Alisher Usmanov | |
|---|---|
Алишер Усманов | |
 Usmanov in 2013 | |
| Born | (1953-09-09)9 September 1953 (age 72) |
| Citizenship | Russia, Uzbekistan |
| Alma mater | Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) |
| Occupations | Businessman, investor |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Known for |
|
| Criminal charges | Fraud, embezzlement (1980, vacated 2000) |
| Criminal penalty | 8 years imprisonment (served 6, 1980–1986) |
| Spouse | |
| Awards |
|
| President of theInternational Fencing Federation | |
| In office 2008–2022 | |
| Preceded by | René Roch |
| Succeeded by | Himself (2024) |
| In office 30 November 2024 – 4 December 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Emmanuel Katsiadakis (Interim) |
| Succeeded by | Emmanuel Katsiadakis (Interim) |
Alisher Burkhanovich Usmanov (Uzbek:Alisher Burxonovich Usmonov, Russian:Алишер Бурханович Усманов; born 9 September 1953) is a Russian-Uzbek businessman widely considered to be aRussian oligarch. Usmanov is the 149th richest person in the world according toForbes, with a net worth of $16.8 billion, largely due to his 49% ownership stake inMetalloinvest.[1][2]
Usmanov was a successful entrepreneur in the Soviet Union in the 1980s but made substantial wealth after the collapse of theSoviet Union primarily through investments in metal and mining operations as well as large early investments in technology companies such asFacebook,Twitter,VK, andAlibaba Group.[3][4]
In addition to his stake in Metalloinvest, he owns theKommersant publishing house, is a co-owner ofMegaFon, a mobile telephone operator, and co-owner of theUdokan mine, which develops one of the largest copper deposits in the world.
He has been the president of theFédération Internationale d'Escrime, the international governing body of the sport offencing, since 2008.[5] Amid international sanctions, Usmanov temporarily suspended his duties as the FIE President in 2022 and 2024 after his re-election.[6]
From 1980 to 1986, when Usmanov was in his late 20s, he spent six years in a Soviet prison on charges of fraud and embezzlement, but his conviction was later overturned. In 2000, he underwentpolitical rehabilitation by theSupreme Court of Uzbekistan, which ruled that the case against him was trumped up and no crime had been committed.[7]
Usmanov has been described as having close ties to President of RussiaVladimir Putin, which he denies, and, as a result, he has been sanctioned by theUS, EU, UK, and Ukrainian governments since theRussian invasion of Ukraine.
Usmanov was born inUzbekistan in the provincial town ofChust.[3] He spent his childhood in the capitalTashkent, where his father was a state prosecutor, thus providing for a privileged life, and his mother, Dilbar taughtRussian language.[8][2]
Planning to pursue a career of a diplomat, he later moved to Moscow. After first failing to be accepted, one year later he was accepted to theMoscow State Institute of International Relations, from which he graduated in 1976 with a degree ininternational law.[9][3]
Usmanov then returned to Tashkent, where he was appointed director of the Foreign Economic Association of theSoviet Peace Committee.[10]
Usmanov was arrested and convicted on charges of fraud, corruption, and theft of state property, which charges included shaking down an Army officer, inUzbek SSR in August 1980.[9][11][12] From 1980, when he was 26 years old, until 1986, when he was 33 years old, he was imprisoned in a remote Uzbek prison for six years of an eight-year sentence.[13][14][15][16][17][3][18] In July 2000, his conviction wasvacated, nine years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, by the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan, which ruled that "the original conviction was unjust, no crime was ever committed, and that the evidence was fabricated."[13] His version of events has been questioned byCraig Murray, the British Ambassador to Uzbekistan from 2002 to 2004.[19] Years later, Usmanov's public relations firm tried to delete reference to his conviction and imprisonment from Wikipedia.[15]
Usmanov became a dollar millionaire in the years before the Soviet Union collapsed.[20] In the late 1980s, he set up a privately owned for-profit company, cooperative Agroplast which produced plastic bags, at a time when they were very scarce.[20] He enriched himself considerably after the collapse of the USSR, but always stressed that he never participated in the privatization of state property.[20][3]
Usmanov worked as the Deputy General Director of Intercross JSC from 1990 to 1994, and from 1994 to 1998, he headed Interfin Interbank Investment and Finance Company. He also acted as an Adviser to the General Director of Moscow Aviation Industrial Enterprise from 1994 to 1995, and served as the First Deputy Chairman of MAPO-Bank from 1995 to 1997. From November 1998 to February 2000 he was First Deputy General Director of Gazprom Vestholding LLC. From November 2000 to July 2001, he served as advisor to the chairman of the board of Gazprom. From February 2000 to October 2014, he served as general director of Gazprom Vestholding LLC, a subsidiary of Gazprom that focused on collection. In this position, Usmanov had Gazprom acquire Severneftegazprom, which owns the largest South Russian field, controlling stakes in Zapsibgazprom and Sibur, as well as over 50% of Stroytransgaz.[21][22] Usmanov left the company in 2014.[23]
In 1999, Usmanov co-foundedMetalloinvest withVasily Anisimov to make acquisitions in the metal industry. Unlike Russia's tycoons who won control of empires through loans-for-share privatization schemes of the 1990s, Usmanov built up Metalloinvest through a series of acquisitions in the secondary market.[24] Metalloinvest owns a wide range of Russian metal and mining businesses including Lebedinsky GOK and Mikhailovsky GOK; Oskol Elektrometallurgical Plant and Ural Steel steel mills and a ferrous scrap enterprise – Ural Scrap Company.
