- Leonid Nevzlin
-
Leonid Nevzlin 
Leonid Nevzlin by Anton NossikBorn September 21, 1959 (age 52)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet UnionResidence Herzliya, Tel Aviv District, Israel Ethnicity Jewish[1] Citizenship Israel Alma mater Gubkin Institute of Oil and Gas Occupation Association with Yukos Leonid Borisovich Nevzlin (Russian: Леонид Борисович Невзлин; Hebrew: לאוניד בוריסוביץ' נבזלין; born September 21, 1959 in Moscow) is a Russian-Israeli businessman. Nevzlin was a high ranking executive at Yukos, once a Russian oil firm before it was extinguished by the Russian government. That government is requesting his extradition due to hotly disputed criminal allegations against him and other former executives in Yukos.[2][3] In 2008 he was tried in absentia and found guilty of several counts of conspiracy to murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Nevzlin called the court case a show trial orchestrated by Vladimir Putin [4]
Contents
Early life and career
Nevzlin graduated from the Gubkin Institute of Oil and Gas in 1981.
Business career
He worked for the Soviet Ministry of Geology. In 1981-1987 he was a software engineer in ZarubezhGeologia, an external trade organization of the then-Soviet Ministry of Geology. In 1987 he met Mikhail Khodorkovsky and became a Deputy Director in Center for Scientific and Engineering Creativity of Youths at Frunzensky Raion Committee of VLKSM (Центр научно-технического творчества молодежи "МЕНАТЕП" при Фрунзенском РК ВЛКСМ)[5]
In 1989-1991 he worked as the President of Menatep Bank. In parallel he took Management and Marketing courses at the Plekhanov Institute. In 1991 to 1996 he occupied various high ranking positions at the Menatep Bank and Group Menatep. In April 1996 he became Vice President of Yukos at the time owned by Menatep.[5]
Nevzlin participated in the Russian presidential election, 1996 helping to reelect Boris Yeltsin and was awarded Order of Friendship for his efforts. In September 1997-October 1998 Nevzlin served as first deputy general director of the Russian news agency ITAR TASS (keeping his Yukos positions). In April 1998 Nevzlin became the First Vice Chairman of Menatep board and in 1999 after the Bank Menatep's bankruptcy amidst the 1998 Russian financial crisis he became the First Vice Chairman of Yukos board.[5]
From March to December 2001 Nevzlin served as president of the Russian Jewish Congress.[5] He was a key player in Jewish historical and heritage research projects, including the establishment of the Moscow Jewish Cultural Center and the International Center for Russian and Eastern European Jewish Studies in Moscow. Moreover, Nevzlin contributed to numerous other Jewish educational programs developed in collaboration with World ORT[citation needed], the Jewish Agency for Israel, where he serves on the Board of Governors, and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee[citation needed].
In November 2001 - March 2003 Nevzlin represented Mordovia as a senator in the Federation Council of Russia. From June to November 2003 he served as the Rector of the Russian State University for the Humanities.[5]
In 2003 and 2004 Nezlin was in Forbes List of the 100 wealthiest people. His wealth was estimated at US$2 billion.[5]
Activities in Israel
Since moving to Israel, Nevzlin has expanded his philanthropic work. His first project in Israel was the creation of The Leonid Nevzlin Research Center for Russian and Eastern European Jewry located at Jerusalem's Hebrew University; similar centers also exist in Moscow, Vilnius and Kiev[citation needed].[6] Nevzlin has also established the NADAV Fund in partnership with Keren Hayesod – United Israel Appeal [1], which supports projects in Jewish studies and education, Israel-Diaspora relations and Jewish peoplehood.[7]
In collaboration with the Israeli government, Nevzlin created a relief fund in 2004 to help preserve Beth Hatefutsoth, the Nahum Goldmann Museum of the Jewish Diaspora [2] in Tel Aviv, and was elected as chairman of its International Board of Governors.[8] He also supports the Nevzlin Program for the Study of Jewish Civilization at Tel Aviv University. In addition, the NADAV Fund played a critical role in opening the International School for Jewish Peoplehood Studies at Beth Hatefutsoth[citation needed].
On June 12, 2011, it was announced that Nevzlin had purchased a 20% stake in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, for NIS 140m. Nevzlin's acquisition leaves the Schocken family with a 60 percent stake in the company. [9] Nevzlin is the author of books "Человек с рублем" ("Man with rouble"; coauthored with Khodorkovsky) and "Public Relations - кому это надо?" (Public Relations - who needs them).[5]
Nevzlin has married twice and has two daughters.[5]
References
- ^ http://www.engology.com/eng5nevzlin.htm
- ^ Генпрокуратура: Невзлин организовывал убийства BBC 15 February 2008
- ^ A Top Yukos Shareholder Is Charged With Murder The New York Times June 24, 2008
- ^ BBC News, August 1, 2008, Yukos figure 'guilty of murders'
- ^ a b c d e f g h Leonid Nevzlin collection of materials at Lenta.ru (Russian)
- ^ http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=224627
- ^ http://www.nadavfund.org.il/projects
- ^ http://www.bh.org.il/news-item.aspx?63113
- ^ Globes report on Nevzlin's investment in Ha'aretz
External links
Categories:- 1959 births
- Fugitive financiers
- Russian emigrants to Israel
- Israeli billionaires
- Israeli businesspeople
- Israeli Jews
- Russian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment
- Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Russia
- Living people
- Oil magnates
- Russian businesspeople
- Israeli people of Russian origin
- Russian Jews
- Russian politicians
- Russian oil industrialists
- Soviet engineers
- Yukos
- People from Moscow
- Fugitives wanted by Russia
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