Boris Birshtein
Boris Birshtein | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 11, 1947 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Boris Birshtein, born 11 November 1947 in Lithuania, is a businessman and the former chairman of Seabeco, an investment and trading company.[1]
Career
[edit]Birshtein emigrated to Israel in 1979 and began building the Seabeco Group, an international network of companies that officially traded oil, gold, diamonds and chemicals.[2] The very well connected Birshtein was an influential figure across the former Soviet Union.[3] Birshtein survived a car crash that killed the then Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Nasirdin Isanov.[4]
In 1991, Kyrgyzstan's then president, Askar Akayev, appointed Birshtein president of the country's committee for reconstruction and development. Shortly afterward, the Kirgiz government empowered Birshtein to act as its trade representative abroad.[5]
In 1992, Birshtein helped ensure Canada’s Cameco Corp. won the contract to develop Kyrgyzstan’s giant Kumtor Gold Mine. He was also the owner of Moldova’s top hotel.[6]
Boris Yeltsin accused Mr. Birshtein of playing a role in a 1993 attempt to force him out of the presidency.[7]
Seabeco Group
[edit]Birshtein is the former chairman of Seabeco Group. Seabeco invested in property in Russia in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including the 30-story Trump Tower luxury hotel, a theatre complex and gymnasium. There were a number of allegations against Seabeco for a number of criminal matters including money laundering and embezzlement but all of these were dismissed and none of them resulted in a conviction.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ Кириленко, Анастасия (Kirilenko, Anastasia) (16 May 2016). "Сотрудничество ФСБ и ОПГ. Аналитический отчет контрразведки Швейцарии" [Cooperation between the FSB and organized crime groups. Switzerland Counterintelligence Analytical Report]. Компромат.ru. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Кириленко, Анастасия (Kirilenko, Anastasia) (16 May 2016). "Сотрудничество ФСБ и ОПГ. Аналитический отчет контрразведки Швейцарии" [Cooperation between the FSB and organized crime groups. Switzerland Counterintelligence Analytical Report]. Компромат.ru. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Searching for Boris Birshtein". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ "Searching for Boris Birshtein". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ Dobbs, Michael; Coll, Steve (1 February 1993). "Ex-Communists Are Scrambling For Quick Cash Series". The Washington Post. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ "Searching for Boris Birshtein". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ "Searching for Boris Birshtein". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ "Les Kirghiz recherchent en Suisse l'or or volé de leur ancien président". Le Temps. 3 October 2005.
- ^ Кириленко, Анастасия (Kirilenko, Anastasia) (16 May 2016). "Сотрудничество ФСБ и ОПГ. Аналитический отчет контрразведки Швейцарии" [Cooperation between the FSB and organized crime groups. Switzerland Counterintelligence Analytical Report]. Компромат.ru. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)