Honest mediation in negotiations? Forget it...

Here’s what the outlet Zaborona reported about Blavatnik back in December 2022.

He’s considered one of the richest people on the planet, with an estimated net worth of $37 billion.

His holding company, Access Industries, has investments in real estate, chemicals, biotech, and media.

For instance, in 2005, Blavatnik bought a controlling share in the Russian company Amedia, which produces films, TV series, and shows — along with STS Media. In 2009, Access Industries acquired the UK division of Mel Gibson’s Icon distribution company, plus a film library of over 500 titles, including Driving Miss Daisy, Dances with Wolves, Jacknife, and The Passion of the Christ. One of his biggest assets is a major stake in Warner Music Group, which he bought in 2011 for $3.3 billion.

Blavatnik also appears in films made by his own company. In 2016, he played the Italian ambassador in the Russian show Sofia, and in 2018 he showed up as Cardinal Yuri Radziwill in the TV show Godunov.

He’s also donated to Republicans and to Trump.

All the massive fortunes in Russia after the Soviet collapse were built with help from the Russian security services. That’s how they turned state and party property into private capital. Blavatnik’s billions came out of that system.

So no, don’t expect any honest mediation in talks with Russia.

Source

About the author. Mykola Knyazhytskyi, journalist, People's Deputy of Ukraine

The editorial team does not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.