Gennady Timchenko

Gennady Nikolayevich Timchenko (also spelled Guennadi Timtchenko; _ru. Геннадий Николаевич Тимченко) is a prominent Russian businessman, citizen of both Russia and Finland [ [http://www2.hs.fi/english/archive/news.asp?id=20040217IE1 Kremlin favourite Gennadi Timchenko is Finnish citizen] by Pekka Hakala Helsingin Sanomat Feb 17 2004.] , currently living in Geneva, Switzerland. The May 2008 issue of Russian Forbes listed him for the first time in its "Golden Hundred" of Russia's richest and introduced him and another new entrant to the "List" Yuriy Kovalchuk as "good acqaintances of Vladimir Putin." [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/sphereNews/idUSL234792120080423?sp=true&view=sphere Kremlin-linked tycoon eyes Russia media firm-report] reuters.com Apr 23, 2008.] The magazine placed him at number 43 (Russians only list) with estimated fortune of $2.5 billion USD. In May 2008, he publicly maintained that his "career of more than 20 years in the oil industry has not been built on favours or political connections". [ [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9ed1d460-279a-11dd-b7cb-000077b07658.html Gunvor, Putin and me: the truth about Russian oil trader] , FT.com, May 22, 2008]

He served in the First Chief Directorate of KGB (Foreign intelligence).cite web|url=http://www.runewsweek.ru/rubrics/print.php?rubric=country&rid=1598|title=Кому кто повезет|publisher=Russian Newsweek|date=January 15, 2007|accessdate=2008-05-10] In 1987 – 1994 he led the state-owned Kirishineftekhimexport enterprise.

He is also believed to have full control over Swiss oil trading company Gunvor Services SA. According to the interview with the managing director of Gunvor Torbjörn Törnqvist they share 50-50 ownership of the company. Timchenko's fortune was estimated by market analysts at between 9.5 and 14.4 billion dollars. [cite web|url=http://www.rbcdaily.ru/2007/11/01/tek/300995|title=Миллиардер Тимченко|publisher=RBK Daily|date=November 1, 2007|accessdate=2008-05-10]

In February 2004, Ivan Rybkin, a contender running for the Russian presidency, former speaker of the State Duma and former member of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, claimed that incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin was involved in shady business activities together with Timchenko, and that Timchenko effectively had control over Russian oil giant Surgutneftegaz. [cite web|url=http://www.rferl.org/reports/mm/2004/02/3-130204.asp|title='In this context, you can't really be a journalist'|publisher=Radio Liberty|date=February 13, 2004|accessdate=2008-05-10] It was later alleged that Putin controlled thirty seven percent share of Surgutneftegaz. [cite web
last =Quiring
first =Von Manfred
title = Warum Putin gar nicht Präsident bleiben will
work =
publisher =Die Welt
date = 12 November 2007
url = http://www.welt.de/politik/article1352592/Warum_Putin_gar_nicht_Praesident_bleiben_will.html
accessdate = 2007-12-04]

References and notes

External links

* [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ffb58e54-2216-11dd-a50a-000077b07658.html Friends in high places?] By Catherine Belton and Neil Buckley, Financial Times, May 15 2008
* [http://www.runewsweek.ru/rubrics/print.php?rubric=country&rid=1598 Кому кто повезет] by Игорь Прокопьев, Елена Вранцева, Андрей Деменков. Russian Newsweek, #3 (129), January 152007.
* [http://anticompromat.ru/timchenko/timchbio.html Biography] by Vladimir Pribylovsky (in Russian).
* [http://www.robertamsterdam.com/france/2007/07/les_bonnes_affaires_de_guennad.html Les bonnes affaires de Guennadi Timtchenko] fr icon