Tamaz Somkhishvili: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
removed Tags: Reverted Visual edit: Switched |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{pp-30-500|small=yes}} |
{{pp-30-500|small=yes}} |
||
{{short description|Georgian- |
{{short description|Georgian-born businessman}} |
||
{{Infobox person |
{{Infobox person |
||
| name = |
| name = |
||
| native_name = |
| native_name = Сомхишвили Тамаз |
||
| native_name_lang = |
| native_name_lang = ru |
||
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|06|22}} |
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|06|22}} |
||
| citizenship = Russia and Great Britain |
|||
| birth_place = [[Tbilisi]], [[Georgian SSR]] |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| citizenship = {{GEO}}<ref>[https://ifact.ge/tskaltubo-tskali/ როგორ იყიდა მთავრობამ წყალტუბოს წყალი? - აი ფაქტი]</ref><br>{{GBR}} |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
}} |
}} |
||
'''Somkhishvili''' '''Tamaz Valeryanovich''' (Russian: Тамаз Сомхишвили; June 22, 1957,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Російські "сушки" з грузинським чифирьом |url=https://zn.ua/ukr/conflict_of_interests/rosijski-sushki-z-hruzinskim-chifirom.html |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Зеркало недели {{!}} Дзеркало тижня {{!}} Mirror Weekly}}</ref> [[Tbilisi]], Georgian SSR) is a Georgian and Russian businessman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mykola |first=Polishchuk |date=2022-11-21 |title=Гібридний позов: російсько-грузинський бізнесмен Тамаз Сомхішвілі намагається відсудити у Києва 4 млрд гривень |url=https://ukranews.com/ua/publication/3474-gibrydnyj-pozov-rosijsko-gruzynskyj-biznesmen-tamaz-somhishvili-namagayetsya-vidsudyty-u-kyyeva-4 |website=Ukrainian News |language=uk}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Украина |first=Комментарии |date=2021-11-24 |title=Кримінальний авторитет Тамаз Сомхішвілі намагається відсудити у Києва 4 мільярди |url=https://comments.ua/ua/digest/kriminalniy-avtoritet-tamaz-somhishvili-namagaetsya-vidsuditi-u-kieva-4-milyardi-704273.html |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Коментарі Україна |language=uk}}</ref> In 1990s, he was the general director of the Russian companies [[Lukoil]], Lukoil Markets and Rosneftexport. Somkhishvili is also a part of Pandora Papers invetigation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Литвин |first=Олександр |date=2022-11-26 |title=Черновецький та його російський олігарх: як через ексмера у Києва хочуть забрати $100 млн |url=https://news.obozrevatel.com/ukr/economics/communalka/chernovetskij-ta-jogo-rosijskij-oligarh-yak-cherez-eksmera-u-kieva-hochut-zabrati-100-mln.htm |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=OBOZREVATEL NEWS |language=uk}}</ref> He is one of the richest people in Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kravtsev |first=Sergey |date=2021-11-24 |title=Кримінальний авторитет Тамаз Сомхішвілі намагається відсудити у Києва 4 мільярди |url=https://comments.ua/ua/digest/kriminalniy-avtoritet-tamaz-somhishvili-namagaetsya-vidsuditi-u-kieva-4-milyardi-704273.html |website=Comments.ua}}</ref> He is accused of organizing criminal schemes in [[Kyiv]] and [[Odesa]] related to the confiscation of land from municipal ownership.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Британский инвестор Тамаз Сомхишвили направил в Правительство Украины уведомление о споре на основании Соглашения между Украиной и Великобританией о взаимной защите инвестиций |url=https://ru.interfax.com.ua/news/press-release/780603.html |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Интерфакс-Украина |language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-03 |title=НАШІ ГРОШІ – Суд скасував стягнення з киян $24,5 мільйонів за історію Черновецького Харківській площі |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303022322/https://nashigroshi.org/2021/06/15/sud-skasuvav-stiahnennia-z-kyian-24-5-mil-yoniv-za-istoriiu-chernovets-koho-kharkivs-kiy-ploshchi/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref> In the end of 2022, it was revealed through several journalist investigations that Somkhishvili's company in Georgia is a contractor for the [[Ministry of Defence (Russia)|Russian Ministry of Defense]], repairing and modernizing Russian combat aircraft used against Ukraine.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Ivanov |first=Serhiy |date=2022-12-30 |title=Російські "сушки" з грузинським чифирьом |url=https://zn.ua/ukr/conflict_of_interests/rosijski-sushki-z-hruzinskim-chifirom.html |website=ZN.UA}}</ref> |
