Dmytro Firtash

Dmytro Firtash
Дмитро́ Фі́рташ
Born (1965-05-02) 2 May 1965
Bohdanivka, Ukraine, Soviet Union
Occupation Businessman
Website dmitryfirtash.com

Dmytro Vasylovych Firtash (Ukrainian: Дмитро́ Васи́льович Фі́рташ) Firtash[1] was born on 2 May 1965 in Bohdanivka (within Zalishchiky Raion of Ternopil oblast), Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, now Synkiv, Ukraine. As a middleman for the Russian natural gas giant Gazprom, Firtash funneled money into the campaigns of pro-Russia politicians in Ukraine.[2]

Dmytro Firtash is a Ukrainian businessman, investor and philanthropist. He is head of the board of directors of Group DF.[3] He was President of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine (FEU),[4] He was Chairman of the National Tripartite Social and Economic Council (NTSEC),[5] He was Co-Chairman of Domestic and Foreign Investors Advisory Council under the Ministry of Education, Science, Youth and Sports of Ukraine,[6] and he was a member of the Committee for Economic Reforms under the President of Ukraine.[7]

Since the Maidan revolution of 2014, he has not yet returned to Ukraine. The current status of many of his various offices and titles within Ukraine are not clear; specifically those not directly related to his own business holdings. To date, he has retained ownership of his assets within Ukraine, including those areas presently under Russian control. He is wanted in the United States on charges of bribery, relating to his business in the titanium industry. In November 2016 the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office of Spain put Firtash on the international wanted list for alleged money laundering.[8]

Assets

Firtash is co-owner of RosUkrEnergo and controls much of Ukraine's titanium business. He gained control of previously state-owned titanium assets across Ukraine in 2004. He also owns several chemical plants.[9] In May 2011, Firtash took over Nadra Bank (at the time Ukraine's 11th largest bank). Nadra Bank had gone into default in 2009 but it has since restructured its foreign debt with significant write-offs.[10]

Firtash was elected President of the Joint Representative Body,a joint representative agency of employers at the national level, on 29 November 2011.[11]

Firtash has become one of the leading investors in the power sector and chemical industry in Central and Eastern Europe.[12] His plants and companies are present in Ukraine, Germany, Italy, Cyprus, Tajikistan, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria and Estonia. The international group of companies Group DF ('The Firtash group of companies') founded by Firtash in 2007 consolidates assets in the chemical industry, power sector and real estate.

In 2010, Firtash launched an effort towards consolidation of the Ukrainian nitrogen business. From September 2010 to September 2011, Firtash acquired ownership in 'Concern STIROL' (Horlivka), 'Severodonetsk Production Association Azot' and 'Cherkassy Azot'.[13] In just over a year, the joint marketing strategy of the four fertilizers manufacturers owned by Firtash substantially strengthened its domestic market position. The businessman is also actively pursuing an agenda of titanium industries development.[14]

Business career

Firtash started in business almost immediately after completing his military service. He founded his own trading company first in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, eventually moving to (the capital of Russia) Moscow in the early 1990s.

In 2007, a private international group of companies, Group DF ("the Firtash group of companies") was formed to consolidate Dmitry Firtash's business assets in different sectors. Presently, Group DF incorporates assets in the chemical industry, energy sector and real estate, and this consolidation effort is still underway.

In 2010, Firtash launched an effort towards consolidation of the Ukrainian nitrogen business. From September 2010 to September 2011, Firtash acquired ownership in Concern STIROL (Gorlovka), Severodonetsk Production Association Azot and Cherkassy Azot. In just over a year, the joint marketing strategy of the four fertilizer manufacturers owned by Firtash substantially strengthened its domestic market position. He is also actively pursuing an agenda of titanium industry development.[15]

Firtash bought 100 percent of InterInter Media Group Limited (back) from Valeriy Khoroshkovskyi on 1 February 2013, for his GDF Media Limited.[16] In June 2007 Khoroshkovskyi had expanded his U.A. Inter Media Group Ltd with various other channels bought from Firtash.[17]