In March 2022, Metalloinvest sold the Ural Steel to Zagorsk Pipe Plant.[25][26]
Usmanov has a 49% share in USM, a global conglomerate with its main investments in metals and mining industry, telecommunications and technology.[27][28][29]
Between 2006 and 2008, Usmanov acquired stakes in Australia-based mining companies: Strike Resources (iron ore deposit inPeru), Medusa, Mt Gibson and Aztec Resources through Gallagher Holdings.[30] In 2013, it was remained USM Holdings after a merger with assets fromAndrei Skoch andFarhad Moshiri.[31]
In 2009, Metalloinvest Holding sold its 10.37% stake in Australian gold producer Medusa Mining for A$56 million.[32]
As of 2009, Metalloinvest was the second largest shareholder, after Mohammed Al Bawani (MB Holding), inNautilus Minerals.[33][34] These two shareholders took control of the company after its filed for bankruptcy in 2019.[35]
In November 2015, USM invested US$100 million in competitivevideo gameesports teamVirtus Pro.[36][37]
In 2021, USM and Metalloinvest announced plans to construct one of the world's largestHot-briquetted iron eco-plants inKursk Oblast to supply greener products used to make steel amid a growing focus to clean up the industry.[38]
In 2008, Metalloinvest bought the Udokan licence for $500mn, which was discovered in Soviet times and proved to be one of the world's largest copper deposit. Geologists estimate there are 26.7mn tonnes of copper ore under theJORC classification.[39]
In 2020, Baikal Mining Company (rebranded toUdokan copper) began strip mining at theUdokan mine, which had been untouched since 1949 due to the site's remoteness and extreme weather conditions.[40] The development of Udokan includes the construction of the first stage of a mining and metallurgical plant for the production of cathode copper and copper concentrate, as well as the production of up to 125,000 tpy of copper in addition to 12mn tonnes of ore.[41]
In 2008, Usmanov became acquainted withYuri Milner, and soon became a shareholder ofDST Global and VK (VK).[42][43]
Usmanov had 25.3% of interest in VK, and 60.6% of voting interest until he sold a $530 million stake and reduced his interests to 17.9 and 58.1% in 2013.[44]
In 2013, Usmanov, through VK, acquiredPavel Durov's shares in Vk.ru, to help Durov retain control under theTelegram app when UCP attempted to take control of Telegram.[45]
In December 2021, Usmanov sold his interests in VK to state-run insurerSogaz, of whichGazprom is the largest shareholder, claiming that he is exiting VK at its peak.[46][47]
In April 2012, companies affiliated with Alisher Usmanov acquired a majority interest in mobile telephone operator MegaFon.[48] Currently Usmanov holds 49% of USM Holdings, which owns MegaFon shares.[2]
In 2009,Mark Zuckerberg solicited investments inFacebook from Russian investors at a meeting brokered byGoldman Sachs. Usmanov made his first investment toFacebook in 2009 by Mail.ru, investing $200 million for a 1.96% stake that valued Facebook at $10 billion. He accepted Zuckerberg's conditions and did not receive voting rights on those shares.[49][50] Usmanov netted $1.4 billion from the sale of those shares in 2013.[51][24][52]
In 2011, DST Global made a $400 million investment inTwitter for 5% of the company.[53] The investment was sold in 2014.[54]
Through Mail.Ru Group, Usmanov made notable investments in other international technology companies, includingGroupon,Zynga,Airbnb,Zocdoc,Xiaomi,Alibaba Group andJD.com.[55][56]
In 2013, Usmanov invested $100 million inApple.[57] He disposed of his shares in early 2014.[58][59]
In September 2018, Mail.ru entered into a $2 billion joint venture with Alibaba to merge the online marketplaces of both companies in the Russian market and was backed by the Kremlin via theRussian Direct Investment Fund.[60][61]
In August 2006, Usmanov began to invest in media. He boughtKommersant, a newspaper formerly owned by Russian oligarchBoris Berezovsky,[1] for US$200 million. Usmanov also made a $25 million purchase of a 50% stake in Russian sports TV channel7TV in November 2006 and bought 75% of Russian TV music channelMuz-TV for $300 million in June 2007. A stake was sold toWalt Disney Company in 2011 for $300 million.[62]
He sold his TV assets to his business-partner Ivan Tavrin in 2017.[63]
In 2012, Usmanov announced plans to retire once he reached the “age of the prophet” (63 years old). In 2014, his retirement was implemented as he stepped down from active management positions, as well as shifted focus to philanthropic activities, including promoting the development of Uzbekistan, and sports. In 2023, he also resigned from the board of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.[64][65]
In 2020, Usmanov said in an interview with theFinancial Times that he will leave his assets to his family and USM management: "Many people have helped me. So I want to help my family and my management by giving them my shares. Fifty per cent to family, fifty per cent to management, who deserve this, in my view".[66]
Usmanov was a shareholder of the English football teamArsenal from 2007 to 2018. He moved into thefootball arena in August 2007 by acquiring a 14.58% stake in Arsenal. He and his business partnerFarhad Moshiri bought the stake in the club owned by former Arsenal vice-chairmanDavid Dein for £75 million.[67] Dein was appointed head of theirinvestment vehicle, Red and White Holdings, which became the largest shareholder in the club outside of members of the board of directors.
