[46], In September 2008, the JSC "Baltiyskiy Zavod" completed tests of uninhabited deep-water equipment. He was not involved in the Communist party. The Yenisei Industrial Company (EPC), acquired the licence (up to 31 May 2020) for the development of the Elegest highlands in Ulug-Khem coal basin in Tuva, a remote region in the south-central part of Russia on the Mongolian border. On 19 August, the general secretary appointed Bernardo M. Cremades as the second arbitrator. In 2011, at his request, criminal proceedings were instituted in France concerning extortion and threats from the senior staff of DIA. After a meeting with Putin, Pugachev understood that the restructuring would have to be interrupted. Linley's company became famous for designing the ninth largest yacht in the world, Lady Moura (for Saudi Prince Araviy Al-Rashid), and the interiors of the hotel Claridges in London. In August 2008, Finance Minister Kudrin informed Pugachev that Putin wanted to take on the project to build a five-star hotel and residential complex on 5 Red Square. In 2009, she divorced Galimzyanov shortly after the birth of her son Alexei. He retired as Deputy Chief of the department of general tactics and operational art of the Military Academy. Filmed over five years since 2015, the documentary begins with Tolstoy's glamorous life as the partner of a Russian oligarch and billionaire, Sergei Pugachev. In January 2002, Pugachev resigned from IIB's board of directors. He started the Luxe TV channel project, broadcasting in various languages in 20 countries. At the start of the 1990s, Pugachev became an adviser to Russian leaders. Consequently, charges mainly came in the form of guided statements of the owner of the IIB D. Henderson Stewart and former director Alexandr Didenko, who cooperated with the investigation. In 2009, work was started on the frigate "Fleet Admiral Kasatonov" for project 22350. Sergei Pugachev (2008-2015) Issue: Alexei Pugachev Ivan Pugachev Maria Pugachev: Father: Count Nikolai Tolstoy: . He didn't want to leave office poor."[29]. 2010 Started a deal with the government concerning the sale of shares in Severnaya Verf, Baltiyskiy Zavod, the Central Design Bureau "Iceberg". Once known as the Kremlin's banker, Pugachev played a key role . Multi-million pound UK properties of 'Putin's banker' Sergei Pugachev to go on sale The 17th century Battersea House was worth 12m in 2011 and once belonged to the Forbes family. After he left the Senate, the Government began confiscating Pugachev's various properties. 4 1963, ) , , , , . Stanislav Belkovsky, a Russian political analyst and Putin critic, estimated that Putin had a net worth of $70 billion in 2012 for The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, based on claims that the . Putin suggested, as potential buyers, EvrazHoldings, Abramova and Abramovich and Severstal (belonging to Yuri Kovalchuk). Pugachev was a major shareholder in Baltiyskiy Zavod. "Camelot" LLC released its shipbuilding company assets to a value of 12,978,603 thousand rubles. On 23 September 2014, Krug LLC was liquidated. Pugachev helped Putin to climb the ladder of power, presenting him to Yeltsin. At the end of the 1990s, Pugachev started to acquire shares in shipbuilding and engineering businesses in St. Petersburg, including Severnaya Verf Shipbuilding plant JSC, the Baltiyskiy Zavod JSC and the Iceberg Central Design Bureau. In December 1998, the IIB increased its authorised capital to 10 billion rubles. In 2013, criminal proceedings were again instituted against him in the Russian Federation. 2002 Acquisition of shares in about 60 machine plant companies. 2009 Acquisition of the American company Biopure Corporation and creation of "OPK Biotech" for implementation of a project for creating artificial blood substitutes. In January 2002, Pugachev resigned from IIB's board of directors. Baltiyskiy Zavod and Severnaya Verf built 9 Corvettes, 5 Frigates, 8 Supply Ships and "the largest icebreaker in the world". Registered in England No. Between 2006 and 2009, the shipyards built 2 saturated ship hulls for project VS 470 PSV for Norwegian company Skipper II AS and highly saturated ship hulls for supply off offshore oil platforms of project VS 485 PSV for Norwegian Solvic Hull Supplies AS. According to data from the Accounting Chamber, the money allocated by Pugachev for construction to the military services of the Ministry of Defence for the most part was taken. In 2011, the government intervened in the deal. On 18 March 2014, The court found Krug LLC bankrupt. From 1993, he repeatedly attracted Academy staff with expertise among the various projects. The ship is intended for research purposes. Pugachev transferred the main capacity to the Severnaya Verf site and started implementation of the largest development project in St. Petersburg with development