In April 2014 Dmitry Firtash stated[18] that "despite the difficult conditions of doing business in Ukraine, as well as the political crisis", OSTCHEM enterprises, part of Firtash's Group DF, continued to ramp up production.[19][20][21] The investments directed to the development and modernization of OSTCHEM enterprises allowed significant increases in the production capacities of Rivne Azot, Stirol Concern, and Crimea soda plant in Q1 2014.[22]

In September 2016, having worked in the position of the President of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine for 5 years, Firtash stated that it was necessary to make the rotation in the management of this organization and resigned the position of the FEU President.[23]

Political career

In spring 2002, Dmitry Firtash tried to go to the Parliament being member of the all-Ukrainian political association "Women for the Future", which was under the patronage of Lyudmyla Kuchma, wife of the then President of Ukraine. However, the association "Women for the Future" won only 2.11% of votes[24] and Firtash didn't get to Parliament.

Charity

Firtash is a member of the Guild of Cambridge Benefactors, set up in 1998 to recognize the generosity of major benefactors over £1 million to the University and Cambridge Colleges.[25] At a Guild of Cambridge Benefactors' event held on 19 March 2014 to honor the University's most prestigious donors, his wife Lada Firtash was in attendance. A group which calls itself Positive Investment Cambridge (PIC) handed out leaflets and daffodils to donors attending the event that called for the University to "spring clean" its donations.[26]

Firtash has been active in initiating and developing programs aimed at promoting Ukraine at the international arena.

In 2008, on Firtash's initiative and with his financial support, the University of Cambridge (UK)[27] established a Cambridge Ukrainian Studies aimed at promoting the study of Ukraine's rich cultural heritage in the United Kingdom and beyond. [nb 1]

Firtash has been supporting a series of other massive educational projects. An example of such philanthropic support is his financing of construction of the Ukrainian Catholic University campus in the city of Lviv.

The entrepreneur is actively involved in projects aiming at the international promotion of Ukrainian culture.[nb 2]

In 2012 The University of Cambridge is delighted to announce that Dmitry Firtash has been nominated to receive the Chancellor's 800th Anniversary Campaign Medal for Outstanding Philanthropy, which will be presented at an exclusive ceremony in Cambridge in October 2012 by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz.

Stance

From the beginning of the political crises in Ukraine, Firtash had a clear-cut position concerning Euromaidan.[32][33] On 30 January 2014 he called for a peaceful and civilized conflict resolution.[34]

In May 2014, when interviewed by Inter TV channel, Firtash, Head of the Board of Group DF, stated that Ukraine must be strong, neutral and independent. He also pointed out that the top priority faced by Ukraine is to legitimize the government, which can only become a possibility after running the elections.

Controversy

Firtash is a controversial figure in Ukraine.[35] According to documents uncovered during the United States diplomatic cables leak in 2010, Firtash told U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor of needing permission from alleged Russian crime boss Semyon Mogilevich to do business in Ukraine during the lawless 1990s.[36] The same documents suggest that Firtash also claimed to be friends with President Viktor Yushchenko.[37] Firtash denied the remarks.[36] Allegedly, Gazprom, a Russian natural-gas extraction company, had asked Mogilevich to oversee natural-gas deliveries from Russia to Ukraine via gas intermediary RosUkrEnergo. All parties deny connections with Mogilevich.[36] Other cables said Firtash and Mogilevich were linked through ostensible offshore company vehicles either by joint ownership through former spouses or through Firtash heading companies in which Mogilevich's former spouse was the shareholder.[38] It was also suspected that Raiffeisen Bank, an Austrian-based bank, was a front to legitimize RosUkrEnergo.[38]