|||
'''Tamaz Valeryanovich Somkhishvili''' ({{lang-ka|თამაზ სომხიშვილი}}; born 22 June 1957, [[Tbilisi]], Georgian SSR) is a Georgian-born British businessman and sport executive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reitingi.ambebi.ge/top-news/14244-vin-aris-biznesmeni-romelic-tsynethshi-sasakhles-ishenebs.html|title=ვინ არის ბიზნესმენი, რომელიც წყნეთში სასახლეს იშენებს? (ფოტოები) - რეიტინგი|author=noauthor|website=reitingi.ge|access-date=2023-05-01}}</ref> |
|||
Somkhishvili is the founder of the TS Holding business group, which unites more than a dozen Georgian companies. Also, he is the founder and CFO of a number of [[Lukoil]] subsidiaries.<ref name=":0" /> From 2017 to 2022, he was president of the Georgian National Sport Shooting Federation.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|lang=ka-GE|url=https://1tv.ge/news/srolis-sakheobata-federaciis-prezidentad-mamuka-merkviladze-airchies-1tvsport/|title=მამუკა მერკვილაძე პრეზიდენტად - სროლის სახეობათა ფედერაცია, პირველი ფედერაცია საქართველოში, რომელმაც არჩევნები ახალი, დემოკრატიული წესებით ჩაატარა #1TVSPORT|website=1TV|access-date=2023-05-14}}</ref> |
|||
Tamaz Somkhishvili was granted [[British citizenship]] in 2007, in connection with which, since 2008, he suspended, and since 2010 completely stopped business in Russia, where he was engaged in energy resources. He was a co-founder of several companies for the production and trade of oil and oil products. |
|||
He was one of the richest people in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bizzone.info/stats/EFlVVFAkVu.php|title=50 богатейших грузин|publisher=Business Georgia|date=2013-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|lang=ka-ge|url=https://intermedia.ge/სტატია/74353-50-ყველაზე-მდიდარი-ქართველი/94/|title=50 ყველაზე მდიდარი ქართველი|website=intermedia.ge|access-date=2023-05-17}}</ref> |
|||
== Early years and education == |
== Early years and education == |
||
| ⚫ | Tamaz Somkhishvili was born on June 22, 1957, in Georgia. In 1984, he graduated from the Tobolsk Pedagogical Institute, Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, and in 1994 from [[University of Tyumen|Tyumen State University]], Faculty of Finance and Credit.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Основатель – TS Holding Official |url=https://www.tsholding.ge/ru/founder/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |language=ru-RU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Украина |first=Комментарии |date=2021-11-24 |title=Криминальный авторитет Тамаз Сомхишвили пытается отсудить у Киева 4 миллиарда |url=https://comments.ua/digest/kriminalnyy-avtoritet-tamaz-somhishvili-pytaetsya-otsudit-u-kieva-4-milliarda-704273.html |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Комментарии Украина |language=ru}}</ref><ref name="Тамаз Валерианович Сомхишвили">{{Cite web |title=Тамаз Валерианович Сомхишвили |url=https://politrada.com/dossier/Tamaz-Valerianovich-Somkhishvili/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=politrada.com |language=ru}}</ref> |
||
| ⚫ | In 1992–1993, he was the founder and CEO of Lukoil (Tyumen, Russian Federation).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Победа или пиар: чем закончится для столицы скандал с "мнимой" реконструкцией Харьковской площади |url=https://kievvlast.com.ua/text/pobeda-ili-piar-chem-zakonchitsya-dlya-stolitsy-skandal-s-mnimoj-rekonstruktsiej-harkovskoj-ploshhadi |website=KyivVlada}}</ref><ref name="rbsys.ru">{{Cite web |title="Томская нефть" ищет новых владельцев (Версия для печати) {{!}} РБС |url=http://www.rbsys.ru/print.php?page=1076&option=news_consulting |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=www.rbsys.ru}}</ref> |
