Andrey Kostin

In 1973, Kostin began studies at Moscow State University, graduating in 1979 with a degree in political economy. He subsequently worked at the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs.{{Cite web|url=https://1001.ru/articles/post/chelovek-pri-dengah-4446|title=Человек при деньгах|website=1001.ru|date=14 June 2012|access-date=}} From that year, until 1982 he was an employee of the USSR Consulate General in Sydney, Australia. From 1982 to 1985, he was Secretary of the European Department of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ru/interview/business/20/04/2020/5e9972919a79475807103e2a?from=center|title=Глава ВТБ Андрей Костин — РБК: "К великой изоляции пришли все"|website=RBC|date=20 April 2020 |access-date=}} In 1985, he became an employee of the USSR Embassy in Great Britain working on economic issues with the KGB spy Alexander Lebedev, where he remained until 1990.{{cite news |last=Седунов |first=Александр (Sedunov, Alexander) |url=https://inright.ru/news/economy/20150817/id_10557 |title=25 лет Всемирной Истории с Банком Империал |trans-title=25 years of World History with Imperial Bank |language=ru |work=Information Agency InterRight |date=17 August 2015 |access-date=22 March 2022 |archive-date=23 March 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220323003516/https://inright.ru/news/economy/20150817/id_10557}}{{cite news|last1=Elliott|first1=John|last2=Ungoed-Thomas |first2=Jon|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/tycoon-linked-with-litvinenko-survived-poisoning-cpklclqbfn7|title=Tycoon linked with Litvinenko 'survived poisoning'|work=The Sunday Times |location=London |date=7 January 2007|access-date=22 March 2022 |archive-date=24 February 2020 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200224173756/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tycoon-linked-with-litvinenko-survived-poisoning-cpklclqbfn7}} From then to 1992, he was First Secretary, Advisor to the European Department of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

File:Vladimir Putin at APEC Summit in Australia 7-9 September 2007-7.jpg and Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong at the APEC Australia 2007]]

File:Dmitry Medvedev in Cyprus 7 October 2010-17.jpeg at an opening ceremony of the Russian Commercial Bank in Cyprus in 2010]]

He is the president of the Financial and Banking Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS-FBC){{cite web |url=http://www.vtb.com/group/management/guide/kostin/ |title=Andrey Kostin official bio |publisher=vtb.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802175708/http://www.vtb.com/group/management/guide/kostin/ |archive-date=2017-08-02}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/UK/VTBR/company-people/executive-profile/4684067|title=Profile – Andrey Leonidovich Kostin|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=2022-04-23}} from 2006 to 2017, being succeeded by Vadim Kumin.{{cite web|url=https://www.kumin.online/?page_id=149|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906145358/https://www.kumin.online/?page_id=149|archive-date=2018-09-06|language=ru|title=Биография – Вадим Валентинович Кумин}}

In May 2017, Kostin suggested the Washington elite was purposefully disrupting the presidency of Donald Trump by spreading false accusations about his ties to Russia.{{cite news|last1=Arnold|first1=Martin|last2=Buckley|first2=Neil|title=Putin ally accuses US elite of 'paralysing' Trump|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d2b22a9a-4078-11e7-82b6-896b95f30f58|access-date=30 May 2017|work=Financial Times|date=30 May 2017}} In January 2018, Kostin said that additional sanctions against Russian individuals or entities would be an "economic war".{{cite news | last1 = Golubkova | first1 = Katya | last2 = Antonov | first2 = Dmitry | title = Russia's VTB bank head Kostin shrugs off U.S. sanctions risk | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-vtb-sanctions/russias-vtb-bank-head-kostin-shrugs-off-u-s-sanctions-risk-idUSKBN1FB13N | publisher = Reuters | date = January 22, 2018 | access-date = May 18, 2018}}{{cite news | last1 = Rudnitsky | first1 = Jake | last2 = Lacqua | first2 = Francine | title = U.S. Sanctions Would Be 'Economic War' to Head of Russia's VTB | url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-24/u-s-sanctions-would-be-economic-war-to-head-of-russia-s-vtb | work = Bloomberg | date = January 24, 2018 | access-date = May 18, 2018}}

