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'{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{family name hatnote|Aleksandrovich|Gaydamak|lang=Eastern Slavic}} {{Infobox person | name = | image = Arcadi Gaydamak P5200026.JPG | caption = Gaydamak, May 2008. | birth_date = {{Birth-date and age|8 April 1952}} | birth_place = [[Moscow]], [[USSR]] | nationality = | citizenship = | alma_mater = | occupation = businessman | spouse = Irene Chirolenikova | partner = | children = Alexander, Khadija and Sonia }} '''Arcadi Aleksandrovich Gaydamak''' ({{lang-he|ארקדי אלכסנדרוביץ' גאידמק}}; {{lang-ru|Аркадий Александрович Гайдамак}}; born 8 April 1952 in [[Moscow]], [[USSR]]) is a Russian-born French-Israeli businessman, philanthropist, and President of the Congress of Jewish Religious Communities and Organizations of Russia (KEROOR). In the 1990s he was awarded the French ''[[National Order of Merit (France)|Ordre national du Mérite]]''<ref name="haaretz.com" /><ref name="Legifrance.gouv.fr" /> and the ''[[Mérite agricole|Ordre du Mérite agricole]]'' for actions taken to rescue personnel in the [[War in Bosnia]]. He holds Israeli, Canadian, French, and Russian nationalities, as well as a diplomatic passport from [[Angola]]. Gaydamak's net worth was valued between $700 million and $4 billion USD in 2007, but following a series of lawsuits, failed investments, and the [[Financial crisis of 2007–2008|global economic crisis]] in 2008, his net worth declined significantly. Gaydamak invested in real estate in France and Israel, in Kazphosphate - the world's largest [[phosphate]] producer, in a gold mine and a metal processing plant in Kazakhstan, in the Russian weekly ''[[Moskovskiye Novosti]]'', in food distribution in Russia and in oil fields and granaries in Angola. In Israel, his assets included the Bikur Holim hospital in Jerusalem, the Beitar Jerusalem football club, 15% of Africa Israel Holdings, and 99FM radio station. His significant and rapid investments in Israel made him a celebrity in Israel during the mid-2000s, with many mentions in the local media. ==Biography== Arcadi Gaydamak was born in 1952 in Moscow, the capital of the [[USSR]]. At the age of 20, Gaydamak was one of the first [[Jew]]s to [[aliyah|immigrate]] to [[Israel]] from [[Leonid Brezhnev]]'s Soviet Union and receive Israeli citizenship. He lived on Kibbutz [[Beit HaShita]], and studied [[Hebrew]] at an [[ulpan]]. He said he originally intended to serve in the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Army]], but ended up moving to France, where he opened a translation bureau.<ref name="Gaydamak: Billionaire mystery man">{{cite news|author=Jeremy Post |url=http://www.jpost.com/Local-Israel/In-Jerusalem/Gaydamak-Billionaire-mystery-man |title=Gaydamak: Billionaire mystery man |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |date=9 December 2005 |access-date=2 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003220351/http://www.jpost.com/Local-Israel/In-Jerusalem/Gaydamak-Billionaire-mystery-man |url-status=live |archive-date=3 October 2014}}</ref> In 1982, Gaydamak Translations opened a branch in Canada. During that period he commenced international business, in import and export. After the collapse of the USSR, he built up ties in Russia and [[Kazakhstan]], and formed various business organizations across Europe.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}} Gaydamak owns a home in [[Caesarea]], Israel.<ref name="Gaydamak: Billionaire mystery man"/> He is married to Irene Tzirolnicova, with whom he has three children. He speaks [[Russian language|Russian]], [[French language|French]], and [[English language|English]]. He also speaks [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] and [[Hebrew]] on a basic level. In December 2008, Gaydamak returned to Russia, settling in Moscow.<ref>{{cite news|author=Lily Galili |title=Where will Arcadi Gaydamak make his new home? |date=21 December 2008 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/where-will-arcadi-gaydamak-make-his-new-home-1.259930 |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |access-date=2 October 2014 |archive-date=23 October 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023190242/http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/where-will-arcadi-gaydamak-make-his-new-home-1.259930}}</ref> In February 2009, it was reported that he was seeking to regain his Russian citizenship, lost when he emigrated to Israel decades earlier.