||
| ⚫ | Tamaz Somkhishvili was born on June 22, 1957, in Georgia. In 1984, he graduated from the Tobolsk Pedagogical Institute, Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, and in 1994 from [[University of Tyumen|Tyumen State University]], Faculty of Finance and Credit.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Основатель – TS Holding Official |url=https://www.tsholding.ge/ru/founder/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |language=ru-RU}}</ref><ref |
||
| ⚫ | |||
In 2002, he defended his PhD thesis on “Conditions and sources of financing for investment in the development of the oil industry” at the [[Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration]].<ref>{{Cite web|lang=ru-RU|url=https://search.rsl.ru/ru/record/01002294838|title=Сомхишвили, Тамаз Валерианович - Условия и источники финансирования инвестиций в развитие нефтяной промышленности : диссертация ... кандидата экономических наук : 08.00.10, 08.00.05 - Search RSL|website=search.rsl.ru|access-date=2023-03-28}}</ref> |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
== Career == |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | In 1992–1993, he was the founder and CEO of |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
From 2002 to 2004, he was a shareholder of OAO Tomskaya Neft, a pipeline construction and field management company. In 2002–2008, he was a member of the board of Agroco, LLC Agricultural Investment Company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=В Государственной думе обсудят вопрос о планируемом повышении налоговых изъятий в сфере добычи нефти |url=https://saint-petersburg.ru/m/spb/old/94800/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Санкт-Петербург.Ру |language=ru}}</ref> |
From 2002 to 2004, he was a shareholder of OAO Tomskaya Neft, a pipeline construction and field management company. In 2002–2008, he was a member of the board of Agroco, LLC Agricultural Investment Company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=В Государственной думе обсудят вопрос о планируемом повышении налоговых изъятий в сфере добычи нефти |url=https://saint-petersburg.ru/m/spb/old/94800/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Санкт-Петербург.Ру |language=ru}}</ref> |
||
In 2007, he married a British citizen and received British citizenship.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Ivanov |first=Serhiy |date=2022-12-30 |title=Російські "сушки" з грузинським чифирьом |url=https://zn.ua/ukr/conflict_of_interests/rosijski-sushki-z-hruzinskim-chifirom.html |website=ZN.UA}}</ref> |
|||
In 2007, he received [[British citizenship]]. |
|||
In 2015, Tamaz Somkhishvili founded |
In 2015, Tamaz Somkhishvili founded TS Holding.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Победа или пиар: чем закончится для столицы скандал с "мнимой" реконструкцией Харьковской площади • Интернет-издание Власть |url=https://vlasti.info/news/23101-pobeda_ili_piar_chem_zakonchitcja_dlja_stolitsy_skandal_s_mnimoj_rekonstruktsiej_harjkovskoj_ploshchadi |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Интернет-издание Власть |language=ru}}</ref> |
||
In 2017, he was elected President of the Georgian Shooting Federation. He was the only candidate who applied for this post.<ref name="Тамаз Валерианович Сомхишвили"/> |
|||