On 16 June 2009, Yulia Tymoshenko accused fellow candidates in the 2010 Ukrainian presidential election, Viktor Yushchenko, Arseniy Yatseniuk and Viktor Yanukovych of having the same campaign headquarters financed by Firtash.[39][40] On 26 April 2011 Tymoshenko sued Firtash and RosUkrEnergo in a U.S. District Court in Manhattan accusing them of "defrauding Ukraine's citizenry by manipulating an arbitration court ruling, "undermining the rule of law in Ukraine" in connection with the 2010 international arbitration court ruling in Stockholm that ordered Ukraine's state energy company Naftogaz to pay RosUkrEnergo 11 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural-gas to compensate for fuel it had "expropriated" plus 1.1 billion bcm as a penalty.[41][42]

According to media reports, in 2010, Firtash was involved in financing of Viktor Yanukovych's presidential campaign.[43]

Allegedly Firtash and influential multi-time Minister Yuriy Boiko "are close associates".[44][45][46][47]

Certain analysts and Ukrainian politicians believe that Firtash is a secret force behind the sentencing of Yulia Tymoshenko in 2011 either as revenge or because of his "lucrative relations" with Russia he is deliberately hindering Ukraine's European Union integration.[48] Firtash was accused in a New York court of "masterminding" Tymoshenko's imprisonment; the case was dismissed in March 2013.[49]

In the 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election Firtash was perceived as being one of UDAR's main sponsors.[50] This has been denied by UDAR.[51]

On 23 July 2013 brothers Ilya and Vadim Segal, the New York-based owners of Dancroft Holdings, brought charges in New York County Supreme Court against Firtash and Nadra Bank, Ukraine's eighth-largest bank.[52][nb 3]

In March 2014 Firtash on behalf of the business circles of Ukraine addressed to the Head of the Russian Union of Industrials and Entrepreneurs Aleksandr Shokhin and the entire business community of Russia concerning situation on the political arena and called Russian businessmen for stopping the war between Russia and Ukraine.[57]

On 13 March 2014, Austrian authorities arrested Firtash on bribery and other charges at the request of American law enforcement agencies.[58] On 30 April 2015 announcing the decision of the court the judge Christoph Bauer named "at least partially politically motivated accusations" made by US justice as one of the reasons for the extradition refusal. It was found that during more than a year that passed since his arrest in Vienna the US justice system has not provided sufficient evidence to Austrian court that Firtash paid bribes in India, in particular the US has not passed the witnesses interview protocols. Firtash was released from custody in Vienna after being ordered to pay the bail of €125m (£105m, $172m), the largest in Austrian legal history.[nb 4][nb 5][nb 6]

Firtash told reporters after the trail that he was planning to return to Ukraine after receiving the adjudication.[8] But next December, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov stated that Firtash would be detained on his return to Ukraine in connection with a relevant request by the United States Department of Justice.[8]

In November 2016 Firtash was placed on the international wanted list by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office of Spain for alleged money laundering.[8]

