 |
Badri PatarkatsishviliGeorgian entrepreneur and public figure
Date of Birth: 31.10.1955
Country:  Georgia |
Content:
- Biography of Badri Patarkatsishvili
- Business Ventures in Russia
- Philanthropy and Political Activities
- Political Controversies and Later Life
- Later Legal Issues and Controversies
- Personal Life
Biography of Badri Patarkatsishvili
Early Life and CareerBadri Patarkatsishvili, also known as Arkady Shalvovich Patarkatsishvili, was born on October 31, 1955, in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR. After graduating from the Georgian Polytechnic Institute, he worked at the Tbilisi Kamvolno-Sukonny Combine "Sovetskaya Gruziya" and rose from the position of Deputy Secretary of the Komsomol Committee to Deputy Director. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Patarkatsishvili initiated the transformation of the combine into MAUDI Joint-Stock Company.
Business Ventures in Russia
Starting from the early 1990s, Patarkatsishvili's activities were closely linked to Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky. In 1990, Patarkatsishvili became the director of the Caucasus Regional Representation of LogoVAZ Joint-Stock Company, and in 1992, he became the Deputy CEO of LogoVAZ. In 1993, Patarkatsishvili moved to the city of Lyubertsy, Moscow Oblast, and in 1994, he relocated to Moscow. In the same year, he became the First Deputy CEO of LogoVAZ and from April 1994 to April 1995, he held the position of Vice President of the Association "Russian Automobile Dealers". In January 1995, Patarkatsishvili became the First Deputy CEO of OAO "Public Russian Television" - the Director of ORT for Commerce and Finance, and in August 1995, he became the Chairman of the Board of Directors of ZAO "ORT-Advertising". In October 1996, he was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Bank. In 1997, Patarkatsishvili served as the Chairman of the Tender Commission for the sale of a controlling stake in OAO "Sibneft". In June 1999, he joined the Board of Directors of MNVK "TV-6 Moscow". In June 2000, he assumed the position of Executive Director of ORT. In March 2001, he was appointed CEO of "TV-6", and in May 2001, he stepped down from this position but was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company. Later, Patarkatsishvili returned to Georgia.
Philanthropy and Political Activities
In 2002, Patarkatsishvili founded the first Georgian media holding company, "Imedi". He acquired the capital's circus, Tbilisi's football and basketball clubs "Dynamo", financed wrestlers, swimmers, and chess players, invested significant funds in the reconstruction of the ancient Georgian capital Mtskheta, and the construction of a new Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi. Additionally, he provided a zero-interest loan of one million dollars to the Tbilisi City Hall for payment of Russian gas when Moscow threatened to cut off gas supplies to Georgia due to growing debt. In 2003, Patarkatsishvili became the President of the Federation of Businessmen of Georgia. In 2004, he was named the Businessman of the Year in Georgia. In December 2004, he was elected President of the National Olympic Committee of Georgia, and in January 2005, he became the President of the World Jewish Television.
Political Controversies and Later Life
In the spring of 2006, Patarkatsishvili criticized the economic policies and actions of the Georgian authorities regarding human rights protection and guarantees for private capital. In response, representatives of the Georgian President's administration and parliamentary majority referred to him as the "secret leader of the Georgian opposition". After this, Patarkatsishvili left Tbilisi for London and sold a portion of his Georgian media assets to Western partners, aiming to reduce commercial and political risks. In August 2006, he sold 100 percent of "Kommersant" Publishing House to Russian entrepreneur Alisher Usmanov. According to some reports, Patarkatsishvili and Berezovsky planned to buy the London football club "West Ham United". On March 6, 2007, in London, Patarkatsishvili publicly announced that he had essentially left Georgia. He stated that he no longer intended to engage in business and political activities in the country, only maintaining involvement in charitable projects.
Later Legal Issues and Controversies
In June 2007, Patarkatsishvili was accused by the General Prosecutor's Office of Russia of organizing the escape of Nikolai Glushkov, a former Deputy CEO of "Aeroflot," and in October 2002, he was accused in absentia of large-scale fraud related to car theft at "AvtoVAZ". In July 2001, Patarkatsishvili was placed on an international wanted list. The Russian side made several attempts to extradite him from Georgia, but without success. In 2007, the Georgian Prosecutor's Office initiated a criminal case against Patarkatsishvili for conspiracy to overthrow the government in Georgia. He was accused of plotting attacks on political figures and preparing acts of terrorism. Despite these legal issues and controversies, Patarkatsishvili continued to be active in philanthropy and political affairs.