On 28 September 2007, Red and White Holdings increased its shareholding to 23%, making it the second-largest shareholder in the club behind Arsenal non-executive directorDanny Fiszman.[68] On 15 February 2008, he increased it to over 24%, just short of Fiszman's 24.11%.[69] He increased it to 25% on 16 February 2009.[70] Red and White Holdings confirmed that it was the club's largest shareholder, and the company said it "has the necessary funding to increase its stake further [but] it has no current intention to make a full takeover bid for Arsenal for six months."[71] If the stake were to reach 30%, Red and White Holdings would have to launch a formal takeover.
Usmanov's interest precipitated a "lock-down" agreement by the Gunners' board, whereby chairmanPeter Hill-Wood announced that club directors could sell their stakes only to "permitted persons" before April 2009, and had to give fellow board members "first option" on shares until October 2012.[72][73]
American businessmanStan Kroenke, already a major Arsenal shareholder, increased his stake in the club to just over 62% in April 2011 after buying out Fiszman andLady Bracewell-Smith,[74] making him the majority shareholder. As Kroenke's stake had risen above 30%, he was obliged to make an offer to buy out the remainder of Arsenal shares. Usmanov refused to sell, however, and maintained his stake.[75]
Usmanov increased his Arsenal share beyond 29% in June 2011.[76] He then purchased shares held by Scottish football clubRangers in February 2012.[77] As of October 2013, he owned over 30% of the club.[78] Usmanov criticized Arsenal's lack of ambition and financial model in an open letter sent to the board on 5 July 2012.[79] He asserted that he had no intention of selling his shares.[79]
In August 2018, after years of complaining about how the club was run, Usmanov sold his stake in Arsenal toStan Kroenke for £550 million.[80][81][82] He sold his shares in 2018 to Kroenke.[83]
In January 2017, Usmanov's holding company, USM, entered a five-year, $15 million+ deal withEverton F.C. for the naming rights of the club's training ground,Finch Farm. Usmanov's accountant and partner in USM holdings isFarhad Moshiri,[84] the former majority shareholder of Everton and former co-owner of Usmanov's Arsenal shares, Red and White holdings.[85] In 2019 MegaFon became the sleeve sponsor for the men's training wear of Everton and its official matchday presenting partner. In 2020 MegaFon expanded their commercial agreement with Everton to become the main sponsor of the women's team.[86] Companies with Usmanov’s interest continued to provide funding for the club despite the fact that he was barred from entering the UK in 2021.[87]
In March 2022, Everton suspended its sponsorship ties with USM and MegaFon due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[88]
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A formersabre fencer for the formerUzbek Soviet Socialist Republic,[17] Usmanov supported the promotion of fencing through his charity fund "For the Future of Fencing", created in 2004. According to media estimates, Usmanov’s total donations to the FIE during his tenure as President amount to approximately $100 million.[89]
He was president of theRussian Fencing Federation from 2001 to 2009. He was concurrently president of theEuropean Fencing Confederation from 2005 to 2009.[90]
He was elected president of theInternational Fencing Federation (FIE) in 2008 with 66 votes to 61 for incumbent president René Roch. He was re-elected in 2012 and 2016.[91][92] In 2021, Usmanov was re-elected by acclamation to a fourth term.[93][94]
In that position Usmanov implemented a number of initiatives, including the expansion of the Olympic fencing programme to 12 disciplines.[95]
Following the imposition of the sanctions on Usmanov, he announced on 1 March 2022, that he was stepping down as FIE President.[5] He didn't resign but suspended himself, with Emmanuel Katsiadakis replacing him temporarily as "Interim President".[96] On 30 November 2024, Usmanov was re-elected for a new term as President[97] and he suspended himself from the role again. Emmanuel Katsiadakis was appointed again Interim President.[98]
In February 2008, Metalloinvest became sponsor ofFC Dynamo Moscow, a football team in Russia's capital.[99] His Metalloinvest group's name replaced theXerox Corporation's on its players' shirts as part of the $7 million deal.[100]
Usmanov was a member of the Councils of the 2014 Sochi XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Olympian Sportsmen Support Fund.[101] In 2015 it was announced that USM invested the equivalent of US$100 million in the Eastern European eSports teamVirtus.pro.[102]
On 2 September 2007, formerBritish Ambassador to UzbekistanCraig Murray claimed that Usmanov "was in no sense a political prisoner, but a gangster and racketeer who rightly did six years in jail" and his pardon was the work of Uzbekistan PresidentIslam Karimov on the instructions of Uzbekistani power broker and alleged drug traffickerGafur Rakhimov and that Usmanov paid a bribe of $88 million to the daughter of Karimov,Gulnara Karimova. Murray also stated that "Usmanov is also dogged by the widespread belief in Uzbekistan that he was guilty of a particularly atrocious rape, which was covered up and the victim and others in the know disappeared". Murray also implicated Usmanov in the death of a journalist.[103][104][105]