Notes

  1. ↑ As part of this program, Cambridge's students from across the globe attend an academic course of Ukrainian Studies that includes the Ukrainian language, literature, cinematography, culture and history.[28] Prominent international researchers of Ukraine are invited to lecture and host workshops on topical issues pertinent to both Ukraine's history and preset. The University of Cambridge also holds literary readings, art exhibitions and the Annual Cambridge Ukrainian Film Festival.[29] Over the history of its existence, the Cambridge Ukrainian Studies Program has truly become Ukraine's informal humanitarian mission in the United Kingdom. Another charity initiative by Firtash enabled the establishment of the Cambridge-Ukraine Studentships that made it possible for eligible students from Ukraine to seek a Master's degree at the University of Cambridge. The scholarships cover the cost of both tuition and accommodation for qualified students.
  2. ↑ His donation made it possible to organize and hold the second International Poetry Festival Meridian Czernowitz.[30] A series of benchmarking events in Ukraine's cultural life – films screening and festivities on occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Ukrainian actor Bohdan Stupka – became a well-known success largely due to Firtash's benefaction.[31] Among other Firtash's charity work is assistance to Ukrainian professional theaters. The celebration of the 75th anniversary of Kherson Regional Musical and Drama Theater largely owes its success to the philanthropist's endowment. In addition to that, his sponsorship support enabled a major restoration of material and technical resources of Chernivtsi Regional Musical and Drama Theater which became a generous gift on occasion of the theater's 80th anniversary.
  3. ↑ The suit accuses Firtash, the banks owner, of seizing their assets via "sham lawsuits" over debt, and of using his connections with President Viktor Yanukovich to guarantee the outcomes in court cases.[49] The suit stated that the former head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Valeriy Khoroshkovskyi, is a business partner of Firtash, together with head of the presidential administration Serhiy Lyovochkin, and former Ukrainian energy minister, (at the time of the complaint) Deputy Prime Minister Yuriy Boiko. According to the complaint, the SBU, in bringing charges against the Segals, was simply acting on behalf of Firtash.[53] On 19 February 2014 Firtash made a public statement addressing[54][55] to the President of Ukraine, Cabinet of Ministers, leaders of parliamentary majority and parliamentary opposition and called Ukrainian political forces for stopping power struggle in the state and immediately starting political crises resolution in the Parliament.[56]
  4. ↑ He says in the video, "thankfully, I have the utmost confidence in the Austrian judicial system and will use all legal means to prove my innocence".[59] However, he was more scathing with the US authorities, who he claims are landing him with allegations that are "completely absurd and unfounded". He is one of the biggest investors in Ukraine, employing more than 100,000 workers in the country, and is a major international benefactor who has donated $230 million in the past three years, including charitable projects in the US, UK and Ukraine.[60]
  5. ↑ The New York Times commented on the decision as amounting to a "scathing rebuke of the Justice and State Departments", reflecting the diminished credibility of the United States authorities, even in the eyes of a European ally. During the process Judge Bauer said "that he did not doubt the veracity of two witnesses cited by American prosecutors in their filings, "but whether these witnesses even existed," because the Justice Department had repeatedly refused to provide requested information or respond to questions".[61]
  6. ↑ Firtash says that indictment issued by the USA against him is absurd and baseless. This was stated in the businessman's video address.[62] Firtash stresses that he and the whole Ukraine have turned out to be in the center of geopolitical battle between the USA and Russia. And he considers all accusations against him as politically motivated.[63][64] He also said that being a Ukrainian citizen he was waiting for the presidential elections and hoped to build stable and prosperous state together with fellow citizens. "I will not allow my reputation being spoiled by the enemies with political motivations that have nothing in common with interests of Ukraine and its citizens".[65] Staying in Austria Firtash gave an interview to his own Inter TV channel in which he called Ukrainian business for uniting, supporting the state and helping it to overcome the economic crises.[66] He also promised to provide funds to Ukrainian army.[67]

