{{Short description|Russian billionaire businessman}} {{distinguish|text=the chess grand master [[Gennadij Timoscenko]]}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{family name hatnote|Nikolayevich|Timchenko|lang=Eastern Slavic}} {{Infobox person | caption = Timchenko in 2018 | native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ru|Геннадий Тимченко}}}} | image = Gennady Timchenko, 2018.jpg | birth_name = Gennady Nikolayevich Timchenko | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|11|9|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Gyumri|Leninakan]], Armenian SSR, Soviet Union<br/>(now Gyumri, Armenia) | death_date = | death_place = | citizenship = {{hlist|[[Russia]]|[[Finland]]|[[Armenia]]}} | other_names = | spouse = Elena | children = 5 | known_for = | alma_mater = | occupation = [[Businessman]] | website = | awards = {{plainlist | * [[File:Legion Honneur Chevalier ribbon.svg|25px]] [[Legion of Honour]] (Chevalier) }} }}
'''Gennady Nikolayevich Timchenko''' ({{langx|ru|Геннадий Николаевич Тимченко}}, ''also spelled'' '''Guennadi Timtchenko'''; born 9 November 1952) is a [[Russian oligarch]] and [[billionaire]] businessman.<ref name=Charity1>{{cite news|access-date=12 November 2013 |url=http://www.fontanka.ru/2012/04/06/058/ |script-title=ru:Геннадий Тимченко показал лицо филантропа |trans-title=Gennady Timchenko shows his philanthropic side |language=ru |date=6 April 2012 |url-status=live |archive-date=15 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015015740/http://www.fontanka.ru/2012/04/06/058/}}</ref> He founded and owns the private investment firm [[Volga Group]]. He was previously a co-owner of [[Gunvor (oil trader)|Gunvor Group]].
Timchenko has been close friends with Russian leader [[Vladimir Putin]] since the early 1990s.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Luke |date=2021-10-03 |title=Pandora papers reveal hidden riches of Putin's inner circle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/03/pandora-papers-reveal-hidden-wealth-vladimir-putin-inner-circle |access-date=2022-03-02 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2022-02-17 |title=As the West takes aim with Russian sanctions, here's what we know about oligarchs' secret finances - ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/as-the-west-takes-aim-with-russian-sanctions-heres-what-we-know-about-oligarchs-secret-finances/ |access-date=2022-03-02 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Alfred |first=Charlotte |last2=Bassiki |first2=Mohammad |last3=Deeb |first3=Bashar |last4=Oganov |first4=Oleg |date=2022-06-30 |title='Blood money': Europe's secretive trade in Syrian phosphates |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/30/europe-syria-phosphates-trade-assad |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> In 1991, Putin gave Timchenko an oil export license.<ref name=":0" /> Timchenko then founded Gunvor, which has now exported billions of dollars' worth of Russian oil.<ref name=":0" />
Timchenko's investment firm Volga Group owns a large stake of shares of the natural gas giant [[Novatek]].<ref name=":1" /> The [[Pandora Papers]] leaks revealed that a Timchenko firm, which played a key role in the Novatek investment, obtained massive loans through anonymous offshore shell companies.<ref name=":1" /> Timchenko was sanctioned by [[United States|the US]]<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Kirkham |first1=Chris |last2=Gauthier-Villars |first2=David |date=2022-07-01 |title=Special Report: Dozens of Russian weapons tycoons have faced no Western sanctions |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dozens-russian-weapons-tycoons-have-faced-no-western-sanctions-2022-07-01/ |access-date=2022-07-17}}</ref> over Russia's 2014 annexation of [[Crimea]]. He was about to be sanctioned further by the government of the [[United Kingdom]] just before the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] in February 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodman |first=Spencer |date=2022-02-22 |title=UK targets three oligarchs and five Russian banks in first tranche of new sanctions |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/uk-targets-three-oligarchs-and-five-russian-banks-in-first-tranche-of-new-sanctions/ |access-date=2022-03-02 |website=ICIJ |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-22 |title=Britain sanctions Gennady Timchenko and five banks, Johnson says |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/britain-sanctions-gennady-timchenko-and-five-banks-johnson-says/ |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=www.euractiv.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
As of March 2022, Timchenko was 205th on the ''[[Bloomberg Billionaires Index]]'', with an estimated fortune of US $10.3 billion;<ref name=Bloomberg>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/gennady-timchenko/|title=Bloomberg Billionaires Index: Gennady Timchenko|work=[[Bloomberg L.P.]]|access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> he is the sixth richest person in [[Russia]].<ref name="Bloomberg" /> He is known for being the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the [[Kontinental Hockey League]],<ref name="CHL">{{cite news |title=Timchenko became a chairman of the board of directors of the KHL |url=http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?Id=846135 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711221907/http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=846135 |archive-date=11 July 2012 |work=vesti.ru}}</ref> and President of the [[SKA Saint Petersburg]] ice hockey club.<ref name="SKA">{{cite news |title=Appointed Chairman of the Board of SKA Gennady Timchenko |url=http://dkvartal.ru/spb/news/173509096 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416173144/http://dkvartal.ru/spb/news/173509096 |archive-date=16 April 2013}}</ref> He is a citizen of Russia,<ref name="Forbes">{{cite news |title=Forbes Timchenko Profile |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/gennady-timchenko}}</ref> [[Finland]], and [[Armenia]].<ref name="sano0204" /><ref name="sanctions">{{cite web |date=20 March 2014 |title=Ukraine-related Designations |url=http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20140320_33.aspx#.UysKAVn_PRg.facebook |publisher=US Department of Treasury}}</ref><ref name="tass0814" />
==Early life and education== Timchenko was born in [[Leninakan]], [[Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic|Armenian SSR]], [[Soviet Union]] (now Gyumri, [[Armenia]]), in 1952. His father was in the Soviet military and served in the Second World War. He lived for six years of his childhood (from 1959 to 1965) in the [[East Germany|German Democratic Republic]] (learning to speak [[German language|German]])<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.ru/sobytiya/lyudi/182561-put-timchenko-ot-mastera-tseha-do-milliardera|script-title=ru:Путь Тимченко: от мастера цеха до миллиардера|language=ru|trans-title=Timchenko's path from shop foreman to billionaire|date=26 October 2012|access-date=13 November 2013}}</ref> and in the [[Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic|Ukrainian SSR]].<ref name="WSJ"/> In 1976, he graduated from the [[ITMO University|Mechanical Institute of Saint Petersburg]], then named Leningrad, as an electrical engineer, according to a 2008 interview with the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]''.<ref name="WSJ">{{cite news |date=11 June 2008 |title=Excerpts: Gunvor's Timchenko On His History, Putin and Gunvor |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121313303128762055?mod-googlews |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180702213214/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121313303128762055?mod-googlews |archive-date=2 July 2018 |access-date=6 April 2009 |journal=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref>