In 2017 he succeeded Kakhaberi Sikharulidze as President of the Georgian National Sport Shooting Federation. He was unanimously elected president in an early election and reporting conference held at the [[Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel, Tbilisi]].<ref>{{Cite web|lang=ka-ge|url=https://sportall.ge/skhva-sakheobebi/tyviis-srola/113144-saqarthvelos-srolis-federacias-akhali-prezidenti-hyavs.html?orderBy=0&add_new=1&all=0#add|title=საქართველოს სროლის ფედერაციას ახალი პრეზიდენტი ჰყავს|website=Sportall|access-date=2023-05-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|lang=ka|url=http://lelo.ge/article/ახალი-პრეზიდენტი-სროლაში-1886/|title=ახალი პრეზიდენტი სროლაში|website=Lelo.Ge|access-date=2023-05-01}}</ref> He was attracted by the fact that shooting sport, along with martial arts, was one of the main sources of Olympic medals for Georgia.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|lang=en-US|url=https://finchannel.com/reborn-of-georgian-skeet/115367/georgian-local-news/2023/04/|title=Reborn of Georgian Skeet » FINCHANNEL|date=2023-04-01|access-date=2023-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldsport.ge//ge/page/175734_srolis-saertashoriso-federacias-axali-prezidenti-hyavs|title=სროლის საერთაშორისო ფედერაციას ახალი პრეზიდენტი ჰყავს|website=მსოფლიო სპორტი|access-date=2023-05-01}}</ref> |
|||
== Alleged connection with crime == |
|||
In 2018, Tamaz Somkhishvili managed to build a state-of-the-art international level sports complex with a large capacity. It also trained junior and amateur athletes. Many countries are interested in the Georgian shooting club. The only problem that has not been solved yet is the lack of professional referees.<ref name=":2" /> In 2021 he resigned at his own request and was succeeded by Mamuka Merkviladze.<ref name=":1" /> |
|||
According to ''[[Comments.ua]]'' Somkhishvili was first associated with one of the main thieves in law in CIS — Ded Khasan (aka [[Aslan Usoyan]]), and after his death - with his heir Shakro Molodoy (aka Zakhary Kalashov). According to ''Comments.ua'' it is the interests of the latter in Georgia and Ukraine that Somkhishvili represents. In 2005, Spanish special services detained Shakro Molodoy. For money laundering, the court sent him to prison for 7.5 years. At that time, according to ''Comments.ua'', Tamaz Somkhishvili managed the entire business of Shakro.<sup><ref name=":0" /></sup> |
|||
== Corruption scandals in Ukraine == |
|||
On November 18, 2021, Tamaz Somkhishvili sent a notice of the dispute to the [[Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine]] and a proposal to amicably resolve the investment dispute for damages in accordance with the Agreement between the [[Government of Ukraine]] and the [[Government of the United Kingdom|Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]] on the promotion and mutual protection of investments.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ru.interfax.com.ua/news/press-release/780603.html|title=Британский инвестор Тамаз Сомхишвили направил в Правительство Украины уведомление о споре на основании Соглашения между Украиной и Великобританией о взаимной защите инвестиций|publisher=[[Interfax-Ukraine]]|website=interfax.com.ua|date=2021-11-18}}</ref> As the owner of Kyiv-Terminal, Somkhishvili asked the President to protect his rights as an investor in a dispute with the Kyiv municipality over the complete reconstruction and rehabilitation of Kharkivska Square in Kyiv. The issue stems from an investment agreement signed on May 18, 2007, in which Somkhishvili’s company Kyivterminal paid 13.5 million dollars to the municipality as a debtor after winning the tender. The project was supposed to include the construction of 125,000 sq/m, with an option for the investor to build an additional 180,000 sq/m, making it one of the largest infrastructure projects in the capital, with a potential capitalization of 200 million dollars. <ref name=":0" /> |
|||
In Ukraine, Somkhishvili Tamaz became known as the beneficiary of a scheme that has not yet been implemented to receive about $98.5 million from the budget of Kyiv as compensation for losses incurred as a result of the termination of the Kyiv City State Administration of the investment agreement for the reconstruction of Kharkivska Square. In 2008, Tamaz Somkhishvili's company won a lawsuit for the right to lease land. However, no work has been recorded on it. In 2013, by mutual agreement of the parties, the investment agreement was terminated.<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-01 |title=Британський інвестор, який намагається відсудити $100 млн в Києва, насправді громадянин РФ |url=https://espreso.tv/britanskiy-investor-yakiy-namagaetsya-vidsuditi-100-mln-v-kieva-naspravdi-gromadyanin-rf |website=Espresso.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Британський інвестор, який намагається відсудити $100 млн в Києва, насправді може бути громадянином РФ – ЗМІ |url=https://zn.ua/ukr/ECONOMICS/britanskij-investor-jakij-namahajetsja-vidsuditi-100-mln-v-kijeva-naspravdi-hromadjanin-rf.html |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Зеркало недели {{!}} Дзеркало тижня {{!}} Mirror Weekly}}</ref> |