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gaydamak asks for Russian citizenship ahead of arms-dealing verdict |newspaper=Haaretz |date=26 February 2009 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/gaydamak-asks-for-russian-citizenship-ahead-of-arms-dealing-verdict-1.270993 |access-date=2 October 2014 |archive-date=18 November 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101118014957/http://www.haaretz.com/news/gaydamak-asks-for-russian-citizenship-ahead-of-arms-dealing-verdict-1.270993}}</ref> Gaydamak was granted honorary Angolan citizenship. He holds French, Canadian, and Israeli passports. ==Political career== {{Main|Social Justice (political party)}} [[File:Gaydamak.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Arcadi Gaydamak during a press conference, February 2007]] In February 2007, seeing the social issues in Israel, Gaydamak founded a party devoted to socio-economic issues, which he named [[Social Justice (Israel)|Social Justice]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Lily Galili |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/gaydamak-announces-formation-of-social-justice-movement-1.213559 |title=Gaydamak announces formation of 'Social Justice' movement |date=21 February 2007 |access-date=2 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012204050/http://www.haaretz.com/news/gaydamak-announces-formation-of-social-justice-movement-1.213559 |archive-date=12 October 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Although the organization was established as a social movement, he said it could become a political party if the circumstances warranted it. In late 2007, the party contemplated taking part in the 2008 municipal elections.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/billionaire-gaydamak-says-he-ll-run-for-mayor-of-jerusalem-1.219383 |title=Billionaire Gaydamak says he'll run for mayor of Jerusalem |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |date=30 April 2007 |access-date=2 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013192448/http://www.haaretz.com/news/billionaire-gaydamak-says-he-ll-run-for-mayor-of-jerusalem-1.219383 |archive-date=13 October 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Gaydamak ran for [[mayor of Jerusalem]] [[2008 Jerusalem mayoral election|in November 2008]], but his party won no seats on the city council. During the campaign, Gaydamak courted the [[East Jerusalem]] Palestinian vote. Gaydamak approached the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, [[Muhammad Ahmad Hussein]], Palestinian political figures and media, and came away with a near endorsement.<ref>{{cite news|author=Lili Galili |title=East Jerusalem newspaper Al Quds backs Gaydamak for mayor |newspaper=Haaretz |date=26 October 2008 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/east-jerusalem-newspaper-al-quds-backs-gaydamak-for-mayor-1.256062 |access-date=2 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020195031/http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/east-jerusalem-newspaper-al-quds-backs-gaydamak-for-mayor-1.256062 |archive-date=20 October 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> ==Sport clubs and media ownership== In July 2005, Gaydamak became sponsor of the [[Hapoel Jerusalem B.C.|Hapoel Jerusalem]] [[basketball]] team. The following month he donated $400,000 to the [[Israeli Arab]] [[Bnei Sakhnin F.C.|Bnei Sakhnin]] football club. On the same day, Gaydamak announced the purchase of 55% of the ownership of [[Beitar Jerusalem F.C.|Beitar Jerusalem]], and two days later he announced the acquisition of full ownership. Gaydamak is the patron of several Jewish charities and president of the Congress of Jewish Religious Communities and Organizations of Russia (KEROOR), Russia's oldest Jewish umbrella group. In January 2006, Portsmouth F.C. were sold to his son, Alexandre Gaydamak by [[Milan Mandarić]]. Gaydamak later sold the club to [[Ali al-Faraj]] in 2009. In the summer of 2008, Gaydamak said his son Alexandre was owner of [[Portsmouth F.C.]], and it was confirmed by the [[Premier League]].<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924082203/http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0%2C%2C12306~1401503%2C00.html |publisher=Premier League |date=23 September 2008 |access-date=14 November 2014 |url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~1401503,00.html |archive-date=24 September 2008 |title=Premier League statement |url-status=dead }}</ref> In March 2006, he announced having bought the French newspaper ''[[France Soir]]'' via his company ''[[Moscow News]]''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Pascale Santi|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/actualite-medias/article/2006/03/14/arcadi-gaydamak-annonce-avoir-rachete-france-soir_750525_3236.html|title=Arcadi Gaydamak annonce avoir racheté "France Soir"|language=fr|trans-title=Arcadi Gaydamak announces having bought back ''France Soir''|newspaper=[[Le Monde]]|date=14 March 2006|access-date=2 October 2014}}</ref> He had purchased the Russian ''[[Moskovskie Novosti]]'' newspaper in 2004, fired some senior journalists, and changed the paper's mandate to a firmly pro-government one, appointing a pro-[[Putin]] journalist as editor-in-chief. In June 2007, Gaydamak negotiated a deal to buy the non-[[kosher]] supermarket chain [[Tiv Taam]]. It was reported that he was planning to make the stores comply with Jewish religious practice: close them on [[Shabbat]] and halt the sale of pork products.