He is on the supervisory board of Post Bank.{{cite news | title = Избран новый состав наблюдательного совета "Почта Банка" | url = https://www.pochtabank.ru/news/457247 | work = Post Bank (Russia) website | language = ru | trans-title = The new composition of the Supervisory Board "Bank of the Post" was elected | date = December 27, 2017 | access-date = February 15, 2018 | archive-date = February 13, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180213135152/https://www.pochtabank.ru/news/457247 | url-status = dead }}

On August 25, 2023, Kostin was elected as the chairman of the Board of Directors of the United Shipbuilding Corporation by the board.{{cite press release|url=https://www.aoosk.ru/press-center/news/andrey-kostin-izbran-predsedatelem-soveta-direktorov-ao-osk/|title=Андрей Костин избран Председателем Совета директоров АО «ОСК»|language=ru|publisher=United Shipbuilding Corporation|date=August 25, 2023|access-date=August 30, 2023}}

On April 4, 2019, the Vedomosti newspaper drew attention to the massive blocking of publications by Roskomnadzor on the Internet, most of which mentioned gifts from VTB bank president Andrei Kostin to {{Ill|Nailya Asker-zade|az|Nailə Əsgərzadə|ka|ნაილია ასკერზადე|lez|Аскер-заде Наиля Вагифан руш|ru|Аскер-заде, Наиля Вагиф кызы}}, a television journalist and his longtime girlfriend. In the interests of VTB, and by a court decision, Roskomnadzor blocked about 1000 publications.{{Cite news|url= https://www.vedomosti.ru/technology/articles/2019/04/04/798385-roskomnadzor-vtb|title=Роскомнадзор массово блокирует статьи о ВТБ и его президенте. Под запрет попало около 1000 публикаций, юристы называют это прецедентом |newspaper=Ведомости | author = Ксения Болецкая, Екатерина Брызгалова |date = 2019-04-04}}

On December 2, 2019, FBK’s Alexei Navalny released an investigation about Kostin's relationship with Naila Asker-zade on YouTube. In this video Alexei Navalny accused Kostin of making gifts to journalist Nailya Asker-zade{{Cite web|date=2019-12-04|title=Russian officials appropriating jets for family and lovers, says activist|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/04/russian-officials-appropriating-jets-for-family-and-lovers-says-activist|access-date=2021-08-17|website=the Guardian|language=en}} (use of a business jet, yacht, house in the cottage village, two apartments, one of them directly from VTB, second from Kirill Zimarin, the head of a subsidiary of VTB in Cyprus) with proof from her Instagram account. Kostin, according to Navalny in his video clip, uses money belonging to the bank, 60.9% of which is state-owned, to buy luxurious real estate for his beloved. According to The Bell said that there is a link between VTB and the business jet, but not with the yacht, and that it is impossible to draw a conclusion about the owners of the plane and yacht, as well as who paid for the journalist's travels. On December 25, 2019, Kostin said that he would think about what actions to take about the investigation, and refused to comment.{{cite news|title=ВТБ снял рекламу в "Ведомостях" после статьи о Костине. По данным "Коммерсанта", газета может быть продана|url=https://thebell.io/vtb-snyal-reklamu-v-vedomostyah-posle-stati-o-kostine-po-dannym-kommersanta-gazeta-mozhet-byt-prodana/|work=The Bell|date=2019-04-09}}[https://versia.ru/bank-vtb-andreya-kostina-sdelal-smi-predlozhenie-ot-kotorogo-nevozmozhno-otkazatsya Роскомнадзор массово блокирует статьи о ВТБ и его президенте] // Версия, 6 июня 2019 года