of 70 hectares in the centre of the city on Vasilevsky Island. Pugachev and his lawyers believe that the allegations by the Russian authorities targeting Mr. Pugachev are politically motivated and judicially groundless. Roman . According to the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation, "Camelot" LLC is registered at a mass registration address in Ivanov. This Russian's net worth is something of a mystery. The Gribanov project involved the development of 1162 hectares of land in the Krasnogorsk region and the Odintsovo regions. In 2009, the boat "Serafim Sarovsky" was built, as a continuation of the series of communications boats. [100][101], Hotel in Red Square (Middle Trading Rows), Last edited on 19 February 2023, at 15:03, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, "Le milliardaire russe Sergue Pougatchev recherch par Interpol", " ", " ", " ", ", " ", " ? Pugachev became a French citizen in 2009. The Federal Court of Arbitration of Moscow district upheld the legality of the decision of the Tenth Arbitration Appeal Court, denying the Optic-Trade the right to appeal. The 500 Russians with a net worth of more than $100mn control 40 per cent of the country's household wealth, according to a study by the Boston Consulting Group last year. In order to remove the company from the market, Altushkin was given the first payment for the deal in the amount of US$150 million. In 2020, Alexandra was evicted from her home after the Russian government claimed it against debts owed by her ex-husband, oligarch Sergei Pugachev. At the end of the 1990s, he invested in the largest shipbuilding complex in Europe at the St. Petersburg shipbuilding base of Baltiyskiy Zavod and Severnaya Verf and in 60 engineering companies. Baltiyskiy Zavod was part of the Pugachev-controlled United Industrial Corporation (OPK). 1996: Commendation of the president of the Russian Federation B. N. Yeltsin "For a major contribution to the development of Russian democracy, creative and proactive participation in preparation and carrying out of a campaign for the national elections of the President of the Russian Federation in 1996". Details of investment. 2002 Acquisition of the oil company "White Nights" LLC from the Croatian state oil company INA. American director Roger Spottiswoode made a film based on these events in 2003, Spinning Boris. On 8 August 2016, the general secretary of the tribunal took on the responsibility to appoint a second arbitrator, after the Russian Federation missed the procedural deadline. Sergei Pugachev, a former billionaire financier who left Russia in 2011, . -2015 ", " ", " " ", " ", " "" " ", " " ", " ", "Sergei Pugachev: 'Putin's banker' now lives in fear of man he put into power", " ", "- ", "Till Putin Do Us Part: Oligarch's Ex-Wife Is Taking On Russia", " ", "Life with a Russian billionaire: money and death threats", "The Countess and the Russian Billionaire", "The enduring grip of the menand mindsetof the KGB", "Former Kremlin banker flees UK for France", "Suspected homemade car bomb found by Russian tycoon who has accused Kremlin of trying to KILL him", "Businessmen are 'serfs' in Putin's Russia, warns Sergei Pugachev. On 19 November 1941, he was appointed as commander of 22nd Separate Infantry Brigade as part of the second Shock Army of the Volkhov Front. 2 min read . The search engine, founded in 1998 by Sergey and Larry Page, was created with the intention of making . CNN's Erin Burnett speaks with Countess Alexandra Tolstoy, the former partner to Russian oligarch Sergei Pugachev, about their relationship with Vladimir Putin. In 2000, Yenisei obtained a licence for exploration and production of coal at the Elegest deposit. According to official data, he was awarded Doctor of Technical Sciences. He has major real estate development projects in the United States, France, Luxembourg, Russia and the United Kingdom. 2008: Commendation of the chairman of the Russian Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly "For his contribution to the improvement of legislation and development of parliament in the Russian Federation". In December 2013, the Russian government filed a claim about Pugachev's accountability for subsidiary responsibility in the Moscow Court of Arbitration. [48], In February 2009, a contract was signed with Concern Energoatom JSC, which involved construction at Baltiyskiy Zavod, launching, completion, testing and transfer into operation of the lead floating power unit of project 20870, the world's first low-capacity nuclear power plant. [12] The investment commission of the Russian Federation financed infrastructure for this project in the amount of 1.5 billion dollars, a record investment in the development of a private company.