References

  1. ↑ Personal site of Dmitry Firtash. Dmitryfirtash.com (15 July 2011). Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  2. ↑ Myers, Steven Lee; Kramer, Andrew (July 31, 2016). "How Paul Manafort Wielded Power in Ukraine Before Advising Donald Trump". The New York Times. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  3. ↑ About Group DF
  4. ↑ Site of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine. Fru.org.ua (21 March 2014). Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  5. ↑ The National Tripartite Social and Economic Council. Ntser.gov.ua. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  6. ↑ The Ministry of Education, Science, Youth and Sports of Ukraine
  7. ↑ The Committee for Economic Reforms under the President of Ukraine. Kontrakty.ua. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Spain puts Ukrainian businessman Firtash on wanted list, Interfax-Ukraine (26 November 2016)
  9. ↑ Site of Group DF
  10. ↑ Ukrainian tycoon Firtash takes over bank Nadra, Reuters. 4 May 2011.
  11. ↑ Firtash elected head of Federation of Employers of Ukraine, Kyiv Post. Kyiv Post. 6 December 2010.
  12. ↑ Worldfolio. "By making my company big and competitive, I make Ukraine big and competitive.". Worldfolio.co.uk. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  13. ↑ Ft. "Firtash acquires third chemical plant"
  14. ↑ Interfax. "Group DF acquires 32.7% stake in Italian titanium alloy producer via its affiliated company". Interfax.com.ua (20 October 2012). Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  15. ↑ Interfax. "Ukraine's economic news Group DF acquires 32.7% stake in Italian titanium alloy producer via its affiliated company". Interfax.com.ua (20 October 2012). Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  16. ↑ Khoroshkovsky sells Inter channel to Firtash (UPDATED), Kyiv Post (1 February 2013)
  17. ↑ "Khoroshkovsky Creates New Media Giant in Ukraine". Kommersant. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2010. (English) (Russian)
    Oligarchs strengthen grip over TV. Kyiv Post (19 August 2011)
    Tax administration to check on TV channels of Inter media group, Kyiv Post (4 January 2012)
  18. ↑ Підприємства OSTCHEM нарощують виробництва. Ua.dmitryfirtash.com. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  19. ↑ Ostchem не отказывается от инвестиционных планов на 2014 год. Rccnews.ru. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  20. ↑ Рівнеазот нарощує виробництво вапняково-аміачної селітри. Ogo.ua. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  21. ↑ Предприятия холдинга OSTCHEM продолжат работу и после окончания посевной. Rosinvest.com (14 April 2003). Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  22. ↑ У Фірташа заявляють, що не зупинятимуть роботу черкаського "Азоту" та інших хімзаводів. Pro-vincia.com.ua. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  23. ↑ A new leadership of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine elected
  24. ↑ Voting results for parties (blocs). Online CEC. Archive for 27/06/2013 Source. Cited 19.03.2014., Menu: → Results of voting Results of voting in the multi (for parties) → 8. "Women for the Future" All-Ukrainian Political Union
  25. ↑ The Guild of Cambridge Benefactors. Trinhall.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "University of Cambridge Students Asks University to 'Spring Clean' Its Donations". Positive Investment Cambridge. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  27. ↑ Cambridge Ukrainian Studies. Personal Site of Dmitry Firtash. Dmitryfirtash.com. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  28. ↑ Cambridge Ukrainian Studies. Facebook.com. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  29. ↑ Cambridge Ukrainian Studies Program Is Ukraine's Unofficial Embassy At The World's Best University. Dmitryfirtash.com. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  30. ↑ Sponsorship of the 2nd Poetry Festival Meridian Czernowitz. Dmitryfirtash.com. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  31. ↑ Jubilee Events Celebrating Bohdan Stupka's 70th Anniversary. Dmitryfirtash.com. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  32. ↑ "Рівнеазот" буде нарощувати виробництво селітри. Pdm.ogo.ua. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  33. ↑ Черкаський "Азот" продовжить свою роботу. Provce.ck.ua (18 April 2014). Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  34. ↑ ЗТМК в березні 2014 р. збільшив виробництво титанової губки на 8,8% – до 505 т. Gmk.rbc.ua (30 April 2014). Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  35. ↑ Firtash denies Mogilevich ties; won’t discuss cable, Kyiv Post (3 December 2010)