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Business/Business-News/Tiv-Taam-kosher-Gaydamak-says-yes |title=Tiv Taam, kosher? Gaydamak says yes |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |author=Sharon Wrobel |date=11 June 2007 |access-date=2 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327234925/http://www.jpost.com/Business/Business-News/Tiv-Taam-kosher-Gaydamak-says-yes |url-status=live |archive-date=27 March 2013}}</ref> A few days later the deal fell through, resulting in a lawsuit.<ref name="Y">{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3414562,00.htm |title=Gaydamak, Tiv Ta'am deal falls through |work=[[Ynetnews]] |author=Tani Goldstein |date=18 June 2007 |access-date=2 October 2014 |archive-date=3 October 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003221308/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-3414562%2C00.htm}}</ref> In July 2009, Gaydamak announced his decision to give up the ownership of Beitar Jerusalem in favor of [[Itzik Kornfein]] and [[Guma Aguiar]]. Kornfein would handle buying and selling players, while Aguair would engage in financing.<ref>{{cite news|author=Ophira Asayag |script-title=he:ארקדי גאידמק לאיציק קורנפיין: בית"ר שלך מתנה ממני |language=he |trans-title=Arcadi Gaydamak to Itzik Kornfein: Your Betar a gift from me |date=20 July 2009 |publisher=one.co.il |url=http://one.co.il/Article/140978.html |access-date=2 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215080909/http://one.co.il/Article/140978.html |url-status=live |archive-date=15 February 2012}}</ref> ==Philanthropy and community service== [[File:אריה בר-לב 2007.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A [[Pashkevil]] appreciating Arcadi Gaydamak's contributions to [[Jerusalem]], 2007]] Gaydamak has donated to many Israeli organizations, including [[Magen David Adom]] and [[Hatzolah]]. He also pledged $50 million to the [[Jewish Agency for Israel]], but withdrew the offer. He ended up donating $10 million. During the [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]] Gaydamak constructed a tent-village on the [[Nitzanim beach]], hosting thousands of families who fled the rocket-ridden North and had no place to go. Gaydamak's contributions totaled $15 million (about $500,000 a day). In November 2006, he funded a one-week-long vacation in [[Eilat]] for hundreds of [[Sderot]] residents who have experienced [[Qassam rocket|rocket attacks]] from [[Gaza City|Gaza]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sderot residents vie for trip to Eilat |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date=16 November 2006 |url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1162378411894&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312212511/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1162378411894&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |df=dmy }}</ref> == Bulat Utemuratov and Glencore affair == Arcadi Gaydamak has been the friend and business partner for decades of [[Bulat Utemuratov]], the right-hand man of the former President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, and he has been advised for ten years by a former renowned auditor in Luxembourg. A recent row between Gaydamak and Utemuratov has put Glencore's delicate balance on the line as Arcadi Gaydamak has launched legal action with his company [https://www.offshorealert.com/arcadi-gaydamak-v-bvi-registrar-of-corporate-affairs-restoration-liquidation-application-glinbay-finance-ltd/ Glinbay Finance Ltd in the BVI.] Arcadi Gaydamak has accused for a very long time Joelle Mamane, Zeev Zacharin and Guy Gad Boukolbza for transferring Vasilkovskoye Gold from Gaydamak to Glencore. [https://www.land.lu/page/article/977/338977/FRE/index.html] Arcadi Gaydamak claims to be the ultimate beneficial owner of Kazakh mining company [https://www.woodmac.com/reports/metals-vasilkovskoye-gold-mine-16192543/ Vasilkovskoye Gold], owned by Dutch company Floodgate Holding BV, of which Mr Gaydamak is also an owner. According to Arcadi Gaydamak, the fiduciary Gestman, owned by Ms Joëlle Mamane, has established and registered Glinbay Finance Ltd