==Career== In 1977, Timchenko began to work as an engineer for the [[Izhorskiye Zavody|Izhorsky]] plant near [[Saint Petersburg]]; the plant specialized in building power generators.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=13 November 2013 |website=Lenta.ru |url=http://lenta.ru/lib/14184845/full.htm#105 |title=Timchenko, Gennady |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113180748/http://lenta.ru/lib/14184845/full.htm#105 |archive-date=13 November 2013 |url-status=live |publisher=Лента.Ру |date=28 December 2014 |language=ru}}</ref> The state-owned company then moved him to their trade department.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
From 1982 to 1988, he worked as a senior engineer with the [[Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations (Soviet Union)|Ministry of Foreign Trade]].<ref name="Main Investor">{{cite news|url=http://www.vedomosti.ru/newspaper/article/2009/12/22/221960 |title=Main Investor |access-date=13 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113180453/http://www.vedomosti.ru/newspaper/article/2009/12/22/221960 |archive-date=13 November 2013 |url-status=live |date=22 December 2009 |language=ru}}</ref> In 1988 when Russia started to liberalize its economy, he was promoted to Deputy Director of state-owned oil company [[KiNEx|Kirishineftekhimexport]], which was created in 1987 and based at the [[Kirishi]] refinery, one of the three largest refineries in the [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|RSFSR]].<ref name="At home among strangers">{{cite news|last1=Кириллов|first1=Денис (Kirillov, Denis)|last2=Вайсберг|first2=Валерий (Weisberg, Valery)|url=http://www.russianfocus.ru/index.ipj/rubric_id=816|title=Свой среди чужих, чужой среди своих. У президента есть не только новое правительство, но и старые друзья по нефтяному бизнесу|trans-title=At home among strangers, stranger among friends. The president has not only a new government, but also old friends in the oil business.|language=ru|work="Русский фокус" (Russian focus)|date=1 March 2004|access-date=22 June 2021|archive-date=29 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629035414/http://www.russianfocus.ru/}} [http://www.compromat.ru/page_14523.htm Alt URL]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.compromat.ru/page_14522.htm|title=Развитие бизнеса "КИНЭКС" - Компромат.Ру / Compromat.Ru|website=www.compromat.ru|accessdate=3 March 2022}}</ref>
In 1991, Timchenko decided to leave Russia and was hired by a [[Finland]]-based company, Urals Finland Oy, specializing in importing Russian oil to Europe. He became a Finnish citizen.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-03|title=Data leak exposes Putin associates' secret fortunes – including a billion-euro arrangement for the president's Finnish friend|url=https://yle.fi/news/3-12126631|access-date=2022-02-08|website=News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Luhn |first=Alec |date=2014-03-21 |title=Gennady Timchenko denies Putin links made him one of Russia's top oligarchs |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/21/oligarch-timchenko-denies-putin-links-us-blacklist-sanctions |access-date=2022-02-08 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> While [[Anatoly Sobchak]] was in exile, Timchenko was the link between Sobchak and [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref name="Limonka01032004">Limonka staff (1 March 2004). [https://web.archive.org/web/20080317080635/http://nbp-info.ru/Limonka/limon142/dosje142.htm Путин: бизнес, нефть и выборы. (Putin: business, oil and elections.)] ''[[:ru:Лимонка (газета)|"Лимонка"]]'' (''Limonka'') website. Retrieved 22 June 2021.</ref>
In 1995, Urals Finland Oy was renamed International Petroleum Products Oy (IPP); Timchenko then became deputy and later CEO of IPP OY.<ref name="At home among strangers" />{{efn|There are two International Petroleum Products (IPP) companies one in Sweden which has ''AB'' and one in Finland which has ''Oy''. Both companies have a close relationship with Timchenko and [[:ru:Сомов Вадим Евсеевич|Vadim Evseevich Somov]] ({{langx|ru|Вадим Евсеевич Сомов}}) who was the general director of OJSC Kirishinefteorgsintez (KINEF or KiNEx) ({{langx|ru|ОАО "Киришинефтеоргсинтез" (КИНЕФ Кинэкс (ЗАО))}}).<ref name=Limonka01032004/>}} In 1997, he co-founded the global commodity trading company [[Gunvor (company)|Gunvor]] with Swedish businessman [[Torbjörn Törnqvist]].<ref name="Main Investor" /> Timchenko sold his stake to Törnqvist in March 2014, a day before the U.S. sanctions began.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://en.itar-tass.com/economy/724708 |title=Russian billionaire Timchenko sells his Gunvor stake to Tornqvist |date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014173055/http://en.itar-tass.com/economy/724708 |archive-date=14 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2007, Timchenko founded the [[Volga Group]] (Volga Resources Group) private investment fund.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazeta.ru/news/business/2011/07/14/n_1923285.shtml |script-title=ru:Тимченко участвует в конкурсе на строительство магистрали в Петербурге на 130 млрд руб |trans-title=Timchenko participates in bid to fund a major highway in Saint Petersburg for RUB 130 billion |language=ru |website=[[Gazeta.ru]] |access-date=14 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014173055/http://www.gazeta.ru/news/business/2011/07/14/n_1923285.shtml |archive-date=14 October 2013 |url-status=live |date=14 October 2013}}</ref> Volga group holds his Russian and international assets in the energy, transport, infrastructure, financial services and consumer sectors.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
===Redut PMC=== {{Main|Redut (company)}} Redut, also known as Redoubt or Redut-Antiterror and formerly known as "Shield",<ref name="infantry">{{Cite web |date=10 August 2022 |title=Пехота пуще неволи |url=https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2022/08/10/pekhota-pushche-nevoli |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220814111043/https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2022/08/10/pekhota-pushche-nevoli |archive-date=14 August 2022 |access-date=19 June 2023 |website=[[Novaya Gazeta]] |language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 November 2022 |title=Зона поражения |url=https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2022/11/10/zona-porazheniia |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230620114054/https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2022/11/10/zona-porazheniia |archive-date=20 June 2023 |access-date=20 June 2023 |website=[[Novaya Gazeta]] |language=ru}}</ref> is a Russian [[Private military company|Private Military and Security Company]] (PMSC) that is part of the "Antiterror-family", which consists of similarly named PMSCs which protect commercial operations of Russian companies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=РЕГИОНАЛЬНАЯ ОБЩЕСТВЕННАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ "ВЕТЕРАНОВ МИРОТВОРЧЕСКИХ МИССИЙ И ЛОКАЛЬНЫХ КОНФЛИКТОВ" |url=https://zachestnyibiznes.ru/company/ul/1077799027547_7713386568_ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190708000118/https://zachestnyibiznes.ru/company/ul/1077799027547_7713386568_#selection-1591.0-1591.81 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=Registry for the Association of Veterans of Peacekeeping and Local Conflict Missions (Zachestnyibiznes)}}</ref> Redut is currently deployed by [[Russia]] in the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tracing Wagner's Roots |url=https://www.newamerica.org/international-security/reports/decoding-wagner-group-analyzing-role-private-military-security-contractors-russian-proxy-warfare/tracing-wagners-roots/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220509152903/https://www.newamerica.org/international-security/reports/decoding-wagner-group-analyzing-role-private-military-security-contractors-russian-proxy-warfare/tracing-wagners-roots/ |archive-date=9 May 2022 |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=New America}}</ref><ref name="opensanctions">{{cite web |title=Private Military Company Redut |url=https://www.opensanctions.org/entities/NK-9iEp7sqxGYKEzvhd2qyeWC/ |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=[[OpenSanctions]] |date=13 December 2019 |archive-date=27 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427235812/https://www.opensanctions.org/entities/NK-9iEp7sqxGYKEzvhd2qyeWC/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="human">{{Cite web |title=Long sentences passed on 'Redut' mercenaries fighting Russia's war against Ukraine with Finnish citizen's funding |url=https://khpg.org/en/1608811793 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230503191107/https://khpg.org/en/1608811793 |archive-date=3 May 2023 |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=[[Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Emergence of Russian Private Military Companies: A New Tool of Clandestine Warfare |url=https://publications.ffi.no/en/item/asset/dspace:6751/1811576.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426120841/https://publications.ffi.no/en/item/asset/dspace:6751/1811576.pdf |archive-date=26 April 2023 |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI)}}</ref> for which it was sanctioned.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 April 2021 |title=Blocking Property With Respect To Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/04/19/2021-08098/blocking-property-with-respect-to-specified-harmful-foreign-activities-of-the-government-of-the |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210427205503/https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/04/19/2021-08098/blocking-property-with-respect-to-specified-harmful-foreign-activities-of-the-government-of-the |archive-date=27 April 2021 |access-date=11 June 2023 |website=[[Federal Register]]}}</ref> Several fighters of the group have been convicted of war crimes during the invasion.<ref name="human"/>
Gennady Timchenko and [[Oleg Deripaska]] reportedly are major backers of the company. The PMC received [[Armoured personnel carrier|armored personnel carriers]], helmets, and protective vests from them.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=30 January 2023 |title=Mercenari russi e quel legame con la Svizzera |url=https://www.rsi.ch/news/mondo/Mercenari-russi-e-quel-legame-con-la-Svizzera-15978238.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230305114914/https://www.rsi.ch/news/mondo/Mercenari-russi-e-quel-legame-con-la-Svizzera-15978238.html |archive-date=5 March 2023 |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=rsi |language=it}}</ref><ref name="bluewin.ch">{{Cite web |title=Die Spur einer Söldnerbande führt auch in die Schweiz |url=https://www.bluewin.ch/de/news/schweiz/das-verbindet-russische-soeldner-mit-der-schweiz-1606961.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230503191805/https://www.bluewin.ch/de/news/schweiz/das-verbindet-russische-soeldner-mit-der-schweiz-1606961.html |archive-date=3 May 2023 |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=blue News |language=de}}</ref>
Redut provided services for Timchenko's companies, including the deployment of snipers, pioneers and guards. Redut formations have been deployed to protect convoys, corporate real estate—including oil production facilities of JSC [[Stroytransgaz]] in [[Syria]].<ref name="social">{{Cite web |date=18 May 2023 |title=Не только "Вагнер". Как воюют российские наемники в других "подразделениях" |url=https://www.idelreal.org/a/32412817.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230612003534/https://www.idelreal.org/a/32412817.html |archive-date=12 June 2023 |access-date=11 June 2023 |website=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |language=ru}}</ref>
===Gunvor=== {{Main|Gunvor (company)}} Timchenko was the co-founder (along with [[Torbjörn Törnqvist]]) of the [[Gunvor|Gunvor Group]], a corporation registered in [[Cyprus]]; it does business in trading and logistics related to the international [[energy market]]. On 19 March 2014, Timchenko sold his stake in Gunvor to the other co-founder, Torbjörn Törnqvist.<ref name=reuters210314>{{cite news|date=21 March 2014 |access-date=22 March 2014 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-sanctions-gunvor-idUSBREA2J1T920140321 |title=Oil firms, U.S. banks trade with Gunvor after co-founder sanctioned |first1=Dmitry |last1=Zhdannikov |first2=Peg |last2=Mackey |first3=Ron |last3=Bousso |work=[[Reuters]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322042126/https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/21/us-ukraine-crisis-sanctions-gunvor-idUSBREA2J1T920140321 |archive-date=22 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=upstream210314>{{cite news|newspaper=[[Upstream (newspaper)|Upstream Online]] |publisher=[[NHST Media Group]] |url=http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article1355878.ece |title=Timchenko sells stake in Gunvor |first=Luke |last=Johnson |date=21 March 2014 |access-date=22 March 2014 |archive-date=22 March 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322013550/http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article1355878.ece}}</ref> The sale was made the day before Timchenko was included on the United States sanctions list in the wake of the [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexing of Crimea by Russia]]. Timchenko said he had sold his stake in anticipation of "potential economic sanctions" and to "ensure with certainty the continued and uninterrupted operations of Gunvor Group".<ref name=upstream210314/> The value of the transaction was not disclosed.<ref name=reuters210314/>
===Volga Group=== {{Main|Volga Group}} In 2007, Timchenko founded the [[Luxembourg]]-based fund Volga Resources. The fund, which consolidates Timchenko's assets, was renamed in June 2013 as [[Volga Group]] and introduced at the [[SPIEF|Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vedomosti.ru/companies/news/13358961/timchenko_upakoval_aktivy|script-title=ru:Тимченко упаковал все активы в Volga Group |trans-title=Timchenko bundles all assets in Volga Group|newspaper=Vedomosti|date=21 June 2013|language=ru}}</ref> He noted that, for the next few years, his group will focus on the development of infrastructure projects in Russia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bfm.ru/news/219876|script-title=ru:Геннадий Тимченко: «Мы понимаем, что репутация бизнесмена — самое главное»|trans-title=Gennady Timchenko "We understand that the most important thing is a businessman's reputation"|date=20 June 2013|language=ru}}</ref>
The purpose of this fund is "based on direct and indirect investments in value-driven assets in Russia and internationally that produce consistent, long-term returns".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://volga-resources.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401130509/http://volga-resources.com/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=1 April 2013|title=Volga-Resources.com ||website=volga-resources.com|accessdate=3 March 2022}}</ref> The group owns assets in the energy, transportation and infrastructure development, as well as financial services, consumer goods and real estate. Its most notable investments are in gas company [[Novatek]] and petrochemical company [[Sibur]].{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
===Airfix Aviation=== In April 2014, Timchenko sold a 49% stake in the Finnish company IPP Oy, which owned 99% of the Finnish aviation company Airfix Aviation. It was a small part of the Volga Group portfolio.
