The beginning of the career of Suleiman Kerimov
Suleiman Abusaidovich Kerimov was born on March 12, 1966 in the city of Derbent, Dagestan. Since childhood, he was fond of sports, but this did not stop him from studying well. After graduating from school, he served in the army and entered the university to study economics. He started his career at . Over the course of several years, Kerimov rose to the position of assistant general director, and then was transferred to Moscow. Subsequently, he managed to create capital by investing in assets with growth potential. He entered the oil and gas industry, becoming the owner of Nafta-Moscow. Suleiman acquired shares in Gazprom, Sberbank, and Polymetal, subsequently selling them at a favorable price and becoming a millionaire.
Contribution to politics
Politics takes up a lot of space in the life of the oligarch. He twice served as a State Duma deputy, defending the interests of the Liberal Democratic Party (1999-2007). In 2008, Kerimov became a member of the Federation Council, where he represents the interests of the Republic of Dagestan. While working in Parliament and Senate, the businessman’s assets were in trust management, and since 2013 they were transferred to the Suleyman Kerimov Foundation.
In October 2021, the senator spoke to the leadership of Derbent and announced plans for the development of the city. He identified the vector of economic growth (tourism), emphasized the construction of new generation clinics and promised to increase the city budget 5 times. All that remains is to observe the affairs of the politician, who has repeatedly proven that he keeps his word.
Romance with Natalya Vetlitskaya
At the beginning of the new century, Suleiman Kerimov became very interested in the popular singer Natalya Vetlitskaya. At the time of their acquaintance, Vetlitskaya was already very famous, but in her creative career everything was not going well. She did not record any new songs and fans even began to forget the bright beauty. Suleiman helped restore her to her former glory, invested a lot of money in filming new videos and organizing concerts for his beloved.
The affair with Vetlitskaya lasted about 4 years. Kerimov rarely appeared with her in public, remembering that he was still married. Natalya remembers these times with great warmth. Suleiman looked after her beautifully, gave huge bouquets of flowers and expensive jewelry. Vetlitskaya said that her lover brought her money in bags. On Natalya's birthday, when she turned 38, Kerimov organized an unforgettable banquet, stylized as an ancient ball.
But relations with Suleiman could not be called cloudless. The businessman was jealous of Natalya and did not want her to continue her career. He didn’t understand why she needed to perform at concerts if she didn’t lack money. The birth of Natalya's daughter Ulyana at that time raised many questions. Relations with Kerimov at that time were difficult and they no longer lived together. But many people from the businessman’s inner circle believe that Ulyana is Kerimov’s daughter. Parting with Vetlitsa was not very painful for Suleiman, since at that time he was already carried away by another beautiful girl. As a parting gift, he gave Natalya a luxurious house, an apartment in Paris and a private plane.
Policy
Since 2008, Kerimov has represented the Republic of Dagestan in the Federation Council of the Russian Federation in the upper house of Parliament. Represents the legislative body of state power of the Republic of Dagestan in the Federation Council. Since September 2021, the businessman was re-elected as a senator of the Federation Council from the Republic of Dagestan.
Suleiman Kerimov represents the Republic of Dagestan in the Federation Council
From March 2008 to March 2011 – member of the Federation Council Committee on Financial Markets and Monetary Circulation.
Before being elected as a representative to the Federation Council, he was a deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the 4th convocation, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs.
Relations with Anastasia Volochkova
Not yet parting with Vetlitskaya, Suleiman Kerimov began dating the young ballerina Nastya Volochkova. This novel subsequently became one of the most discussed, but at that time only a limited circle of people knew about it.
Kerimov spared no expense for his beloved. He not only gave expensive gifts, but also invested in promoting her talent. Suleiman got Volochkova a job at the Bolshoi Theater and paid for her performances abroad. At the same time, at some point he began to behave the same way as in his previous relationship. Kerimov controlled his beloved, watched her, persuaded her to quit her job. Volochkova assures that the demand to leave the stage was the reason for their separation. But some close to the businessman put forward their own versions. They believe that Anastasia should not have tried to take Suleiman away from the family. After the breakup, Kerimov began to take revenge on his former mistress. He was involved in a loud scandal related to Volochkova’s dismissal from the Bolshoi Theater. The ballerina is sure that Kerimov is to blame for her persecution.
Polyus Gold
Kerimov acquired shares of the largest gold producer in Russia in 2009. By 2012, the company entered an IPO on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), and in 2015, Kerimov’s structures consolidated the rights to 95% of the company’s shares by purchasing shares from minority shareholders. In April 2016, Kerimov introduced his two eldest children to the board.
Suleiman Kerimov at SPIEF-2013
The accident with Nice and the relationship with Tina Kandelaki
In 2006, Suleiman Kerimov was in a serious car accident. His luxury car crashed into a tree on one of the roads in Nice. The airbag deployed, but some fuel leaked from the tank and the car caught fire. Suleiman received burns and from then on began to wear thin gloves that matched the color of his skin to hide his mutilated hands.