|||
In addition, Tamaz Somkhishvili was accused of organizing a similar scheme in Odesa. According to an investigation by Serhiy Ivanov and Censor.net, Somkhishvili and people close to Odesa Mayor [[Gennadiy Trukhanov]] withdrew the land belonging to the city's hippodrome from state ownership, and then sold the land for $11 million to local developer Adnan Kivan, who built a residential complex on the seized land. Somkhishvili was a direct beneficiary of the Vostok-XXI company through which the transaction was carried out.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Російський "авторитет" Тамаз Сомхішвілі провернув земельну аферу в Одесі – розслідування |url=https://www.unian.ua/society/rosiyskiy-avtoritet-tamaz-somhishvili-provernuv-zemelnu-aferu-v-odesi-rozsliduvannya-12111300.html |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=www.unian.ua |language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Комендатова |first=Надія |date=2023-01-16 |title=За російського "авторитета" Тамаза Сомхішвілі мають взятися СБУ та РНБО, – журналіст |url=https://ukranews.com/ua/news/908780-za-rosijskogo-avtoryteta-tamaza-somhishvili-mayut-vzyatysya-sbu-ta-rnbo-zhurnalist |website=Ukrainian News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Цензор.НЕТ |title=Як російський кримінал захоплює одеську землю (Сергій Іванов) |url=https://censor.net/ru/blogs/3393622/yak_rosiyiskyyi_kryminal_zahoplyuye_odesku_zemlyu |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=Цензор.НЕТ |language=ru}}</ref> |
|||
== Patronage activities == |
|||
== Cooperation with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation == |
|||
Tamaz Somkhishvili is an active participant and patron of the [[Georgian diaspora]] in European countries, in particular in the United Kingdom. As a parishioner of the [[Georgian Orthodox Church]], he became the founder of the parish of the church in [[London]], bought for her the building of the temple, which became one of the few Georgian churches in Western Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nor.ge/42123/|title=Глава правительства в рамках официального визита в Лондон встретился с представителями грузинской диаспоры|website=nor.ge|date=2016-05-13}}</ref> For this, Somkhishvili received a personal commendation from Georgian Prime Minister [[George Kvirikashvili]].<ref>{{Cite web|lang=ka|url=https://netgazeti.ge/news/264748/|title=ვინ არის თამაზ სომხიშვილი, რომელიც წყნეთში სასახლეს იშენებს|website=NETGAZETI.ge|access-date=2023-05-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kavkazplus.com/news.php?id=6129|title=Премьер Грузии: Мы всегда ждем эмигрантов|website=kavkazplus.com|access-date=2023-05-19}}</ref> |
|||
The Ukrainian edition of [[Dzerkalo Tyzhnia]] published an investigation by journalist Sergiy Ivanov that Tamaz Somkhishvili's company is a contractor of the [[Russian Ministry of Defense]] and fulfills its orders for the repair of Russian army combat aircraft used in the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] since 2022.<ref name=":1" /> |
|||