[13]. In the Soviet era, he held command positions in the Red Army. In 2004, Putin asked Pugachev to provide the Ministry of Defence with 1.5 billion rubles for construction of housing for military service personnel. He is a Doctor of Technical Sciences and a member of the International Engineering Academy as well as the author of three monographs and 40 research papers. The analysts called this deal the "breakthrough of Russian capital into the world market" and compared it with the purchase of the Chelsea football club by Roman Abramovich in 2003.[79]. Sergei Viktorovich Pugachev, also spelled Sergey Pugachyov, (French: Sergue Pougatchev, Russian: ; born 4 February 1963) is a Russian-born French business magnate. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 57 years old? Former friend of Putin Pugachev told how rich the president of the Russian Federation is and how he bribes foreign politicians The former owner of Mezhprombank, Sergei Pugachev, who is now wanted in Russia and is suing her in The Hague for assets worth $ 15 billion, and from the mid-1990s to 2010 had close contact with Vladimir Putin, said that the President of the Russian Federation now . OSK is 100% owned by the state. The basis for withdrawal was the failure of EPC to fulfil its obligations, although EPC at that time was controlled by Altushkin and Baisarov. [70] In accordance with Putin's instructions, the responsibility for compensation was given to first vice-premier V. Zubkov. ", " ", " "" - ", " 10890 - ", " ", "UK court serves $2.0 bln asset freeze order on Russian tycoon Pugachev", "Tycoon Pugachev files $12 billion claim against Russia", "High Court rules Pugachev trusts are "shams" in landmark judgment", "Russia tycoon sues publisher and Reuters reporter over Putin book", "Russian Billionaires, Rosneft Sue Over Book on Putin's Rise FT", "Russian billionaires file lawsuits over book on Putin's rise: Mikhail Fridman is among those to have filed a suit against publisher HarperCollins", "Are our courts a playground for bullies? The Russian government was not interested in whether the sale had a transparent structure, which would entail financing the acquisition with funds from the Federal budget, which would require approval by the Russian Parliament. Rare photos have emerged of Vladimir Putin's two "secret" daughters released by a former right-hand man who just lost a $12 billion lawsuit against Russia, according to reports. [8][9] Between 1983 and 1991, Pugachev did not work in the Krasnogvardeysky branch of Stroibank of the USSR,[10] as stated in his employment record book, since at the time he was imprisoned in Kresty Prison. His paternal grandfather was Fyodor Kuzmich Pugachev (1892 25 June 1942), an officer of the Tsarist army who fought in the First World War as staff Officer of the 4th Nesvizhsky Grenadier Regiment of Field Marshal Prince Barclay de Tolly. In 1993, he sold his share. It appeared in German in its sister paper, Zurich's Tages-Anzeiger at the same time. The two-time league MVP was battling for position with Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson in front of the net and was knocked to the ice. In 2008 he was ranked number 605 in Forbes list of The World's Billionaires, and given a net worth of 2 billion. Minister for Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Kudrin made a proposal to allocate US$5 billion for this deal. Sergei Pugachev net worth. 18 March 2022 1 min read Interviews. In 2014 he was sued by th [59] Under increasing pressure from President Putin, the Central Bank applied to the Moscow arbitration court for transfer of the shipyards into a trust. [94] Pugachev argued the charges were politically motivated and left Russia to live in London, where he had a house with his partner Alexandra Tolstoy and their children. At an auction in Monaco, part of the "Gagarin" series were sold for 360,000 euros. Nomura's source reported that the Central Bank used them as a cover to expropriate the assets. He was Commissar of 60 guards 20 guards in the rifle division. On 14 September 2016, the Moscow Court of Arbitration considered the application for liquidation of the Trade and Development Board. There are approximately 10,000 officials in Russia working for Putin who are given instructions to kill, torture, kidnap, extort money from people, and seize their property." The ex-partner of Russian oligarch Sergei Pugachev also known as Russian President Vladimir Putin's former banker called the way Putin and his inner-circle rule "ruthless." "Putin, like . According to Pugachev, his connections with America played a crucial role in Yeltsin's 1996 re-election, which was opposed by the communists. Marina Illarionova and Sergei Pugachev. In 2007, he acquired French grocery business Hediard (the oldest and largest chain of stores in the most expensive segment), owning 320 stores in 30 countries. Consequently, trading was carried out by one-day firms, registered