Prominent Russian Jews On List Of U.S. Treasury Targets

Roman Abramovich Image by Wikimedia Commons

By Nathan Guttman January 30, 2018

A Treasury Department report submitted to Congress lists 210 Russian government officials and billionaires close to the government who may be subject to U.S. sanctions. The list, commonly referred to as the “Putin list,” is required by Congress as part of legislation meant to penalize Russia for its interference in the 2016 elections and for its invasion of Ukraine.

Among the names of oligarchs, defined as businessmen with a fortune worth more than $1 billion, surrounding Putin, there are more than a dozen Jewish Russians, who may end up on America’s sanctions list:

Roman Abramovich

Recognized around the world as the owner of England’s Chelsea football club, Abramovich is best known in Russia as one of Vladimir Putin’s earliest and closest confidants. The 51-years-old billionaire is a major donor to Chabad and chairs the Putin-friendly Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia.

Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor

President of the European Jewish Congress and chair of the European Jewish Fund. Kantor, who is worth $3.1 billion, is an active philanthropists for causes focused on Holocaust remembrance and fighting anti-Semitism in Europe.

Mikhail Fridman

A dual-citizen of Russia and Israel, Fridman is ranked the 7th richest person in Russia. Fridman, who resides in London, was among the founders of the Russian Jewish Congress and of the Genesis Prize Foundation which awards a $1 million annual prize for outstanding professional achievement, contribution to humanity and dedication to Jewish values.

Vadim Moshkovich

The owner of Russia’s largest agricultural production company, Moshkovich is also a major donor to Moscow’s Jewish museum.

Boris Mints

Mints, who lost members of his mother’s family in the Holocaust, chairs the Conference of European Rabbis, Europe’s largest Orthodox organization, and is vice president of the World Jewish Congress.

God Nisanov

Born in Azerbijan, Nisanov, 45, made his fortune in real estate and business development. He is close to Putin and was awarded the medal commemorating the 70 years anniversary of Russia’s World War II victory. Nisanov served as vice president of the World Jewish Congress.

Arkady and Boris Rotenberg

Founders of Russia’s SMP Bank, the Rotenberg brothers have already felt the sting of US sanctions. They lost access to international financial institutions and saw their villas in Italy confiscated. A law named after the Rotenberg brothers provides compensation to Russian citizens hit by international sanctions. Arkady Rotenberg has known Putin since childhood and is his long time judo partner.

Contact Nathan Guttman at [email protected] or on Twitter @nathanguttman

Nathan Guttman, staff writer, was the Forward’s Washington bureau chief. He joined the staff in 2006 after serving for five years as Washington correspondent for the Israeli dailies Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post. In Israel, he was the features editor for Ha’aretz and chief editor of Channel 1 TV evening news. He was born in Canada and grew up in Israel. He is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

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