Timchenko was subject to international sanctions after the [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russian annexation of Crimea]] in April 2014.<ref name="KL: Timtšenko myi lentoyhtiönsä">[http://yle.fi/uutiset/kl_timtsenko_myi_lentoyhtionsa/7178795 KL: Timtšenko myi lentoyhtiönsä] 8 April 2014 yle</ref><ref name="Forbes14012016">Левинский, Александр (14 January 2016). [https://web.archive.org/web/20171115205014/http://www.forbes.ru/milliardery/infographics/310171-vernye-ruki-ot-kakikh-aktivov-izbavilis-timchenko-i-rotenbergi-na-fo Верные руки: от каких активов избавились Тимченко и Ротенберги на фоне санкций (Right hands: what assets did Timchenko and Rotenberg get rid of amid sanctions)]. ''[[Forbes]]''. Retrieved 22 June 2021.</ref><ref>Левинский, Александр (14 January 2016). [https://web.archive.org/web/20170624023204/http://cdn.forbes.ru/sites/default/files/users/user701697/info_timchenko.jpg Активы, проданные / переданные Тимченко и Ротенбергами (Assets sold / transferred by Timchenko and Rotenberg)]. ''[[Forbes]]''. Retrieved 22 June 2021.</ref> IPP Oil Products (Cyprus) , which is closely associated with Timchenko is under sanctions.<ref name=Forbes14012016/> [[:fi:Kai Paananen|Kai Paananen]] ({{langx|ru|Кай Паананен}}), a partner of Timchenko, has close ties to Airfix Aviation and the IPP companies.<ref name=Forbes14012016/><ref>HÄNNINEN, JYRI (23 December 2015). [https://web.archive.org/web/20180303050348/https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-8549805 Verkko Timtšenkon ympärillä kiristyy – pakotteet painavat Jokereitakin]. [[Yle|Yle.fi]] website. Retrieved 22 June 2021.</ref>
Volga Group has been listed by the US Dept of Treasury (OFAC - Office of Foreign Assets Control) as a SDN (specially Designated Nationals) in the Ukraine-related sanction lists of 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions|title=OFAC Recent Actions|website=U.S. Department of the Treasury|accessdate=3 March 2022}}</ref>
===Sanctions=== In March 2014, following the [[2014 Crimean referendum|Crimean status referendum]], the [[U.S. Treasury]] put Timchenko on the [[Specially Designated Nationals List|Specially Designated Nationals List (SDN)]], a [[List of individuals sanctioned during the Ukrainian crisis|list of individuals sanctioned]] as “members of the Russian leadership’s inner circle.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/Error.htm?aspxerrorpath=/Details.aspx|title=Sanctions List Search|website=sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov|accessdate=3 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl23331.aspx|title=Treasury Sanctions Russian Officials, Members Of The Russian Leadership's Inner Circle, And An Entity For Involvement In The Situation In Ukraine|website=www.treasury.gov|accessdate=3 March 2022}}</ref><ref name=reu1214>{{cite news|author1=Elizabeth Piper|title=Crunch time: As sanctions bite, Putin ally gets into apples|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/comrade-capitalism-apples/|access-date=28 December 2014|work=Reuters|publisher=Thomson Reuters|date=28 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/specially-designated-nationals-and-blocked-persons-list-sdn-human-readable-lists|title=Specially Designated Nationals And Blocked Persons List (SDN) Human Readable Lists|website=U.S. Department of the Treasury|accessdate=3 March 2022}}</ref><ref name=SanctionsMore>{{cite web|last=Shuklin |first=Peter |title=Putin's inner circle: who got in a new list of US sanctions |url=https://news.liga.net/articles/politics/1066761-blizhniy_krug_putina_kto_popal_v_novyy_spisok_sanktsiy_ssha.htm |publisher=liga.net |date=21 March 2014 |access-date=20 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207152258/http://news.liga.net/articles/politics/1066761-blizhniy_krug_putina_kto_popal_v_novyy_spisok_sanktsiy_ssha.htm |archive-date=7 February 2015}}</ref> The sanctions freeze any assets he holds in the United States and ban him from entering the U.S.<ref name="sanctions" /><ref name=Ukraine-EO13661>{{cite web |last=President of The United States |title=Ukraine EO13661 |url=https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/ukraine_eo2.pdf |publisher=Federal Register |date=19 March 2016 |access-date=20 February 2016}}</ref> Timchenko is on the list of Russian "oligarchs" named in the [[Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act|CAATSA]] unclassified report.<ref>{{cite web |date=29 January 2018 |title=Report to Congress Pursuant to Section 241 of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 2017 Regarding Senior Foreign Political Figures and Oligarchs in the Russian Federation and Russian Parastatal Entities |url=https://assets.bwbx.io/documents/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/rJRW6xrdtLJE/v0 |format=PDF}}</ref>
On 22 February 2022, the UK government announced sanctions on Timchenko after Russia [[International recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic|recognised the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics]] and deployed troops to the republics.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=BBC | date = 22 February 2022 | access-date = 22 February 2022 | title=Boris Johnson announces UK sanctions against Russia | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-60476137}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Britain sanctions five Russian banks, three individuals including Timchenko|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-pm-says-its-time-brace-next-stages-russias-plan-ukraine-2022-02-22/|date=22 February 2022|website=Reuters}}</ref> On 28 February 2022, in relation to the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the European Union blacklisted Timchenko and had all his assets [[Asset freezing|frozen]].<ref>{{cite news |author1=Valentina Pop |author2=Sam Fleming |author3=Max Seddon |title=EU freezes assets of Russia's leading oligarchs and allies of Putin |url=https://www.ft.com/content/85d76bd6-f585-4ac9-abae-b9abbf21e4bf |work=[[The Financial Times]] |date=28 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=UK hits Russian oligarchs and banks with targeted sanctions: Foreign Secretary's statement |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-hits-russian-oligarchs-and-banks-with-targeted-sanctions-foreign-secretary-statement |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> He was sanctioned by [[Canada]] under the Special Economic Measures Act (S.C. 1992, c. 17) in relation to the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] for Grave Breach of International Peace and Security.