorishin is a rebel with a cause. Retrieved October 4, 2019 .