In December 2007,The Mail on Sunday re-published the allegations. Usmanov, represented bySchillings, threatenedlibel andThe Mail on Sunday apologized for publishing the accusations.[106] The article was subsequently removed by Murray'sweb host, allegedly under pressure fromSchillings.[103] Schillings warned owners of independent blogs and websites to remove any references to Murray's allegations, and any reproduction of Murray's blog post.[104]
Indymedia was issued with a take-down notice, on 10 September 2007 and again on 21 September.[107] Unrelated political blogs that were hosted on the same server, such as one byBoris Johnson and Bloggerheads.com suffered from downtime.[108]
On 12 December 2011, following the2011 Russian protests regarding vote-rigging in parliamentary elections,Kommersant Vlast magazine ran an unflattering issue on Vladimir Putin titled "Victory of United ballot-stuffers" – a pun on Putin'sUnited Russia party.[109] Usmanov fired the editor, Maxim Kovalsky, and the head of the publisher's holding company, Andrei Galiyev, saying there had been an "ethical breach" and that the issue "bordered on petty hooliganism".[109] The controversy surrounded an image of a ballot paper from the parliamentary vote with the words "Putin, go fuck yourself" scrawled in red ink. The caption read: "A correctly filled out ballot recognized as invalid." Demyan Kudryavtsev, the head of theKommersant publishing house, assumed responsibility by resigning, stating in a blog post that the magazine issue had been "in violation of internal procedures, professional journalistic standards and the Russian law".[110]
Nadezhda Azhgihina, executive secretary of the Russian Union of Journalists, was shocked by the incident, calling it "a clear example of censorship from the owner".[109] On 14 December 2011, 60 journalists from theKommersant newspaper signed an open letter to Usmanov, saying, "We are being compelled to be cowards, which is unworthy and unproductive...We regard [Kovalsky's] dismissal as an act of intimidation aimed at preventing any critical words about Vladimir Putin...We take particular offense at the attempt to present the dismissal of a man for his professional position as a fight for the purity of the Russian language. This is the same kind of fabrication that offended people at the election."[110] Usmanov responded that emotionally, he could "understand the journalists speaking up for sacked top managers" but that "Kommersant Vlast is a respectable, independent, socio-political publication."[110]Mikhail Prokhorov, who had announced his candidacy for the 2012 presidential election, offered to buyKommersant on the same day, but Usmanov rejected the offer.[110] In 2013, Kovalsky returned toKommersant, where he worked until his death from cancer in 2019.[111]
Notwithstanding the imposition of sanctions on Alisher Usmanov by the U.S. Department of Treasury and, therefore, the fact thatKommersant is owned by the SDN,OFAC issued General License No. 64 to authorize any transactions "ordinarily incident and necessary to the operations of the newspaperKommersant". U.S. officials consider the newspaper as of one of the last independent media outlets in Russia.[112][113] Despite the official exemption from sanctions,Kommersant was still severely affected by the sanctions regime. Due to vague wording in the license regarding the range of permitted transactions, almost all ofKommersant's international partners chose to simply stop cooperating with the newspaper. As a result,Kommersant lost access to the basic tools used by all major media outlets, such as theBloomberg Terminal, and was also disconnected from the Google Discover service, which accounted for almost 40% of daily clicks on links toKommersant's website.[114]
In 2012, Usmanov hired London-basedpublic relations firmRLM Finsbury to edit Usmanov's article onEnglish Wikipedia to remove information on Usmanov's criminal convictions and controversies.[115][116] The discovery caused significant backlash among the PR professionals in the UK, with theCEO of theChartered Institute of Public Relations stressing that "public relations professionals should not directly edit Wikipedia for a client or employer".[117] The PR firm said it acted without the authorisation of Usmanov.[115] The information was said to have been removed in expectation of the stock market listing of MegaFon, which is controlled by Usmanov.[118]
In 2004, Usmanov acquired 13% of Corus Group (laterTata Steel Europe), borrowing $49.5 million from Sevenkey, a trust for the benefit ofIgor Shuvalov, the top assistant to Vladimir Putin; funds were provided byEugene Shvidler. Despite Usmanov's ability to borrow at low rates, Sevenkey received over a 40% annualized return for this investment, in 2006, it received 4.9% of Gallagher's investment income.[119]