to a natural person registered in the Ivanovo region, by analogy with the sale of Yukos assets by the Baikal Finance Group. Russian government officials discussed several acquisition options through the RF budget (Federal property agency Rosmuschestvo), or VEB (state corporation Vneshekonombank). Claims against Pugachev occurred in 2013, 2 years after the IIB proceedings had begun. In 2008, the Russian Federation Federal Service for Defence Orders made the plant the sole supplier of ships in the classes of "corvette", "frigate" and "Comms Boat". Pugachev engaged a team of American political consultants and PR managers headed by George Gorton. Putin warned Pugachev not to sell to foreign firms. He was not involved in the Communist party. [20], Pugachev was a source for Catherine Belton's 2020 book Putin's People. Pugachev was a major shareholder in Baltiyskiy Zavod. Mitsui then financed the geological exploratory work, on an irrevocable basis. In 2011, the government intervened in the deal. Pugachev transferred the main capacity to the Severnaya Verf site and started implementation of the largest development project in St. Petersburg with development of 70 hectares in the centre of the city on Vasilevsky Island. The estimate was produced under pressure. Consequently, trading was carried out by one-day firms, registered to a natural person registered in the Ivanovo region, by analogy with the sale of Yukos assets by the Baikal Finance Group. Sergei Pugachev once estimated his business empire was worth $15bn Sergei Pugachev - a Russian tycoon once known as "Putin's banker" - has said he filed a $12bn (8bn) compensation claim against . In the end Putin, in agreement with Medvedev, instructed Central Bank head Ignatiev to acquire shares in Pugachev's shipbuilding assets, with first Kudrin specified as curator. Pugachev established one of the first cooperative banks in the USSR, the Northern Commercial Bank. In 2003, it was reported that Pugachev's income was averaging more than 7 million rubles. American director Roger Spottiswoode made a film based on these events in 2003, Spinning Boris. On 22 December, Mrs. Justice Rose sentenced him to two years imprisonment for contempt of court. In April 2011, at Severnaya Verf, the third of the "Boikiy" Corvettes was launched, as part of the series of Russian Corvettes of project 20380.[53]. OSK is 100% owned by the state. The Countess And The Russian Billionaire: Meet Sergei Pugachev, a Russian oligarch, and his British partner Countess Alexandra Tolstoy, in one of two new @BBCTwo commissions exploring the hidden . So, how much is Sergei Pugachev worth at the age of 59 years old? Claims against Pugachev occurred in 2013, 2 years after the IIB proceedings had begun. Pugachev was an entrepreneur in the late 1980s. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. In December 2008, Pugachev presented a unique collection of Scythian gold. Between 1983 and 1991, Pugachev did not work in the Krasnogvardeysky branch of Stroibank of the USSR, as stated in his employment record book, since at the time he was imprisoned in Kresty Prison. Investigation was taken on by the Counter Terrorism Command, SO15, and Pugachev and his family were provided with government protection. In 2011, an agreement was signed for the sale of EPC to Russian Mednay Company between Basterre Business Corp. (for the seller) and Devecom Ventures Ltd. (for the buyer). He is from French. Before that he lived primarily in France and London. In 2012, another challenge was made to the original deal with the State Farm. The court delivered an unprecedented decision allowing the transfer of the shares into Central Bank trust management without the owner's consent.[60]. [15] At the end of 2014, the Russian Interpol bureau announced that Pugachev was wanted. [81], In 2000, Pugachev organised production of one of the most expensive watches of the BLU brand, together with watches of Laderrer. In 2012, in a letter from Putin's inauguration. 2005: A medal "In memory of the 1000th anniversary of Kazan". 2008 Acquisition of the French manufacturer of designer furniture, 2008 Acquisition of the British company. In April 2016, Pugachev's lawyer Karinna Moskalenko filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights concerning the facts of violations committed with consideration in Russia of a civil claim for subsidiary responsibility. [35] According to the Jones Day report, from 2002 the owner of the bank was D. Henderson-Stewart. He died in 2010. The Belfast is owned personally by the Queen, whose nephew, David Linley, was Pugachev's business partner. The Kremlin, however, says Pugachev is a crook. [73], To implement the project, Pugachev's organizations borrowed US$1billion from VTB. The unique underwater vessel built for a customer in Russia, was capable of diving to depths of up to 10km. Allegedly, Pugachev's investment in foreign assets was the source of conflict with Putin. On 30 October 2013, Krug LLC liquidated. 