in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) in 2002. According to [https://www.intelligenceonline.com/corporate-intelligence/2021/11/01/accused-of-embezzling-the-fortune-of-former-agent-gaydamak-zeev-zacharin-indicted-in-luxembourg,109702110-art Intelligence Online on 1 November 2021], Mr Zacharin, Mr Boukobza and Ms Mamane were charged in Luxembourg by investigating judge Rodriguez with a series of criminal offences. They are both former directors of Floodgate Holding BV, which allegedly sold Vasilkovskoje Gold to [[Glencore]] in 2010. Vasilkovskoye Gold stock is now part of [[Glencore]]'s portfolio. Mr. Gaydamak challenged this ownership with representatives of [https://vernycapital.com/ Verny Capital], Mr. Bulat Utemuratov and Mr. Feodor Popandopolou. [[Glencore]] became the owner of Vasilkovskoye Gold when Verny Capital sold Vasilkovskoye Gold to [[Glencore]] in December 2010, a month before Glencore went public. Verny Capital becomes owner of Vasilkovskoye Gold through the acquisition of Dutch company Floodgate BV from Glinbay Finance Ltd. Glinbay Finance Ltd sold Floodgate Holding BV to Verny Capital in 2007. Utemuratov has agreed to pay Gaydamak about $350 million in damages "on behalf" of the sale of Vasilkovskoye Gold. According to information from foreign intelligence agencies, Gaydamak's compensation could not get transferred in a EU banking institution. The money had to be transferred by Utmuratov's advisers in Moscow. The public reports on Glencore are also worth a look. Gaydamak is a former long-term partner of [[Vitaly Malkin]]. ==Angola affair== {{Main|Angolagate}} In October 2009, Gaydamak and French magnate [[Pierre Falcone]] were initially convicted by a French court of organizing [[arms trafficking]] in [[Angola]] during the civil war in 1993-98 in the amount of 790 million dollars, in violation of the [[Lusaka Protocol]]. He was sentenced in absentia to six years in prison. But his conviction on the arms dealing charges was overturned by the Court of Appeal in Paris on 29 April 2011. France had attempted to extradite Gaydamak from Israel, although Israeli law has changed in the interim.<ref name="extradition">{{cite news|author=Yossi Melman |url=http://www.haaretz.co.il/news/law/1.1287168 |script-title=he:הרשעת ארקדי גאידמק - הפעם הוא לא יחזור לישראל |language=he |trans-title=Conviction of Arcadi Gaydamak - This Time He Will Not Return To Israel |newspaper=Haaretz |date=27 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003222751/http://www.haaretz.co.il/news/law/1.1287168 |archive-date=3 October 2014 |url-status=live |access-date=2 October 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref> [[Peter Storrie]] said that this situation helped precipitate the financial crisis at [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth Football Club]]. The club was owned by Gaydamak's son [[Alexandre Gaydamak|Alexandre]], and the charges against his father caused banks to withdraw [[overdraft]] privileges from the club, and to call the outstanding balances on its loans.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11674/5966191/storrie-pompey-deal-close |title=Storrie - Pompey deal close |publisher=[[Sky Sports]] |date=21 February 2010 |access-date=2 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003222625/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11674/5966191/storrie-pompey-deal-close |archive-date=3 October 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref> In November 2015, Gaydamak surrendered himself to France authorities and began a 3-year sentence in prison.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ma'anit |first1=Chen |title=Arcadi Gaydamak begins prison term in France - Globes English |url=http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-arcadi-gaydamak-begins-prison-term-in-france-1001083454 |work=Globes |date=Nov 24, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222095410/http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-arcadi-gaydamak-begins-prison-term-in-france-1001083454 |archive-date=22 December 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref> == Alleged Russian mafia connections == According to the newspaper "Liberation", Arcadi Gaydamak has relations with the Russian mafia. ''"Mr. Gaydamak is known for his relations with important members of the Russian mafia,...." [https://www.liberation.fr/france/2015/11/25/arcadi-gaydamak-la-case-prison_1416132/?outputType=amp]'' ==Bank Hapoalim affair== In October 2009, Gaydamak was indicted in the [[Tel Aviv]] District Court on suspicions of money laundering through [[Bank Hapoalim]], together with several managers of the bank and the Italian-Israeli businessman [[Nahum Galmor]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Ofra