In 2018, US SenatorsMarco Rubio,Roger Wicker,Lindsey Graham, andCory Gardner called on the Trump administration to sanction Usmanov alleged is his corruption and bribery of Russian government officials.[120]
In June 2024, Usmanov suedUBS for submitting "unsubstantiated reports" about his transactions, which triggered amoney laundering investigation by German authorities.[121][122][123] Usmanov said that the bank had violated its confidentiality agreements by sharing more than a dozen misleading reports dating from 2018 to 2022 with German police.[124] In November 2024, he paid €4 million in fines and charitable donations to settle the money laundering investigation but made no admission of guilt.[125][126][127] Usmanov’s lawyers said that after more than two-and-a-half years, the investigation had failed to prove the accusations against him.[126][128]
In February 2022, in reaction to theRussian invasion of Ukraine, the European Union designated Usmanov, imposing an EU-wide travel ban on him and freezing all his assets.[129][130] In March 2022, the United States imposed similar sanctions on him, with some exceptions for companies, in which Usmanov directly or indirectly holds or held stake .[131][132][133][134] Also in March 2022, he was sanctioned by the British government.[135]
In March 2024, Swedish economist and former government adviser Anders Åslund removed his post onX where he called the billionaire one of "Putin’s favourite oligarchs" at the request of Usmanov’s lawyers.[136] This post was used by the Council as justification for the sanctions. Usmanov denied these allegations and filed an appeal in theGeneral Court of the EU in an attempt to lift the sanctions. On 7 February 2024, the appeal was dismissed.[137] However, the EU Council dropped the term "oligarch" from Usmanov’s sanctions reasoning. It now reads "a leading businessperson".[138][139]
According to theIndex, Usmanov's net worth fell by nearly 25% from February 22 to March 15, 2022, due to sanctions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[140]
Usmanov was named in theOfficial Journal of the European Union, the publication of record of the EU, as a “leading businessperson having interests in iron ore and steel, media, telecommunications and internet companies”[141] It added: "[Usmanov] has been referred to as one of Vladimir Putin’s favourite leading businesspersons. He is considered to be one of Russia’s businesspersons-officials, who were entrusted with servicing financial flows but whose positions depend on the will of the President."[142] Usmanov claimed that the reasons employed to justify the sanctions were a set of false and defamatory allegations. He filed a lawsuit against the Council in the EU court in order to prove the invalidity of the accusations of the Council and lift the sanctions. Usmanov claims his fame and fortune rather than links to President Vladimir Putin made him a target for sanctions. His lawyers told an EU court hearing he was unfairly targeted as "prey" by officials because he was a "visible symbol" known to the public.[143] In August 2025, German lawyer Joachim Steinhöfel, who represents the interests of Alisher Usmanov, filed a lawsuit against the EU Council, accusing it of defamation due to the introduction of European sanctions based on unfounded allegations by journalists[144] On 3 September 2025, EU General Court dismissed Usmanov’s de-listing application, however noting that Usmanov’s stake in USM is “non-controlling”.[145]
Usmanov also suedForbes for an article containing allegations that formed the basis of sanctions. His lawyers successfully proved that the publication's allegations were defamatory and unfounded.[146][147]
On January 23, 2026, the Hamburg Regional Court ruled in favor of Alisher Usmanov in his lawsuit against the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The court prohibited the newspapers from publishing certain allegations that were deemed false. This marks the first time a European court has banned the dissemination of statements by Alexei Navalny concerning Usmanov including allegations that he had "donated" properties to entities associated with Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev as "a return favour for Medvedev covering up Usmanov's deals to the detriment of the interests of Gazprom" and that, in 2002, Usmanov had acquired shares in Gazprom Investholding through his controlled company, thus effectively "selling state-owned assets to himself." Among the prohibited content are also the allegations that Usmanov had used his fortune in the interests or at the direction of the Kremlin, that he informally represented Russian authorities in Uzbekistan, and interfered with the editorial policy of Kommersant newspaper after acquiring it in 2006.[148][149]
In March 2022, theCabinet of Germany set up a task force to track down Usmanov’s funds and assets in Germany involving the Ministry of Economics and Finance, the financial supervisory authorityBaFin, theFederal Criminal Police Office, customs and theFederal Intelligence Service (BND).