In April 2018, the United States imposed sanctions on him and 23 other Russian nationals.{{cite web |url=https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20180406 |title=Ukraine-/Russia-related Designations and Identification Update|date=2018-04-06 |website=United States Department of the Treasury |access-date=2018-04-06 }}{{cite web |url=https://meduza.io/news/2018/04/06/ssha-vveli-sanktsii-protiv-36-rossiyskih-biznesmenov |title=США ввели санкции против семи российских олигархов и 17 чиновников из "кремлевского списка" |trans-title=The US imposed sanctions against seven Russian oligarchs and 17 officials from the "Kremlin list" |date=2018-04-06 |website=Meduza |access-date=2018-04-06 |language=ru}}

On March 15, 2019, Canada imposed sanctions on a number of individuals, including Kostin, over violations of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Public Works and Government Services Canada |date=2019-04-03 |title=Canada Gazette, Part 2, Volume 153, Number 7: Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations |url=https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2019/2019-04-03/html/sor-dors71-eng.html |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=gazette.gc.ca}} He was also sanctioned by decree of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on June 24, 2021.{{Cite web |title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №266/2021 |url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/2662021-39265 |language=uk}}

On February 23, 2022, after Russia's recognition of the DPR and LPR, Kostin was included in the sanctions list of all countries of the European Union.{{Cite web |title=EUR-Lex - 32022R0260 - EN - EUR-Lex |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2022/260/oj/eng |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=eur-lex.europa.eu |language=en}}

Following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the UK imposed sanctions on Kostin which involved freezing his assets and a travel ban.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-10 |title=UK freezes assets of seven Russian oligarchs including Roman Abramovich |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/10/uk-freezes-assets-of-russian-oligarchs-including-roman-abramovich |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} After the invasion, Switzerland, Japan, New Zealand and Australia also imposed sanctions.{{Cite web |last=SECO |first=Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft |title=Massnahmen im Zusammenhang mit der Situation in der Ukraine |url=https://www.seco.admin.ch/seco/de/home/Aussenwirtschaftspolitik_Wirtschaftliche_Zusammenarbeit/Wirtschaftsbeziehungen/exportkontrollen-und-sanktionen/sanktionen-embargos/sanktionsmassnahmen/massnahmen-zur-vermeidung-der-umgehung-internationaler-sanktione.html |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=www.seco.admin.ch |language=de}}{{Cite web |title=Japan sanctions Russian oligarchs and Belarus officials |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2022/03/03/japan-Japan-sanctions-Russian-oligarchs-Belarus-Ukraine/1911646310605/ |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=UPI |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Trade |first=New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and |title=Russia Sanctions |url=https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/europe/ukraine/russian-invasion-of-ukraine/sanctions/ |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |title=Australia includes head of Russia's Central Bank in sanctions list |url=https://report.az/en/other-countries/australia-includes-head-of-russia-s-central-bank-in-sanctions-list/ |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=Report News Agency |date=8 April 2022 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1150217/Russia.pdf |access-date=16 April 2023}}

On February 22, 2024, the United States Department of Justice charged Kostin and two associates, Vadim Wolfson and Gannon Bond, with money laundering and violating the American sanctions against him. Allegedly, Wolfson and Bond renovated and sold Kostin's luxury home in Aspen on his behalf and wired him around $12 million of the proceeds, and illegally used American currency to maintain Kostin's superyachts.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-sanctions-andrey-kostin-oligarch-charges-justice-department/|newspaper=CBS News|title=U.S. charges head of Russian bank with sanctions evasion, arrests 2 in alleged money laundering scheme|first=Robert|last=Legare|date=22 February 2024}} The three are also accused of laundering funds through a series of shell companies for these purposes. Wolfson and Bond were arrested that morning and presented to federal courts, while Kostin avoided arrest due to residing in Russia.{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/sanctioned-russian-oligarch-and-others-indicted-sanctions-violations-and-money|title=Sanctioned Russian Oligarch And Others Indicted For Sanctions Violations And Money Laundering|date=22 February 2024|website=U.S. Department of Justice}}