1.5 billion dollars from the EPC budget, allocated for the infrastructure project, was transferred to Russian Railways (Yakunin). 2008 Acquisition of the French furniture company Forum Diffusion. The vast net worth of these cronies, who hide their wealth in offshore tax havens, suggests that Putin is far more richer than he is letting on. From the start of the 2000s, Pugachev began acquiring assets outside of Russia. 2006 Acquisition of the LLC "First Moscow watch factory "Polet"" and the right to trademark "Polet" watches. 2008 Implementation of land assets for VTB structures. Upon completion of the reconstruction, the five-star "Kremlyevsky" hotel complex was to open. We have estimated Pugachev then switched to French legal firm Lazareff Le Bars. Russian authorities expropriate the shipyard. His father, Viktor Fyodorovich Pugachev (29 May 1930 2010), was a student in the first class of the Kiev Suvorov Military School. Senior Solutions Architect. He was the first commander of 21st Paratrooper brigade. He founded Mezhprom Bank in 1992 and developed it into one of Russia's largest private banks. On 18 March 2014, The court found Krug LLC bankrupt. After the Decree of President Putin, approving the terms on 14 February 2005, Pugachev's company OPK Development initiated reconstruction with completion scheduled for 20092010. Expropriation of Russian shares started in 2010, leading Pugachev to decide to sell EPC. In October 2013, the Moscow Court of Arbitration the company STR into bankruptcy. In August 2008, Finance Minister Kudrin informed Pugachev that Putin wanted to take on the project to build a five-star hotel and residential complex on 5 Red Square. This page was last edited on 19 July 2022, at 05:26 . At the date of the evaluation, according to an Ernst and Young assessment, an investment agreement during the economic crisis was estimated at US$950 million. The repair was implemented with Pugachev's personal funds, a budget amounting to 3 million pounds. American company Gerald Metals, representing Altushkin's interests, valued the company at more than 5 billion dollars. The managing company and sole owner of "Camelot" LLC was LLC "Management and Business", the directors and the sole holder of the LLC "Management and Business" was Oleg Viktorovich Borobyev, who was head of 390 other Russian companies. Under OPK control, assets were held in various sectors of the Russian economy. Pugachev fulfilled all the STR obligations from his own resources. From the correspondence between Ulyukaev and the Government, it appears that the Sechin was actually curator, who attempted to put pressure on the Central Bank with the aim of ensuring that the assets would be under-valued. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. In 2008, EPC signed an agreement for the acquisition of 25% of shares at the market price and the option of up to 49% with Japanese conglomerate Mitsui. In 2004, the company signed an investment agreement for an ambitious project for reconstruction and development of the Middle Trading Rows in Red Square. At a meeting at the Kremlin in 2002, Putin suggested that Pugachev come up with a legislative initiative for returning the capital exported abroad. Sergei Pugachev's net worth In 2018, a London court ruled to sell the banker's property. Serge Pugachev, French citizen ( he renounced his Russian citizenship in 2012) is an international investor, a public person and a politician, founder of the United Industrial Corporation Russia's largest private investment company, with assets worth 15 billion dollars. In 2008, he bought half of the company David Linley Holdings Limited, from the nephew of Queen Elizabeth II, Lord David Linley. Optic-Trade claimed that it had not been informed about the court proceedings and was unable to state its defence of the expiry of the limitation period. [50], In 2009, the boat "Serafim Sarovsky" was built, as a continuation of the series of communications boats. Pugachev called this deal a "criminal act". Putin instructed first Deputy Prime Minister Shuvalov to remove the licence and transfer it to Baisarov's organization. Baltiyskiy Zavod was part of the Pugachev-controlled United Industrial Corporation (OPK). According to the Jones Day report, from 2002 the owner of the bank was D. Henderson-Stewart. [54], Pugachev's shipbuilding companies became the largest surface shipbuilding centre in Europe. Mr Pugachev's assets were expropriated by the Russian Federation during the period 2012-2014. In 2010, the shipyard produced new masts for British military cruiser "HMS Belfast", which participated in delivery of goods to the USSR during the Second World War and performed a thorough reconstruction of the ship. 894646. 