It is interesting that at the time of the accident, TV presenter Tina Kandelaki was in the car with Suleiman. At that time she was married to a Moscow entrepreneur. She carefully hid her relationship with the influential billionaire. Tina was not injured in the accident, but the public became aware of her secret life. Kandelaki’s husband filed for divorce after this story.
Family
Said Kerimov was born in 1995 in the family of a famous Russian businessman of Dagestan origin, Senator Suleiman Kerimov and Firuza Kerimova (nee Khanbalaeva). His parents got married during their student years, their family has three children: Said is the middle child and only son, his sisters are Gulnara and Aminat.
Said Kerimov's father - Suleiman Kerimov
Romance with Katya Gomiashvili
Around the same time, when Suleiman was in close contact with Tina Kandelaki, his new hobby was actively discussed in the capital. The chosen one was Ekaterina Gomiashvili. Katya's father is not a poor man. He is known to everyone for his role as Ostap Bender. Archil Gomiashvili is a restaurateur. With her father's money, Katya created her own clothing brand, Mia Shvili.
Things were going mediocre in the company until the owner of the brand started dating Suleiman Kerimov. The businessman invested a lot of money in this brand. Several boutiques were opened in London, decorated by the world's best designers. Kate Moss and other celebrities advertised clothes from Katya Gomiashvili. Representatives of the golden youth bought branded items with pleasure. But at some point Katya decided to close the boutiques. The reason was her pregnancy and reluctance to do business in the future. Katya never named the child’s father, but many consider Suleiman Kerimov to be the father. At that time, she was dating only him. After Gomiashvili gave birth, they separated. Kerimov gave his former mistress a villa in Spain. It became known that he allocated a lot of money for the maintenance of Gomiashvili’s daughter.
Comes from childhood
In many ways, the development of Kerimov as a strategist, who knows how to calculate a situation several steps ahead, was influenced by his childhood hobbies in mathematics and chess (he has a first category in this sport). The ability for exact sciences appeared almost from the cradle. However, one cannot ignore genetics - Suleiman Abusaidovich was born into a family of intellectuals. In addition to being a successful entrepreneur, his father, a lawyer, and his mother, an economist, raised a doctor and a teacher of Russian language and literature—the senator’s brother and sister.
A certificate with honors and admission to the Dagestan Polytechnic Institute is the logical outcome of studying in high school. After a year of studying at the university, Kerimov was drafted into the army - he served in the Strategic Missile Forces and was demobilized with the rank of senior sergeant. Returning home, I decided to transfer to Dagestan State University and become a certified economist. At DSU, his talent for social work manifested itself - he was deputy chairman of the university’s trade union committee. There, at the university, he met his fate - classmate Firuza became the only wife and mother of his three children, two of whom, son Said and daughter Gulnara, followed in their father’s footsteps and are engaged in the family business.
Passing hobbies and family loyalty
In addition to several long-term affairs on the side, Kerimov had many fleeting hobbies. One of them was the relationship with actress Olesya Sudzilovskaya. They were often seen together. Subsequently, the actress confirmed the rumors about the affair. The reason for their discord was Sudzilovskaya’s complex character and her independence. The actress did not want to leave the profession. According to her, Kerimov tried to persuade her to leave theater and cinema from the very beginning of the relationship. Suleiman was credited with an affair with Zhanna Friske. They were seen together several times in expensive restaurants. But this information was never confirmed by anyone. Also, his Kerimov was associated with the name of Ksenia Sobchak.
When not the best times came in the life of a businessman and senator, associated with the loss of a large amount of money and arrest, his former lover Anastasia Volochkova remembered him. She stated that she always considered Kerimov to be the main man in her life. But Suleiman did not comment on this. Despite his many hobbies, he still remains a married man. He is an ideal father for his children. In 2013, his first daughter Gulnara got married. Kerimov spent a fortune on the wedding, organizing the celebration at an elite golf club.
Charity and titles
In 2007, the businessman established the Suleyman Kerimov Foundation. Its goal is to support initiatives that improve the lives of young people. In addition, the foundation promotes projects in the field of culture, sports, and provides assistance to those in need. According to Forbes experts, in 2013 Kerimov closed the top three major Russian philanthropists.
The Kerimov Foundation cooperates with other charitable institutions. Among them are the Gorchakov Foundation, “Give Life”, and “Health of the Nation”. The Kerimov Foundation participated in the reconstruction of the Cathedral Mosque in the capital, sponsored youth festivals, sporting events, and raised funds for people with serious illnesses.
The oligarch is one of the trustees of the educational institution. In addition, since 2006 he has headed the Board of Trustees of the Russian Wrestling Federation. Over the years of his activity, Kerimov was awarded a number of awards: the title “People's Hero of Dagestan”, honorary citizen of Derbent, medal “For Services to the Fatherland”.