<ref>{{cite web |title=Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (SOR/2014-58) |date=18 May 2023 |url=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2014-58/page-4.html#docCont |access-date=24 June 2023}}</ref> {{anchor|Lena}}On March 4, 2022 the Italian police seized his yacht ''Lena'' in the port city of [[Sanremo]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-04 |title=Italy seizes Russian oligarch's yacht: govt |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220304-italy-seizes-russian-oligarch-s-yacht-govt |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> The yacht was also placed on a United States sanctions list; his wife and daughter are also named to the sanctions list.<ref>{{cite web|title=Russia-related Designations; Publication of new Frequently Asked Question|date=March 24, 2022|publisher=United States Department of the Treasury|url=https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20220324}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sanctioning Additional Members of Russia's Duma, Russian Elites, Bank Board Members, and Defense Entities |url=https://www.state.gov/sanctioning-additional-members-of-russias-duma-russian-elites-bank-board-members-and-defense-entities/ |access-date=2022-04-10 |website=United States Department of State |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Targeting Elites of the Russian Federation |url=https://www.state.gov/targeting-elites-of-the-russian-federation/ |access-date=2022-04-10 |website=United States Department of State |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life and citizenship== Timchenko is married to Elena. They have five children. {{As of| March 2014}}, Timchenko lives in [[Moscow]] while his family resides in [[Switzerland]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/743432?page=2 |agency=ITAR-TASS |title=Timchenko: Everything has to be paid for, and acquaintance with top officials as well |date=4 August 2014 |access-date=7 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121223337/http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/743432?page=2 |archive-date=21 November 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|1}} His daughter Ksenia is married to Gleb Frank, son of Putin's former transport minister [[Sergey Frank]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grey |first=Stephen |last2=Piper |first2=Elizabeth |date=2015-11-10 |title=Rising stars among children of Russia's elite |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/rising-stars-among-children-of-russias-elite-idUSKCN0SZ1EL/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>
In an interview with ''The Wall Street Journal'', Timchenko said that in 1999 he gave up Russian citizenship and became a Finnish citizen.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://lenta.ru/lib/14184845/full.htm |title=Gennady Timchenko: Co-owner of Gunvor Group companies and venture capital company Volga Resources |website=[[Lenta.ru]] |access-date=21 November 2013 |archive-date=13 November 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113180748/http://lenta.ru/lib/14184845/full.htm |date=n.d. |language=ru}}</ref>
In 2004, the ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' wrote that he acquired Finnish citizenship, and that he lived in Geneva at that time.<ref name=sano0204>{{cite news |url=http://www2.hs.fi/english/archive/news.asp?id=20040217IE1 |title=Kremlin favourite is Finnish citizen |date=17 February 2004 |access-date=21 November 2013 |archive-date=16 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216184807/http://www2.hs.fi/english/archive/news.asp?id=20040217IE1 |author=Pekka Hakala |work=Helsingin Sanomat |publisher=Helsinki Times Oy}}</ref> In an October 2012 interview with the Russian edition of ''[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]]'', Timchenko said that he had both Russian and Finnish citizenships.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}} In August 2014, Timchenko said in an interview with [[Information Telegraph Agency of Russia|ITAR-TASS]] that he needed Finnish citizenship to travel in the 1990s, when it was harder to travel on a Russian passport, and that he never concealed having two passports. He said over the past fourteen years, he had been paying taxes in Switzerland and prior to that, in Finland. "I scrupulously transfer to Russia the monies I owe to the Russian budget. In theory, I could have cut down the transfers citing the rule on inadmissibility of dual taxation but I never did this–I realized the proceeds that my monies were going off in wages to Russian doctors, teachers, and the military while I was not going to go bankrupt under any circumstances. I wouldn’t get poor if I shared the budget with others."<ref name=tass0814>{{cite news|url=http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/743432 |publisher=TASS |title=Timchenko: Everything has to be paid for, and acquaintance with top officials as well |date=4 August 2014 |access-date=12 August 2014 |archive-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811065902/http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/743432}}</ref> The US Department of Treasury announcement of individuals under sanctions due to the [[annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation]] lists him as a citizen of Russia, Finland, and [[Armenia]].<ref name=sanctions/>
==Wealth== According to ''Forbes'' magazine, Timchenko is one of the wealthiest people in Russia and the world:
{|class="wikitable" |- | style="background:#ead177;"| | style="background:#fe9;"|'''2008''' | style="background:#fe9;"|'''2009''' | style="background:#fe9;"|'''2010''' | style="background:#fe9;"|'''2011''' | style="background:#fe9;"|'''2012''' | style="background:#fe9;"|'''2013''' | style="background:#fe9;"|'''2014''' | style="background:#fe9;"|'''2016''' |- | style="background:#e3e3e3;"|'''Wealth ($bn)''' | '''''2.5''''' | '''''0.4''''' | '''''1.9''''' | '''''5.5''''' | '''''9.1''''' | '''''14.1''''' | '''''15.3''''' | '''''11.7''''' |- | style="background:#e3e3e3;"| '''World Ranking''' | '''''462<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_The-Worlds-Billionaires_Rank.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308184003/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_The-Worlds-Billionaires_Rank.