  36. 1 2 3 "WikiLeaks Reveals Sensitive U.S. Talks. — Firtash, Mogilevich Ties". Kyiv Post. 3 December 2010
  37. ↑ Korduban, Pavel (9 December 2010). WikiLeaks Confirms Role Played by Firtash in Ukrainian Politics. Georgian Daily. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  38. 1 2 Rachkevych, Mark (3 December 2010). "U.S. Official: Austrian Bank's Ties to RosUkrEnergo Suspicious". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  39. ↑ Tymoshenko: Yushchenko, Yatseniuk, and Yanukovych have one headquarters for three, UNIAN. 16 June 2009
  40. ↑ Yuschenko and Yatseniuk are 'technical candidates' for Yanukovych, says Tymoshenko. Interfax-Ukraine. 16 June 2009
  41. ↑ Ukrainian ex-PM sues gas company, businessman in US court, Reuters. 27 April 2011
  42. ↑ Prisoner of independence, Novaya Gazeta. 12 October 2011
  43. ↑ In Vienna arrested a Ukrainian businessman Dmitry Firtash
  44. ↑ Russian Patriarch prays for Yanukovych, honors Firtash and Boyko (updated), Kyiv Post. 2 October 2011
  45. ↑ Mercedes Balmaceda, Margarita (2008). Energy Dependency, Politics and Corruption in the Former Soviet Union: Russia's Power, Oligarchs' Profits and Ukraine's Missing Energy Policy, 1995–2006. Routledge. pp. 124–. ISBN 978-0-415-43779-0.
  46. ↑ The Underbelly of Ukrainian Gas Dealings, Der Spiegel (30 December 2010)
  47. ↑ Naftohaz Ukrainy Management Change Indicates Turn to Russia, Georgian Daily. 25 March 2010.
  48. ↑ EU Hopes Fade As Gas Lobby Triumphs, Kyiv Post (16 December 2011)
  49. 1 2 "Ukrainian Tycoon Firtash Sued in NYC". RiaNovosti. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  50. ↑ After the parliamentary elections in Ukraine: a tough victory for the Party of Regions, Centre for Eastern Studies (7 November 2012)
  51. ↑ Klitschko: UDAR's election campaign to cost Hr 90 million, Kyiv Post (15 September 2012)
  52. ↑ New York businessmen sue Dmitry Firtash and Nadra Bank – World – News – Ukraine Business Online. Ukrainebusiness.com.ua. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  53. ↑ Ukraine billionaire accused of fraud and coercion in US lawsuit | Business New Europe. Bne.eu. 31 July 2013.
  54. ↑ Фірташ вперше відреагував на Майдан: закликає до компромісу. Pravda.com.ua. 30 January 2014.
  55. ↑ Позиція Дмитра Фірташа відносно останніх подій в Україні. Ua.dmitryfirtash.com. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  56. ↑ (Ukrainian) Фірташ закликав зупинити збройне протистояння. Day.kiev.ua. 7 October 2011.
  57. ↑ Фірташ закликав російських бізнесменів зупинити війну між Росією та Україною. Dt.ua. Retrieved on 30 May 2014
  58. ↑ Herszenhorn, David (13 March 2014). "At Request of U.S., Austria Arrests Ukrainian Businessman". New York Times. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  59. ↑ Ukrainian Oligarch Dmytro Firtash: I'm Caught in the Middle of Russia and US Battleground. Ibtimes.co.uk (4 April 2014). Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  60. ↑ Ukrainian Oligarch Dmytro Firtash: I'm Caught in the Middle of Russia and US Battleground Dmytro Firtash: I am sure that all of these false allegations will be dismissed. Ibtimes.co.uk. 4 April 2014.
  61. ↑ Judge Rebuffs U.S. in Rejecting Extradition of Ukraine Billionaire, NYT by DAVID M. HERSZENHORN, APRIL 30, 2015
  62. ↑ Заявление Председателя Совета Группы компаний Group DF Дмитрия Фирташа. Youtube.com. 3 April 2014.
  63. ↑ Фірташ: я опинився в епіцентрі протистояння США і Росії. Radiosvoboda.org. 4 April 2014.
  64. ↑ Фірташ обіцяє довести свою невинність. Youtube
  65. ↑ "Я опинився в епіцентрі протистояння США і Росії", – Фірташ. Molbuk.ua. Retrieved on 30 May 2014.
  66. ↑ Дмитрий Фирташ: Украинское общество должно объединиться. Facenews.ua. 24 March 2014.
  67. ↑ Фирташ обещает денег украинской армии и предлагает всем объединиться. ru.tsn.ua. 24 March 2014 (Russian)

Unannotated references

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