The German Federal Criminal Police Office came across 36 offshore companies and 90 suspicious money laundering reports in connection with Usmanov.[150] Usmanov denied all accusations, arguing that under the agreement on avoidance of double taxation between Russia and Germany, he did not have to pay taxes in Germany because all taxes were paid in Russia which has been successfully refuted by Usmanov’s representatives in numerous court proceedings.[151]
Usmanov does not own any real estate in Germany; all the properties are kept in irrevocable family trusts long before the imposition of sanctions.[152][153]
On May 12, 2023, in a victory for Usmanov, the Land Court in Frankfurt am Main invalidated and annulled search orders at properties that German prosecutors linked to Usmanov: villas on LakeTegernsee, an apartment in the outskirts of Frankfurt and other properties in Germany, as well as the Dilbar yacht in the port ofBremen.[154][155] The court declared the searches illegal, called the prosecutors' accusations of money laundering groundless, and found numerous formal violations. The judges said the rulings that prompted the searches “do not meet the minimum requirements the definition of the crime being investigated”. German media called the case "the investigators' disgrace”.[156][157] Another search occurred in early October 2023.[158][159][160][161] On October 26, 2023, the court considered the application of Usmanov's lawyers requesting to stop illegal retention of property seized during the searches and ordered to return it to its owners.[162][163] Searches with the seizure of documents took place even in the office of the football club "Bavaria" and at the stadium "Allianz Arena". Soon the authorization for the search was withdrawn by the court, and all the documents were returned.[164]
In June 2023, A. Usmanov submitted a complaint to the German Constitutional Court, alleging a violation of his fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Basic Law (Germany's Constitution) and theEU Charter of Fundamental Rights.[165] He was seeking to declare that some provisions of the German Foreign Trade Act (that he allegedly violated) are unconstitutional. The provisions in question stipulate that sanctioned individuals must report their assets to the authorities themselves. This contradicts the constitutional privilege against self-incrimination. Usmanov also wants the searches on the Dilbar yacht to be recognized as a violation of the inviolability of the dwelling and an infringement of personal dignity.[166]
Usmanov's sister, Gulbakhor Ismailova, was the beneficiary of the trust which owns the super-yachtDilbar, before the EU imposed sanctions on her.[167] In March 2024, Ismailova irrevocably and permanently waived all rights to benefit from family trusts.[168] According toPolitico, in March 2025, theEU removed Ismailova from its 2000-person sanctions list within the deal withHungary, which had threatened to veto the whole sanctions framework.[169] Another sister of Usmanov, Saodat Narzieva, was also on the EU sanctions list. But after investigations were published, proving that the data from "Suisse Secrets", according to which Narzieva was said to have been the beneficial owner of up to 27 accounts at the major Swiss bankCredit Suisse was false,[170] on 14 September 2022, the EU lifted sanctions from her.[171][172]
In October 2023, the German “Central Office for Sanctions Enforcement" (ZfS) of theBundeszollverwaltung searched several properties in the greater Munich area and onLake Tegernsee. According to dpa information, around 30 investigators searched the villa German prosecutors wrongly attributed to Usmanov and confiscated several luxury vehicles, assets and possessions.[173] Meanwhile, his spokesman said that there can be no reasons for suspicion against Usmanov and that the properties are held in a trust, which Usmanov does not own and therefore he cannot control or manage its assets.[174] Later, a German court confirmed that the allegations were false and banned the media from naming Usmanov as the owner of the villa.[175]
In June 2024, Usmanov filed suit against UBS Europe SE in Frankfurt over what his lawyers said were unsubstantiated reports that triggered an illegal criminal probe into his business dealings.[176] Usmanov said that the bank had violated its confidentiality agreements by sharing more than a dozen misleading reports dating from 2018 to 2022 with German police.[177]
In November 2024 the Prosecutor General's Office in Frankfurt am Main has dropped its investigation into Usmanov. Usmanov voluntary donated 4 million euros split between charities and the state.[178] The closure of the case does not constitute an admission of guilt. Usmanov’s lawyers said that after more than two-and-a-half years, the investigation had failed to prove the accusations against him. [179]
On May 5, 2025, the Regional Court of Hamburg ruled that the statement that Alisher Usmanov is the owner of the yacht Dilbar is false and prohibited its dissemination.[180]
At the end of 2025, the Munich II Public Prosecutor's Office dropped the case against Usmanov in which it was investigating him on suspicion of two violations of the Foreign Trade Act and possible sanctions violations in exchange for a payment of €10 million. Usmanov agreed to the dismissal by paying the sum.[181]
In September 2022, Hungary demanded to lift EU sanctions from Usmanov.[182] In November 2022, the Uzbek government lobbied the EU to lift sanctions on Usmanov, stating that the sanctions were restricting his ability to invest in his home nation.[183]