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-03-08|title=The World's Billionaires - Forbes.com|work=Forbes}}</ref>''''' | '''''-''''' | '''''536<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_The-Worlds-Billionaires_Rank.html|title=The World's Billionaires|date=10 March 2010|work=Forbes|access-date=10 July 2020}}</ref>''''' | '''''185<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2011/10/billionaires_2011.html|title=The World's Billionaires 2011|work=Forbes|access-date=10 July 2020}}</ref>''''' | '''''99<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/|title=The World's Billionaires|work=Forbes}}</ref>''''' | '''''62<ref name=autogenerated1/>''''' | '''''61<ref name=autogenerated1/>''''' | '''''118<ref name=autogenerated1/>''''' |- | style="background:#e3e3e3;"| '''Russian ranking''' | '''''43<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.ru/rating/100-bogateishih-biznesmenov-rossii-2008/2008|title=100 Richest Businessmen in Russia — 2008|work=Forbes Russia|language=ru|access-date=10 July 2020}}</ref>''''' | '''''98<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.ru/rating/100-bogateishih-biznesmenov-rossii/2009|title=100 Richest Businessmen in Russia — 2009|work=Forbes Russia|language=ru|access-date=10 July 2020}}</ref>''''' | '''''36<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.ru/rating/100-bogateishih-biznesmenov-rossii/2010|title=100 Richest Businessmen in Russia — 2010|work=Forbes Russia|language=ru|access-date=10 July 2020}}</ref>''''' | '''''26<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.ru/rating/milliardery-spisok-forbes-2011/2011|title=200 Richest Businessmen in Russia — 2011|work=Forbes Russia|language=ru|access-date=10 July 2020}}</ref>''''' | '''''12<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.ru/rating/bogateishie-biznesmeny-rossii-2012/2012|title=200 Richest Businessmen in Russia — 2012|work=Forbes Russia|language=ru|access-date=10 July 2020}}</ref>''''' | '''''9<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mfd.ru/news/view/?id=1780728|title=Forbes: Carlos Slim Ellu leads the Forbes 2013 ranking with a fortune of $ 73 billion, and Alisher Usmanov with a fortune of $ 17.6 billion is the richest among Russians|date=5 March 2013|website=Mfd.ru|language=ru|access-date=10 July 2020}}</ref>''''' | '''''6<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.ru/rating/200-bogateishikh-biznesmenov-rossii-2014/2014|title=200 богатейших бизнесменов России — 2014|work=Forbes Russia|language=ru|trans-title=200 Richest Businessmen in Russia – 2014|access-date=10 July 2020}}</ref>''''' | |}
According to the Russian publication RBC, in 2012 Timchenko's worth was estimated at $24.61bn.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://top.rbc.ru/society/21/03/2012/642728.shtml|script-title=ru:Г.Тимченко дослужился до первого места в рейтинге богатейших миллиардеров|trans-title=G. Timchenko rose to first place in the richest billionaire ranking|language=ru|date=21 March 2012|access-date=21 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106055722/http://top.rbc.ru/society/21/03/2012/642728.shtml|archive-date=6 November 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In addition to business assets, Timchenko, according to media reports, also owns a property in Geneva, Switzerland, which consists of just over 1 ha of land, an internal area of 341m². According to the Land Registry Office of Geneva, the purchase price of the property was SFR 8.4m (at the time of purchase in 2001 – about US$11m).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rospres.com/corruption/4987/ |script-title=ru:Нефтетрейдер "прозрачной воды" |trans-title=Oil trader "Clear water" |language=ru |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104131646/http://www.rospres.com/corruption/4987/ |archive-date=4 November 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=21 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/photogallery/75961/ |script-title=ru:Дома и отели супругов Тимченко |trans-title=Timchenko's homes and hotels |language=ru |newspaper=[[Vedomosti]] |date=21 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014211849/http://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/photogallery/75961/ |archive-date=14 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> He purchased the yacht ''Lena'' for $18 million in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-04-11 |title=Who helps Russian oligarchs secretly buy jets, yachts and other luxury playthings? - ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/oligarchs-jets-yachts-luxury/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |language=en-US}}</ref>
His income, according to the Finnish tax authorities, increased tenfold from 1999 to 2001. In 2001, he declared an income of EUR 4.9m. Because of his high taxes, Timchenko moved to Switzerland in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rb.ru/biz/people/show/14977/ |title=Gennady Timchenko Biography |language=ru |access-date=21 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015123109/http://www.rb.ru/biz/people/show/14977/ |archive-date=15 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In June 2022, ''Forbes'' estimated his net worth at $23.1 billion, making him the 64th richest individual in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gennady Timchenko |url=https://www.forbes.com/nft-profile/gennady-timchenko/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
===Investigation=== In November 2014, ''The Wall Street Journal'' reported that the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of [[New York (state)|New York]] is examining allegations about transactions in which Gunvor Group bought oil from Russia's OAO Rosneft and sold it to third parties through the US financial system, which could have been illegal. Gunvor released a statement on 6 November denying any crime.<ref>Luke Harding, {{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/06/us-money-laundering-putin-associate-russia |title=US 'launches money-laundering investigation' into Putin associate |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=6 November 2014 |access-date=6 November 2014 |archive-date=6 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106161109/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/06/us-money-laundering-putin-associate-russia}}</ref>
==Public activities and philanthropy== In 1998, Timchenko co-founded the Yawara-Neva Judo Club.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.ru/sobytiya/lyudi/84415-esli-menya-ne-piarili-kak-druga-putina-tak-i-biznes-byl-pohuzhe |script-title=ru:«Если бы меня не пиарили как друга Путина, бизнес был бы похуже» |trans-title=If people wouldn't have PRed me as Putin's friend, the business would have been worse |journal=Forbes |date=27 July 2012 |access-date=26 November 2013 |language=ru |archive-date=8 November 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108201322/http://www.forbes.ru/sobytiya/lyudi/84415-esli-menya-ne-piarili-kak-druga-putina-tak-i-biznes-byl-pohuzhe}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1361793 |script-title=ru:"Никто не может сказать, что я кого-то унизил, у кого-то что-то отнял |trans-title=No one can tell me that I undermined anyone or took anything away from anyone |newspaper=Kommersant |date=28 April 2010 |access-date=26 November 2013 |language=ru |archive-date=15 October 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015012214/http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1361793}}</ref>