On January 25, 2023, the Georgian 1st TV channel posted an investigation of the project "Saturday Night" which was adapted by the Ukrainian journalist and author of the program "Antipodes' Serhiy Ivanov. The journalists found out that Somkhishvili Tamaz has an influence on the [[Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing]] (Tbilaviamsheni) and [[TAM Management]] company, which is located on the territory of the plant and operates on its capacities. According to the former director of the plant, Vazhi Tordia, who later became a co-owner and director of TAM Management, Tbilaviashmeni owns 20 percent of the Russian concern, Sukhoi Sturmoviks. This company is engaged in the repair of Russian aircraft. A relative of Tamaz Somkhishvili, Georgy is a board member and chairman of the supervisory board of Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-01 |title=ექსკლუზივი: საქართველოს მთვარობის წილი კონცერნში, სადაც რუსულ ბომბდამშენებს არემონტებენ |url=https://tvpirveli.ge/ka/siaxleebi/politika/31137-eqskluzivi-saqartvelos-mtvarobis-tsili-kontsernshi-sadats-rusul-bombdamshenebs |website=Georgian 1st TV channel}}</ref> |
|||
In Georgia, Tamaz Somkhishvili is one of the largest patrons of the [[Saint Andrew the First-Called Georgian University of the Patriarchate of Georgia]].<ref name=":0" /> |
|||
== |
== References == |
||
[[TAM Management]] specializes in the repair and maintenance of aircraft. TAM Management was founded in 2015 and rents the location from the [[Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukrainianlawfirms.com/minefield-for-the-investor/|title=Minefield for the Investor|date=2023-01-26}}</ref> |
|||
TAM Management has no ownership and management relationship with the Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing. |
|||
== Personal life == |
|||
He is married to Nino Somkhishvili. Their daughter Lia Somkhishvili died in March 2021 and was buried in London's Cathedral of the Nativity of the Saviour.<ref>{{Cite web|lang=en|url=http://www.resonancedaily.com/index.php?id_rub=4&id_artc=121270|title=ტრაგედია ქართველი მილიარდერის ოჯახში - რა გახდა ახალგაზრდა ქალის გარდაცვალების მიზეზი?|website=resonancedaily.com|access-date=2023-05-01}}</ref> |
|||
His ex-wife is Elena Viktorovna Vasilets, born in [[Armyansk]], Ukrainian SSR, poet, writer, member of the [[Union of Writers of Russia]].<ref>{{Cite web|lang=ru|url=http://ru.gruzinform.ge/news/24782/-larec-vospominanij-eleni-vasilec-otkrit-tbilisskomu-CitatelU-v-tbilisi-proSla-prezentaciA-sbornika-stiKov-molodoj-russkoj-poEtessi---gruzinform.html|title=«Ларец воспоминаний» Елены Василец открыт тбилисскому читателю! В Тбилиси прошла презентация сборника стихов молодой русской поэтессы - ГРУЗИНФОРМ|website=Saqinform|access-date=2023-05-15}}</ref> |
|||
His son is Giorgi Tamazovich Somkhishvili. |
|||
== References == |
|||
{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
||
| Line 72: | Line 50: | ||
[[Category:1957 births]] |
[[Category:1957 births]] |
||
[[Category:Living people]] |
[[Category:Living people]] |
||
[[Category:Businesspeople from Tbilisi]] |
|||
[[Category:British businesspeople]] |
|||
[[Category:Businesspeople from Georgia (country)]] |
|||
Revision as of 12:23, 22 June 2023
Tamaz Somkhishvili | |
|---|---|
Сомхишвили Тамаз | |
| Born | June 22, 1957 |
| Citizenship | Russia and Great Britain |
| Occupation | businessman |
Somkhishvili Tamaz Valeryanovich (Russian: Тамаз Сомхишвили; June 22, 1957,[1] Tbilisi, Georgian SSR) is a Georgian and Russian businessman.[2][3] In 1990s, he was the general director of the Russian companies Lukoil, Lukoil Markets and Rosneftexport. Somkhishvili is also a part of Pandora Papers invetigation.[4] He is one of the richest people in Georgia.[5] He is accused of organizing criminal schemes in Kyiv and Odesa related to the confiscation of land from municipal ownership.[6][7] In the end of 2022, it was revealed through several journalist investigations that Somkhishvili's company in Georgia is a contractor for the Russian Ministry of Defense, repairing and modernizing Russian combat aircraft used against Ukraine.[8]
Early years and education
Tamaz Somkhishvili was born on June 22, 1957, in Georgia. In 1984, he graduated from the Tobolsk Pedagogical Institute, Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, and in 1994 from Tyumen State University, Faculty of Finance and Credit.[9][10][11]
In 1992–1993, he was the founder and CEO of Lukoil (Tyumen, Russian Federation).[12][13]
In 1993–1999, he was the founder and commercial director of Lukoil Markets (Moscow, RF).
