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Viktor Vekselberg
Russian-Ukrainian Oligarch; Renova Group Founder; Sanctioned by U.S. Treasury
Billionaire Industrialist; Putin Associate; Cohen Payment Scandal
Overview
Viktor Felixovich Vekselberg is a Russian-Ukrainian oligarch and the founder and chairman of the Renova Group; a Moscow-based conglomerate with interests in metals; mining; energy; telecommunications; and technology. He became a figure of significant interest in the Trump-Russia investigation when it was revealed that Columbus Nova (run by his cousin Andrew Intrater) made approximately $580;000 in payments to Michael Cohen's shell company Essential Consultants LLC; the same entity used to pay hush money to Stormy Daniels. Vekselberg attended Trump's inauguration in January 2017 and was seated at a dinner with Michael Flynn. He was present at the December 2015 RT gala in Moscow where Flynn sat at Putin's table. The U.S. Treasury placed Vekselberg under sanctions in April 2018 as part of actions targeting Russian oligarchs close to the Kremlin. Mueller investigation team detained and questioned Vekselberg at a U.S. airport in 2018.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Columbus Nova paid $580;000 to Michael Cohen's Essential Consultants LLC; same shell company used for Stormy Daniels hush money
Attended Trump inauguration (January 2017) and sat at dinner with Michael Flynn
Present at December 2015 RT gala in Moscow where Flynn sat at Putin's table
U.S. Treasury sanctions imposed April 2018; freezing American assets
Mueller investigation team detained and questioned him at U.S. airport in 2018
Skolkovo Foundation involvement linked to Russian tech espionage concerns raised by FBI
Related Investigations (2)
Known Associates & Connections
Michael Cohen
Columbus Nova paid $580K to Cohen's shell company
Michael Flynn
Attended 2015 RT gala and 2017 inauguration dinner together
Andrew Intrater
Cousin who runs Columbus Nova; made payments to Cohen
Sources & Documentation
2 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- April 14, 1957
- Birthplace
- Drohobych, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Education
- •Moscow Institute of Transportation Engineers (Mechanical Engineering)
Key Timeline
April 14, 1957
Born in Drohobych; Ukrainian SSR
1990s
Builds Renova Group during Russian privatization era
December 2015
Attends RT gala in Moscow where Flynn sits at Putin's table
January 2017
Attends Trump inauguration; seated at dinner with Michael Flynn
2017
Columbus Nova makes $580;000 in payments to Cohen's Essential Consultants LLC
April 6, 2018
U.S. Treasury imposes sanctions; freezing American assets
2018
Detained and questioned by Mueller investigation team at U.S. airport