In 2007, Timchenko and the company Surgutex founded the Kluch charitable foundation, which develops professional foster homes in Leningrad, Tambov and Ryazan regions.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=26 November 2013 |publisher=Regnum |url=http://www.regnum.ru/news/polit/1469822.html |script-title=ru:Нарышкин открыл детский центр в городке, построенном фондом Тимченко (Ленинградская область) |archive-date=3 December 2013 |language=ru |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000115/http://www.regnum.ru/news/polit/1469822.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fontanka.ru/2010/10/10/025/ |script-title=ru:В Гатчинском районе сданы новые коттеджи для приемных семей |trans-title=New cottages for foster families |language=ru |date=10 October 2010 |access-date=26 November 2013 |archive-date=2 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202224114/http://www.fontanka.ru/2010/10/10/025/}}</ref> In 2008, Gennady and Elena Timchenko founded the Neva Foundation in Geneva,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nashagazeta.ch/news/11721|title="Солженицын, мужество писать"|date=6 May 2011|website=nashagazeta.ch|accessdate=3 March 2022}}</ref> in order to promote and finance cultural projects in Switzerland and Russia.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bilan.ch/top-secret/les-femmes-russes-aiment-les-fondations |work=Bilan |date=12 May 2008 |title=LES FEMMES RUSSES AIMENT LES FONDATIONS |trans-title=Russian women like the foundations |language=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214121956/http://www.bilan.ch/top-secret/les-femmes-russes-aiment-les-fondations |archive-date=14 December 2010 |url-status=dead |access-date=10 May 2010}}</ref> The foundation has focused on lyrical art and a partnership with the [[Grand Théâtre de Genève]]. Renowned Saint Petersburg Philharmonic conductor Yuri Temirkanov has been a trustee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neva-fondation.org/|title=FONDATION NEVA - accueil|author=Atelier Clauson - Sébastien Bertrand, Genève}}</ref>
In 2010, Gennady and Elena Timchenko created the Ladoga Foundation.<ref name="Charity1"/><ref>Вадим САМОРОДОВ: Фонд «Ладога» помогает пожилым ивановцам //«Ивановская газета», № 69 от 17 April 2012</ref><ref>Сообщество — старшему поколению газета «Рабочий край», № 185 от 7 October 2011</ref> The main activity of the fund has been providing help for the elderly, as well as the restoration of spiritual and cultural heritage monuments, support for cultural projects and project support in the field of modern medical technology. In September 2013, the Ladoga Foundation was renamed to the Elena and Gennady Timchenko Foundation (or just Timchenko Foundation for short),<ref>{{cite news|access-date=26 November 2013 |url=http://www.asi.org.ru/news/blagotvoritel-ny-j-fond-ladoga-pereimenovan-v-blagotvoritel-ny-j-fond-eleny-i-gennadiya-timchenko/ |title=Charitable Foundation "Ladoga" renamed the Helena and Gennady Timchenko Foundation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230623/http://www.asi.org.ru/news/blagotvoritel-ny-j-fond-ladoga-pereimenovan-v-blagotvoritel-ny-j-fond-eleny-i-gennadiya-timchenko/ |url-status=live |archive-date=2 December 2013}}</ref> consolidating all their charitable activities.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
In 2011, Timchenko was elected Chairman of the Economic Council of the Franco-Russian Chamber of Commerce (CCIFR).<ref name=imagemakers>{{cite news|url=http://www.svoboda.org/content/article/24464115.html |script-title=ru:Нефтетрейдер Тимченко пошел в имиджмейкеры |trans-title=Oil trader Timchenko went to the image-makers |date=1 February 2012 |language=ru |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113161054/http://www.svoboda.org/content/article/24464115.html |archive-date=13 November 2013 |url-status=live |access-date=13 November 2013 |newspaper=Радио Свобода}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|access-date=26 November 2013 |language=ru |url=http://www.oilcapital.ru/industry/133869.html |script-title=ru:Совладелец НОВАТЭКа Тимченко возглавил экономический совет Франко-российской ТПП |trans-title=Co-owner of Novatek Timchenko heads Economic Council as Franco-Russian Chamber of Commerce |date=14 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113151643/http://www.oilcapital.ru/industry/133869.html |archive-date=13 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The same year, he was also appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of [[SKA Saint Petersburg]], the leading ice hockey team.<ref name="SKA" /> In 2012, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Continental Hockey League (KHL).<ref name="CHL" />
He serves on the board of trustees of the [[Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center]] in Moscow<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jewish-museum.ru/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310073144/http://www.jewish-museum.ru/en/blog/187-evreyskiy-muzey-i-tsentr-tolerantnosti-ob-yavil-o-sozdanii-endaument-fonda-muzeya|url-status=dead|title=Еврейский музей и центр толерантности|archivedate=10 March 2014|website=www.jewish-museum.ru|accessdate=3 March 2022}}</ref> and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Geographical Society.<ref>{{cite news|date=16 January 2013|script-title=ru:Собянин отреставрировал для Русского географического общества купеческий доходный дом|trans-title=Sobyanin restored to Russian Geographical Society merchant apartment house|url=http://www.rbcdaily.ru/market/562949985512303|url-status=dead|access-date=13 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113152218/http://www.rbcdaily.ru/market/562949985512303|archive-date=13 November 2013}}</ref>
In 2020 Timchenko donated 2,9 billion rubles to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-02|title=Gennady and Elena Timchenko donated 2.9 bln roubles to anti-coronavirus efforts|url=http://timchenkofoundation.org/en/novosti/gennady-and-elena-timchenko-donated-2-9-bln-roubles-to-anti-coronavirus-efforts/|access-date=2021-02-18|website=English fund|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Fedorinova |first=Yuliya |last2=Sazanonov |first2=Alexander |date=2020-04-23 |title=Coronavirus Tests Fly by Private Jet as Russian Tycoons Help |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-23/coronavirus-tests-fly-by-private-jet-as-russia-s-tycoons-step-up |access-date=2021-02-18 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref>