From 1995 to 2008, together with Lukoil and Rosneft, he was the founder-partner and general director of OJSC Rosneftexport (Moscow, Russia). Founder-partner since 1995 (co-founders of Lukoil and Rosneft).[13]
In 2001–2005, he was the founder and head of the representative office in Moscow of Danao Engineering, specializing in the extraction and processing of both raw materials and waste.[3]
From 2002 to 2004, he was a shareholder of OAO Tomskaya Neft, a pipeline construction and field management company. In 2002–2008, he was a member of the board of Agroco, LLC Agricultural Investment Company.[14]
In 2007, he married a British citizen and received British citizenship.[15]
In 2015, Tamaz Somkhishvili founded TS Holding.[16]
In 2017, he was elected President of the Georgian Shooting Federation. He was the only candidate who applied for this post.[11]
Alleged connection with crime
According to Comments.ua Somkhishvili was first associated with one of the main thieves in law in CIS — Ded Khasan (aka Aslan Usoyan), and after his death - with his heir Shakro Molodoy (aka Zakhary Kalashov). According to Comments.ua it is the interests of the latter in Georgia and Ukraine that Somkhishvili represents. In 2005, Spanish special services detained Shakro Molodoy. For money laundering, the court sent him to prison for 7.5 years. At that time, according to Comments.ua, Tamaz Somkhishvili managed the entire business of Shakro.[3]
Corruption scandals in Ukraine
In Ukraine, Somkhishvili Tamaz became known as the beneficiary of a scheme that has not yet been implemented to receive about $98.5 million from the budget of Kyiv as compensation for losses incurred as a result of the termination of the Kyiv City State Administration of the investment agreement for the reconstruction of Kharkivska Square. In 2008, Tamaz Somkhishvili's company won a lawsuit for the right to lease land. However, no work has been recorded on it. In 2013, by mutual agreement of the parties, the investment agreement was terminated.[3][17][18]
In addition, Tamaz Somkhishvili was accused of organizing a similar scheme in Odesa. According to an investigation by Serhiy Ivanov and Censor.net, Somkhishvili and people close to Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov withdrew the land belonging to the city's hippodrome from state ownership, and then sold the land for $11 million to local developer Adnan Kivan, who built a residential complex on the seized land. Somkhishvili was a direct beneficiary of the Vostok-XXI company through which the transaction was carried out.[19][20][21]
Cooperation with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The Ukrainian edition of Dzerkalo Tyzhnia published an investigation by journalist Sergiy Ivanov that Tamaz Somkhishvili's company is a contractor of the Russian Ministry of Defense and fulfills its orders for the repair of Russian army combat aircraft used in the Russian invasion of Ukraine since 2022.[15]
On January 25, 2023, the Georgian 1st TV channel posted an investigation of the project "Saturday Night" which was adapted by the Ukrainian journalist and author of the program "Antipodes' Serhiy Ivanov. The journalists found out that Somkhishvili Tamaz has an influence on the Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing (Tbilaviamsheni) and TAM Management company, which is located on the territory of the plant and operates on its capacities. According to the former director of the plant, Vazhi Tordia, who later became a co-owner and director of TAM Management, Tbilaviashmeni owns 20 percent of the Russian concern, Sukhoi Sturmoviks. This company is engaged in the repair of Russian aircraft. A relative of Tamaz Somkhishvili, Georgy is a board member and chairman of the supervisory board of Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing.[22]
References
- ^ "Російські "сушки" з грузинським чифирьом". Зеркало недели | Дзеркало тижня | Mirror Weekly. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ Mykola, Polishchuk (2022-11-21). "Гібридний позов: російсько-грузинський бізнесмен Тамаз Сомхішвілі намагається відсудити у Києва 4 млрд гривень". Ukrainian News (in Ukrainian).