In December 2022, a Ukraine Court ordered the seizure of₴ 2 billion (US$54 million) worth of USM assets, comprising 160,000 tonnes of Ukrainian iron ore.[184] Metalloinvest, in a statement published on 28 December, denied the information, saying that the Ukrainian authorities arrested iron ore raw materials produced by Metalloinvest's enterprises in Russia and intended for its buyers abroad. These were goods blocked for the export shipment by the Ukrainian authorities back in February 2022.[185] Metalloinvest also warned it would take legal action against Ukraine and any potential buyer if Kyiv confiscates the company's iron.[186] On September 25, Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court upheld Ukraine's decision to confiscate the iron-ore assets. "The Court’s decision is a flagrant example of the unlawful and unfounded "legalization" of the appropriation of private property, which had earlier been blocked and illegally held by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies in typical pirate fashion for a period of more than two years. We will make every effort to ensure that international courts make an appropriate assessment of the unlawful actions of Ukraine’s executive and judicial authorities", USM stated.[187]
Usmanov, ofMuslim heritage, marriedJewishrhythmic gymnastics coachIrina Viner in 1992.[188][9] Viner is considered to be close to Putin, having introduced him to former rhythmic gymnastAlina Kabaeva, now Putin's most famous mistress.[189] On July 4, 2022, Usmanov and Viner divorced.[190]
Usmanov has no biological children. He has a stepson, Anton Viner, with his former wifeIrina Viner. The stepson is a real-estate investor, co-owner of Rodina development group.[191][192]
Usmanov, who now lives inTashkent, is related by marriage to President of UzbekistanShavkat Mirziyoyev and has been credited for helping him consolidate power.[193][194]
In 2012, Usmanov spent as much as $500 million to buy an Airbus A340, which he named Bourkhan, after his father.[195][196][197]
In 2004, Usmanov bought the Grade I listed Tudor mansionSutton Place set in 120 hectares (300 acres) in Surrey, which he bought for £10 million in 2004. In 2012,Boris Berezovsky claimed that Usmanov was given Sutton Place as part of a business deal, a claim that Usmanov denied.[198]
In 2008, Usmanov boughtBeechwood House, a Grade II listed Regency property in 4.5 ha (11 acres) of grounds in the London suburb ofHighgate from the Qatari sheikhHamad bin Khalifa Al Thani for £48 million.[199][200] Currently these properties are owned by a discretionary irrevocable trust created by the magnate.[201] Usmanov also owns a 12-hectare (30-acre) property in Moscow and a villa on the Italian island of Sardinia.[199]
Usmanov allegedly owns threesuperyachts namedDilbar, after his mother. In 2005, he took delivery of the firstDilbar (nowLuna B) fromOceanco at a reported cost of $60 million.[202] A secondDilbar (nowAl Raya) was delivered byLürssen in 2008 at a reported cost of $250 million.[203] As of 2019, it was the 38th largest motor yacht by length, measuring 110.0 m (361 ft). In 2015, Usmanov commissioned the thirdDilbar, the current largest yacht in the world by gross tonnage (15,917 gt) and the 6th largest yacht by length measuring 156.0 m (512 ft).[204] It is reported to have cost $800 million, employ 84 full-time crew members, and contain the largest indoor swimming pool installed on a superyacht at 180 cubic metres.[205] After taking delivery of the secondDilbar, Usmanov renamed the originalOna and sold it in 2010.[206] He later repeated that process when the secondDilbar was renamedOna and was sold to a middle-eastern buyer in 2018.[207] Usmanov and his representatives claim that the yacht did not belong to him, but was transferred into family trust many years ago.[208]
On 2 March 2022, German authorities seizedDilbar inHamburg as part of sanctions against Usmanov stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[209][210] On April 15, 2022, the yacht was seized by German officials after investigations regarding its ownership revealed thatDilbar belonged to a trust, one of whose beneficiaries used to be Usmanov's sister, who was also sanctioned.[211] In March 2024, Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (the Bundeskriminalamt, or BKA) deleted its posts on X that named Ismailova Dilbar yacht owner.[136] In February 2025, Germany's largest news agency dpa, which had spread information that Usmanov's sister Gulbahor Ismailova was the owner of the yacht Dilbar, withdrew its report as false.[212]
According to media reports, Usmanov has donated about $7.3 billion to charity.[213]
In 2021,The Sunday Times named Usmanov the most generous philanthropist on its Rich List, donating more than £4.2 billion to charity over the 20-year history of The Sunday Times Giving List.[214] In 2012, Russian Forbes named Usmanov Philanthropist of the Year.[215]
In 2006, Usmanov founded "Art, Science and Sport" Charity Fund. The fund provided financial support for exhibitions atTate Britain in London including theJ. M. W. Turner exhibition in 2008[216] and thePre-Raphaelites exhibition in 2013.[217]
Usmanov is a Trustee for theRussian Geographical Society,[218] Moscow State Institute of International Relations,National Research University Higher School of Economics, and theEuropean University at St Petersburg.