Edelman |date=28 October 2009 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/gaydamak-to-post-another-3-5m-in-bond-for-hapoalim-money-laundering-trial-1.5274 |title=Gaydamack to post another $3.5m in bond for Hapoalim money laundering trial |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |access-date=2 October 2014 |url-status=live |archive-date=23 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023052213/http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/gaydamak-to-post-another-3-5m-in-bond-for-hapoalim-money-laundering-trial-1.5274 |df=dmy }}</ref> In a plea deal, charges for laundering money were dropped by the court of justice; Gaydamak received a one-year suspended sentence and fine.<ref>{{cite news|author=Chen Ma'anit |url=http://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000724897 |script-title=he:אושר הסדר הטיעון של גאידמק: יתרום 3 מיליון שקל למדינה |language=he |trans-title=Gaydamak plea deal approved: will contribute 3 million shekel to the state |newspaper=[[Globes (newspaper)|Globes]] |date=14 February 2012 |access-date=2 October 2014 |url-status=live |archive-date=17 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217150836/http://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000724897 |df=dmy }}</ref> ==Awards and recognition== Gaydamak won two citations from the French government: ''Chevalier de l'[[National Order of Merit (France)|Ordre national du Mérite]]''<ref name="haaretz.com">{{cite news |author=Yossi Melman |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/gaydamak-was-once-secret-french-agent-former-minister-says-1.5123 |title=Gaydamak was once secret French agent, former minister says |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |date=30 October 2009 |access-date=2 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="Legifrance.gouv.fr">{{cite web |url=http://legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000000193235 |title=Ordre National du Merite Décret du 13 mai 1996 portant promotion et nomination |language=fr |trans-title=National Order of Merit Decree of 13 May 1996 on the promotion and appointment |publisher=Legifrance |access-date=2 October 2014}}</ref> and the ''[[Mérite agricole|Ordre du Mérite agricole]]'' for helping to rescue two captured French pilots in the [[War in Bosnia]] in the 1990s, as well as two French intelligence officers captured by rebel factions in the [[Caucasus]]. Because these operations were secret, the citations referred to his contribution to agriculture. Former French interior minister [[Charles Pasqua]] confirmed this, saying that President [[Jacques Chirac]] had personally authorized the citations.<ref name="haaretz.com"/> == Links == https://www.liberation.fr/france/2015/11/25/arcadi-gaydamak-la-case-prison_1416132/?outputType=amp https://de.scribd.com/document/402008844/Bulat-Utemuratov-and-Glencore-Kazakhstan-Report ==See also== *[[Alexandre Gaydamak]] *[[Bulat Utemuratov]] ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Commons category|Arcadi Gaydamak}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Gaydamak, Arcadi}} [[Category:1952 births]] [[Category:Arms traders]] [[Category:Beitar Jerusalem F.C.]] [[Category:Canadian billionaires]] [[Category:Canadian investors]] [[Category:Canadian newspaper publishers (people)]] [[Category:Canadian people of Russian-Jewish descent]] [[Category:Canadian soccer chairmen and investors]] [[Category:French billionaires]] [[Category:French chief executives]] [[Category:French football chairmen and investors]] [[Category:French investors]] [[Category:21st-century French newspaper publishers (people)]] [[Category:French people of Russian-Jewish descent]] [[Category:21st-century French philanthropists]] [[Category:Israeli billionaires]] [[Category:Israeli chief executives]] [[Category:Israeli emigrants to Canada]] [[Category:Israeli emigrants to France]] [[Category:Israeli football chairmen and investors]] [[Category:Israeli investors]] [[Category:Israeli people of Russian-Jewish descent]] [[Category:Israeli philanthropists]] [[Category:Israeli publishers (people)]] [[Category:Jewish Canadian philanthropists]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Knights of the Order of Agricultural Merit]] [[Category:Mitterrand–Pasqua affair]] [[Category:Naturalized citizens of Canada]] [[Category:Naturalized citizens of France]] [[Category:Naturalized citizens of Israel]] [[Category:Recipients of the Order of Agricultural Merit]] [[Category:Russian chief executives]] [[Category:Russian football chairmen and investors]] [[Category:Soviet emigrants to Israel]] [[Category:Soviet Jews]] [[Category:Portsmouth F.C. directors and chairmen]] [[Category:Jewish Angolan history]]'