- ^ a b c d Украина, Комментарии (2021-11-24). "Кримінальний авторитет Тамаз Сомхішвілі намагається відсудити у Києва 4 мільярди". Коментарі Україна (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ Литвин, Олександр (2022-11-26). "Черновецький та його російський олігарх: як через ексмера у Києва хочуть забрати $100 млн". OBOZREVATEL NEWS (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ Kravtsev, Sergey (2021-11-24). "Кримінальний авторитет Тамаз Сомхішвілі намагається відсудити у Києва 4 мільярди". Comments.ua.
- ^ "Британский инвестор Тамаз Сомхишвили направил в Правительство Украины уведомление о споре на основании Соглашения между Украиной и Великобританией о взаимной защите инвестиций". Интерфакс-Украина (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ "НАШІ ГРОШІ – Суд скасував стягнення з киян $24,5 мільйонів за історію Черновецького Харківській площі". web.archive.org. 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ Ivanov, Serhiy (2022-12-30). "Російські "сушки" з грузинським чифирьом". ZN.UA.
- ^ "Основатель – TS Holding Official" (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ Украина, Комментарии (2021-11-24). "Криминальный авторитет Тамаз Сомхишвили пытается отсудить у Киева 4 миллиарда". Комментарии Украина (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ a b "Тамаз Валерианович Сомхишвили". politrada.com (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ "Победа или пиар: чем закончится для столицы скандал с "мнимой" реконструкцией Харьковской площади". KyivVlada.
- ^ a b ""Томская нефть" ищет новых владельцев (Версия для печати) | РБС". www.rbsys.ru. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ "В Государственной думе обсудят вопрос о планируемом повышении налоговых изъятий в сфере добычи нефти". Санкт-Петербург.Ру (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ a b Ivanov, Serhiy (2022-12-30). "Російські "сушки" з грузинським чифирьом". ZN.UA.
- ^ "Победа или пиар: чем закончится для столицы скандал с "мнимой" реконструкцией Харьковской площади • Интернет-издание Власть". Интернет-издание Власть (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ "Британський інвестор, який намагається відсудити $100 млн в Києва, насправді громадянин РФ". Espresso.tv. 2022-12-01.
- ^ "Британський інвестор, який намагається відсудити $100 млн в Києва, насправді може бути громадянином РФ – ЗМІ". Зеркало недели | Дзеркало тижня | Mirror Weekly. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ "Російський "авторитет" Тамаз Сомхішвілі провернув земельну аферу в Одесі – розслідування". www.unian.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-04-04.
- ^ Комендатова, Надія (2023-01-16). "За російського "авторитета" Тамаза Сомхішвілі мають взятися СБУ та РНБО, – журналіст". Ukrainian News.
- ^ Цензор.НЕТ. "Як російський кримінал захоплює одеську землю (Сергій Іванов)". Цензор.НЕТ (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-04-04.
- ^ "ექსკლუზივი: საქართველოს მთვარობის წილი კონცერნში, სადაც რუსულ ბომბდამშენებს არემონტებენ". Georgian 1st TV channel. 2023-01-01.