1999 Creation of the Yenisei Industrial Company JSC. In 2010, the shipyard produced new masts for British military cruiser "HMS Belfast", which participated in delivery of goods to the USSR during the Second World War and performed a thorough reconstruction of the ship. At OSK's request, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade prepared a report on the shipyards. Birss J noted that Mr Pugachev "initially found favour with the ruling regime and assisted . (. In May 2013, "Camelot" LLC made the decision on accession to the Krug LLC and on 17 September 2013 joined this company. #1833 Sergei Katsiev on the 2021 Billionaires - Sergei Katsiev, partner of billionaire Igor Kesaev, made his fortune in tobacco after the fall of the Soviet . On 11 July 2014, Mr. Justice Henderson froze Pugachev's assets on English territory and forced him to disclose his private assets, owned directly or indirectly, in support of the claim concerning subsidiary responsibility, as requested by the Russian government. The company specialised in the design of yachts, interiors and furniture. Money was allocated, and as compensation an investment agreement was signed covering Pugachev's reconstruction and development of the Middle Trading Rows. He was a pragmatic person. [38], Baltiyskiy Zavod built the Mistral-class ships, with the value of the deal amounting to 1.5 billion euros. In November 2010, Baltiyskiy Zavod signed a contract for construction of four tankers. At the end of the 1990s, he acquired Yenisei Industrial Company, holding an exploration licence for the region of the Ulug-Khemsky District in Southern Siberia. Pugachev was born into a military family. After the election, Pugachev held from 05 percent of assets). It's Russia's entire GDP. In October 2010, the lead frigate whose construction started in 2006 for project 22350 "Soviet Union Fleet-Admiral Gorshkov" was launched. Returning to France, Pugachev filed a claim against the Russian Federation within the framework of the Franco-Russia agreement on protection of investments concerning the expropriation of his assets, which became a subject of general interest and irritation for the Russian authorities. In the 1990s, Pugachev suggested making Putin the successor to the Yeltsin family. At the end of 2014, the Russian Interpol bureau announced that Pugachev was wanted. For this purpose, a state enterprise was created under the name "Kremlevsky", with the rights to manage these buildings. Key members of the leadership of the IIB, such as board chairman Gerald Kowalski, did not provide witness statements. 2002 Acquisition of a holding of "New programmes and concepts" (established in 1998) based at Severnaya Verf, the North-Western Shipping Company and certain assets in the defence industry (Kovrov mechanical plant, OKB "Sukhoy" etc.). One of its projects was the construction of the "Russia" yachts for President Putin. In July 1918, as the Commander of the 1st Don Soviet Infantry Division, he led the fighting against the troops of General Krasnovo on the northern side of the Tsaritsyn Front. But I'm taking it from the man himself here. The EPC licence was expropriated without compensation to its owner. Provide architectural guidance and recommendations necessary to develop cloud and hybrid solutions. By 2010, multiple attempts had been made on his life, injuring several security personnel.[18]. Before that, he lived primarily in France and the United Kingdom. In accordance with Putin's instructions, the responsibility for compensation was given to first vice-premier V. Zubkov. In a commercial court hearing on Tuesday the judge, Master Price, made an order compelling the sale of Pugachev's 8.9m London home. In 1992, he organised the International Industrial Bank. The Russian Government later gave permission for construction of a railway, needed for movement of coking coal from the deposit.[62]. Want to more about Him? At a meeting at the Kremlin in 2002, Putin suggested that Pugachev come up with a legislative initiative for returning the capital exported abroad. At the start of the 2000s, Pugachev gained a reputation in the Russian mass media for allegedly having introduced Russia's new president Vladimir Putin to the governor of the Sretensky Monastery in central Moscow, Archimandrite Tikhon Shevkunov, with whom Pugachev had been in close relationship as a major sponsor of the monastery. Altushkin confirmed to Pugachev that Putin agreed the deal. Under pressure from the government, Pugachev consented to the sale. Pugachev engaged the New York legal firm King & Spalding to contest the claim. In May 2008, in an interview, in The Sunday Times, Mikhail Khodorkovsky accused "former KGB officer" Sechin of organising both the first and second criminal cases against him: the first for "greed" and the second for "cowardice".