In 2015, he donated €1.5 million toward the restoration of theBasilica Ulpia in Rome.[219][220][221]
In February 2020, Usmanov purchasedPierre de Coubertin's original 1892 Olympic Manifesto for $8.8 million, which he donated to theOlympic Museum.[222][223] The manifesto has become the world's most expensive piece of sports memorabilia.[224]
Two years in a row, in 2020 and 2021, Usmanov topped the list of contributors to causes related toCOVID-19 among the participants ofThe Sunday TimesRich List with donations Russia, Uzbekistan and Italy of £134.2 m.[225]
On 17 September 2007, Usmanov paid more than £20 million for an art collection owned by the late Russian cellistMstislav Rostropovich, days before it was to be auctioned bySotheby's in London. He gave all the artwork to the Russian state, where it is housed in theKonstantinovsky Palace near St. Petersburg. Later that same month he purchased the rights to a large collection of Soviet cartoons, which for fifteen years had been owned by Russian-born actorOleg Vidov, who emigrated to the United States in 1985. After the deal, valued at $5 to 10 million, Usmanov donated the cartoon collection to a newly formed Russian children's television channel.[226]
According to presidential decree No. 365 of 17 March 2004, Usmanov was awarded with a Medal of Honor of Russia.[227] In 2011, Usmanov received theOrder "Dostyk" (Friendship) 2nd degree of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 2013, he was awarded theOrder for Service to the Fatherland IV class in recognition of his services to the state, as well as his community and charitable activities. In the same year, he was awarded a medal 'For contribution to international cooperation' by the Foreign Ministry of Russia. In 2014, Usmanov received theOrder of Alexander Nevsky for his community and charitable activities.[228] In 2016 he received The Decoration "For Beneficence" for his contribution to charitable and social activities in Russia. The same year Usmanov received the Al-Fahr Order for his great contribution to the revival of Islam in Russia. In 2017, Mr. Usmanov was awarded the title of Commander "Order of Merit of the Italian Republic" for architectural restoration projects. The award was presented by the President of ItalySergio Mattarella.[229] In 2018 Usmanov received the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 3rd class. In 2018, he was also awarded the Order "Dostyk" 1st degree (Kazakhstan) for his significant contribution to the and cultural development of the country, strengthening friendship and cooperation between peoples.[230] In addition, in 2018, he received the Order of El-Yurt Hurmati "Respected by people and homeland" (Uzbekistan) for the effective implementation of major investment projects in the country, active participation in the creation of unique spiritual and educational complexes in Uzbekistan to revive and preserve the rich historical heritage and national values of our people, sincere love for the country, being an example for young people, and for assistance in developing sports and tourism potential of the country.[231]
On 4 December 2014, Usmanov paid $4.8 million for DrJames Watson's Nobel Prize Medal in Physiology or Medicine, which was auctioned at Christie's in New York City. Watson was selling his prize to raise money to support scientific research. After auctions fees, Watson received $4.1 million. Usmanov subsequently returned the medal to Watson, stating "in my opinion, a situation in which an outstanding scientist sells a medal recognizing his achievements is unacceptable. Watson's work contributed to cancer research, the illness from which my father died. It is important for me that the money that I spent on this medal will go to supporting scientific research, and the medal will stay with the person who deserved it."[232]
{{cite news}}:|last2= has generic name (help)You can try and put a good face on a bad game for as long as you want, pontificating about the merits of this model, but it will not hide the obvious fact that it just does not allow our great manager to fully realise his managerial talent and deliver success for the fans who are paying the highest prices in the land ... Yet again we are faced with losing our true marquee player at the club because we cannot assure him of the future direction and give confidence that we can win trophies.
Usmanov said in March 2022 he would step aside from his duties as FIE president "until justice is restored" after he was placed under sanctions by the European Union following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Greek official Emmanuel Katsiadakis served as interim president since then.
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