==Sports and hobbies== [[File:Гала-матч Ночной Хоккейной Лиги часть 9.jpg|thumb|Gennady Timchenko, [[Vladimir Putin]] and [[Roman Rotenberg]]]] Timchenko likes to play and watch tennis. Through his formerly owned Finnish company, IPP, he has sponsored an outdoor tennis tournament in Finland since 2000, the IPP Open. According to unconfirmed reports{{clarify|reason=so why is it repeated here?|date=September 2015}} he funded the Finnish national team in the Davis Cup<ref name=Timchenko>Кузнец своего «Газпрома» // «Огонёк» No. 12 от 29 March 2010 (статья доступна в базе public.ru</ref> and has sponsored a number of Russian tennis players.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tennis.sport-express.ru/reviews/35248/|title=Sergei Butov|newspaper=[[Sport Express]]|language=ru|date=1 September 2013|access-date=27 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000607/http://tennis.sport-express.ru/reviews/35248/|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The media has mentioned him sponsoring a sailing team which participates in the international RC44 yachting competition.<ref name="Timchenko"/>
In April 2011, Timchenko replaced Alexander Medvedev as Chairman of the Board of Directors of [[SKA Saint Petersburg]], the Saint Petersburg-based ice hockey club. In May of the same year, under the new management structure of the club, he was appointed as Club President.<ref name="SKA"/> In July 2012, he replaced Vyacheslav Fetisov as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Continental Hockey League KHL.<ref name="CHL" /> The Timchenko Foundation promotes the development of the ice hockey and chess among young people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timchenkofoundation.org/|title=Главная|website=timchenkofoundation.org|accessdate=3 March 2022}}</ref>
In 2013, he became one of the sponsors and organisers of one of the most important international chess tournaments in the ELO rating – the Alekhine Memorial.<ref>{{cite news|title=Think before doing |url=http://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/news/11387401/prezhde_chem_shodit_nado_podumat |newspaper=Vedomosti |date=21 April 2013 |access-date=27 November 2013 |archive-date=6 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106161109/http://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/news/11387401/prezhde_chem_shodit_nado_podumat}}</ref>
In July 2013 Timchenko and the brothers [[Arkady Rotenberg]] and [[Boris Romanovitch Rotenberg|Boris Rotenberg]] established Arena Events Oy, which bought Helsinki's [[Hartwall Areena]].<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Kommersant|date= 29 June 2013|url= http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2223193|script-title=ru:В хоккейной колоде завелись "Джокеры"|trans-title=CHL to join Finnish Jokerits|language=ru}}</ref> They also bought a stake in [[Jokerit]], the six-time national champion of the Finnish top-level ice hockey league [[Liiga]]. Consequently, Jokerit transferred to the [[Kontinental Hockey League]] for the 2014–15 season and they play in the Western Conference in Bobrov division.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/jokerit-khl-2014-15-huge-step-russian-league-173608224--nhl.html |title=Jokerit to KHL in 2014–15 is huge step for Russian league |last=Wyshynski |first=Greg |date=30 October 2013 |work=Yahoo! Sports |publisher=[[Yahoo! News]] |access-date=10 January 2014 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006140044/https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/jokerit-khl-2014-15-huge-step-russian-league-173608224--nhl.html}}</ref> Arena Events Oy owned the Hartwall Areena (now Helsinki Halli) until 2024.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20124199|title=Helsingin areena on myyty – ulkoministeriö: Kaupassa kestää ainakin useita kuukausia |newspaper=[[Yle.fi]]|date=12 November 2024 |access-date=7 March 2025}}</ref>
==Awards== In 2013, he was appointed as a Chevalier of the [[Légion d'honneur]] for creating a permanent exhibition of Russian art in the [[Louvre]], support for the [[Russian Museum]] in Saint Petersburg, and help in organizing the [[Alekhine Memorial]] chess tournament.<ref name="forbes.ru">{{cite news|date=4 July 2013|script-title=ru: Тимченко стал кавалером ордена Почетного легиона|language=ru|trans-title=Timchenko has become a Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur|work=forbes.ru|url=http://www.forbes.ru/news/241676-timchenko-stal-kavalerom-ordena-pochetnogo-legiona|url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106134744/http://www.forbes.ru/news/241676-timchenko-stal-kavalerom-ordena-pochetnogo-legiona|archive-date=6 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=12 October 2013|title="Другу Путина" Тимченко вручили орден Почетного легиона|agency=[[NEWSru]]|url=http://www.newsru.com/russia/12oct2013/timchenko.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015192614/http://www.newsru.com/russia/12oct2013/timchenko.html|archive-date=15 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=4 July 2013|script-title=ru:"Друг Путина" Тимченко получил высшую награду Франции, учрежденную Наполеоном|trans-title="Putin's friend" Timchenko has received the highest award of France, established by Napoleon|agency=NEWSru|url=http://www.newsru.com/world/04jul2013/orden.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706233536/http://www.newsru.com/world/04jul2013/orden.html|archive-date=6 July 2013}}</ref> This award prompted Russian political writer [[Andrey Piontkovsky]] to write that "awarding a criminal with nickname ''Gangrene'' the highest distinction brings shame to the French state".<ref>{{cite news|last=Piontkovsky |first=Andrey |title=ПАДЕНИЕ ПАРИЖА |url=http://echo.msk.ru/blog/piontkovsky_a/1175906-echo/ |publisher=[[Echo of Moscow]] |archive-date=6 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106161109/http://echo.msk.ru/blog/piontkovsky_a/1175906-echo/}}</ref>
==See also== *[[List of Russian billionaires]] *[[Russian oligarchs]]
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== *{{Commons category-inline}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070430012941/http://www.anticompromat.ru/timchenko/timchbio.html Biography] by [[Vladimir Pribylovsky]] (in Russian). *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120211172353/http://www.robertamsterdam.com/france/2007/07/les_bonnes_affaires_de_guennad.html Les bonnes affaires de Guennadi Timtchenko] {{in lang|fr}} *[https://cdn.occrp.org/projects/russian-asset-tracker/en/person/6/gennady-timchenko/ Timchenko's profile and assets on Russian Asset Tracker]
{{Privatization in Russia}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Timchenko, Gennady}} [[Category:1952 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Russian oligarchs]] [[Category:Finnish businesspeople]] [[Category:Russian emigrants to Finland]] [[Category:Russian billionaires]] [[Category:Naturalized citizens of Finland]] [[Category:Russian-speaking Finns]] [[Category:Russian individuals subject to U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions]] [[Category:Russian individuals subject to European Union sanctions]] [[Category:Russian individuals subject to United Kingdom sanctions]] [[Category:People named in the Pandora Papers]] [[Category:Anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Russia]]