According to official data, Kostin is married, has children and a grandson.{{cite news|title=Костин, Андрей - Биография|url=https://ru.wikisource.org/wiki/Лентапедия/Костин,_Андрей|work=Лентапедия|date=}} Nailya Asker-Zade, a reporter on the state-run channel Russia-24, is his long-time girlfriend.{{Cite news |last=Troianovski |first=Anton |date=2019-12-03 |title=From a Russian Banker, a $4 Million Mansion and a 200-Foot Yacht |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/03/world/europe/russia-navalny-video.html |access-date=2022-03-13 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |last=Moscow |first=Tom Parfitt |title=Andriy Kostin, Russian banker and Putin ally, 'lavished gifts on young girlfriend using state funds' |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/andriy-kostin-russian-banker-and-putin-ally-lavished-gifts-on-young-girlfriend-using-state-funds-wk2p9pv89 |access-date=2022-03-13 |issn=0140-0460}}

His eldest son Andrey (1978–2011), worked as deputy chairman of the board of Deutsche Bank in Russia. He died on July 2, 2011, during a trip on an ATV while on vacation in the Yaroslavl Region.[http://www.gazeta.ru/auto/2011/07/04_a_3684801.shtml Биография заместителя председателя правления Deutsche Bank Андрея Костина], Газета.ру, 04.07.2011{{cite web|url=http://www.lobbying.ru/content/persons/id_1893_linkid_2.html|title=Костин Андрей Леонидович|trans-title=Kostin Andrey Leonidovich|language=ru|work=Lobbying.ru|access-date=October 17, 2018|archive-date=March 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331141247/http://www.lobbying.ru/content/persons/id_1893_linkid_2.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://lenta.ru/lib/14161172/|title=Костин Андрей|trans-title=Kostin Andrey|language=ru|work=Lenta.ru|access-date=October 17, 2018}}{{Cite news|last1=Troianovski|first1=Anton|author-link=Anton Troianovski|last2=Matsnev|first2=Oleg|date=2019-12-03|title=From a Russian Banker, a $4 Million Mansion and a 200-Foot Yacht|language=en|work=The New York Times|location=Moscow|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/03/world/europe/russia-navalny-video.html|url-access=limited|access-date=2020-08-23|issn=0362-4331}}{{cite news|url=https://iz.ru/news/493519|title=Сын главы ВТБ Андрей Костин разбился на квадроцикле: 32-летний банкир погиб на отдыхе в Ярославской области |trans-title=The son of the head of VTB Andrei Kostin crashed on a quad: 32-year-old banker died on holiday in the Yaroslavl region |language=ru |date=July 2, 2011 |newspaper=Izvestia |access-date=October 17, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.gazeta.ru/auto/2011/07/04_a_3684801.shtml |title=Погиб на трезвую голову: В ДТП погиб сын президента ВТБ Андрей Костин |trans-title=Killed sober: The accident killed the son of the president of VTB Andrei Kostin |language=ru |date=July 4, 2011 |newspaper=Gazeta |last1=Шипилов|first1=Евгений |last2=Танас|first2=Ольга |access-date=October 17, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/19/business/big-german-bank-key-to-trumps-finances-faces-new-scrutiny.html|title=Big German Bank, Key to Trump's Finances, Faces New Scrutiny|date=July 19, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|last1=Protess|first1=Ben|last2=Silver-Greenberg|first2=Jessica|last3=Drucker|first3=Jesse|access-date=December 17, 2018}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web |url=http://www.vtb.com/group/management/guide/kostin/ |title=Andrey Kostin official bio |publisher=vtb.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802175708/http://www.vtb.com/group/management/guide/kostin/ |archive-date=2017-08-02}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kostin, Andrey L.}}

Category:1956 births

Category:Living people

Category:Businesspeople from Moscow

Category:Russian bankers

Category:Moscow State University alumni

Category:Fugitives wanted by the United States

Category:Full Cavaliers of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland"

Category:Recipients of the Order of Honour (Russia)

Category:Knights of the Ordre national du Mérite

Category:Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation alumni

Category:Russian individuals subject to U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions

Category:Russian individuals subject to European Union sanctions

Category:Russian individuals subject to United Kingdom sanctions