Igor Makarov (businessman)

Makarov was born as the only child of his parents in Ashkhabad, Turkmen SSR{{cite news |title=Russian oligarch denies links to woman in epicenter of Austrian leak scandal — RT World News. |url=https://sky-news.co.uk/russian-oligarch-denies-links-to-woman-in-epicenter-of-austrian-leak-scandal-rt-world-news |work=Sky News |date=20 May 2019}} in 1962.

From 1979 to 1986, Makarov was a cyclist for the Soviet team, winning medals and awards, and became acquainted with Saparmurat Niyazov or Turkmenbashy{{efn|{{langx|tk|Türkmenbaşy}}}} who ruled the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic and later Turkmenistan from 1985 to 2006.{{cite news |url=http://inrng.com/2011/12/tinker-tailor-cyclist-spy/ |title=Tinker, tailor, cyclist, spy |work=INRNG. The Inner Ring |date=29 December 2011 |access-date=12 November 2020}}{{efn|Saparmurat Niyazov or Turkmenbashy was appointed First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Turkmen SSR in 1985 by Mikhail Gorbachev and was a staunch supporter of the August Putsch.}}

He graduated from Turkmen State University in 1983, then served in the Soviet Army.{{cite news |url=http://www.vedomosti.ru/persons/2346/%D0%98%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%8C%20%D0%9C%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2 |title=Игорь Макаров: Биография |trans-title=Igor Makarov: Biography |language=ru |work=«Ведомости» |date=2010 |access-date=July 2, 2021 |archive-date=December 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210012313/http://www.vedomosti.ru/persons/2346/%D0%98%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%8C%20%D0%9C%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2}}

The name ARETI is derived from Makarov's previous company's name ITERA (spelled backwards). In the summer of 2017, Makarov's new yacht, Areti, was delivered by Lürssen.{{cite web |title=Yacht Areti |url=https://www.superyachtfan.com/yacht-areti.html}}

ITERA Oil and Gas Company, founded in 1992 by Makarov with headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida and was the main subsidiary of the ITERA Group.{{efn|Itera's competitor was the Hungarian registered Eural Trans Gas, which became the dominant natural gas supplier to Ukraine beginning in late 2002 and was later replaced by Gazprom and Semion Mogilevich supported RosUkrEnergo as Ukraine's dominant natural gas supplier in 2003.{{cite news |url=http://www.globalwitness.org/media_library_get.php/359/en/its_a_gas_russian_translation2.pdf |title=Веселящий Газ: Абсурдность в Газовой торговле Между Туркменистаном и Украиной |trans-title=Laughing gas: Absurdity in Gas Trade Between Turkmenistan and Ukraine |work=Global Witness |date=1 April 2006 |access-date=21 January 2021 |archive-date=16 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016050128/http://www.globalwitness.org/media_library_get.php/359/en/its_a_gas_russian_translation2.pdf}}{{cite news |last=Зыгарь |first=Михаил (Zygar, Mikhail) |author-link=Mikhail Zygar |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/848241 |title=Газовый бен Ладен |trans-title=Gas Bin Laden |lang=ru |work=Kommersant |date=4 February 2008 |access-date=21 January 2021 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210122000227/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/848241 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Найем |first=Мустафа (Nayyem, Mustafa) |author-link=Mustafa Nayyem |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/ru/news/2007/7/24/61742.htm |title=Дело Фирташа. Часть первая. Дела колхозные |trans-title=The Firtash case. Part one. Collective farm affairs |lang=ru |work=Ukrayinska Pravda |date=24 July 2007 |access-date=21 January 2021 |archive-date=22 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822201407/http://www.pravda.com.ua/ru/news/2007/7/24/61742.htm}}{{cite news |last=Найем |first=Мустафа (Nayyem, Mustafa) |author-link=Mustafa Nayyem |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/ru/news/2007/8/13/62522.htm |title=Дело Фирташа. Часть вторая. Дела семейные |trans-title=The Firtash case. Part two. Family matters |lang=ru |work=Ukrayinska Pravda |date=13 August 2007 |access-date=21 January 2021 |archive-date=20 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820101728/http://www.pravda.com.ua/ru/news/2007/8/13/62522.htm}}{{cite news |last=Найем |first=Мустафа (Nayyem, Mustafa) |author-link=Mustafa Nayyem |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/articles/2008/01/31/4432554 |title=Дело Фирташа. Часть третья. Дела газовые |trans-title=The Firtash case. Part three. Gas affairs |lang=ru |work=Ukrayinska Pravda |date=31 January 2008 |access-date=21 January 2021 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210122000553/https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/articles/2008/01/31/4432554/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Найем |first=Мустафа (Nayyem, Mustafa) |author-link=Mustafa Nayyem |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/articles/2008/02/1/4432657 |title=Дело Фирташа. Часть четвертая. Тени Cемена Могилевича |trans-title=The Firtash case. Part four. Shadows of Semen Mogilevich |lang=ru |work=Ukrayinska Pravda |date=31 January 2008 |access-date=21 January 2021 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210122000255/https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/articles/2008/02/1/4432657/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/92d94ba6-24e4-11d8-81c6-08209b00dd01,id=060714000662,print=yes.html |title=Disputed links to an alleged crime boss |work=Financial Times |date=14 July 2006 |access-date=21 January 2021 |archive-date=9 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209152023/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/92d94ba6-24e4-11d8-81c6-08209b00dd01,id=060714000662,print=yes.html}}}} Makarov purchased a mansion in the 1990s in Jacksonville, Florida, where ITERA was headquartered. Due to enormous reserves, Makarov's Itera was the fourth largest natural gas company in the world in 2000.{{cite news |last=Weiss |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Weiss (journalist) |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/03/19/married-to-the-ukrainian-mob/ |title=Married to the Ukrainian Mob: Meet Dmytro Firtash, the shady billionaire at the heart of Russia's energy stranglehold over Kiev. |work=Foreign Policy |date=19 March 2014 |access-date=18 November 2020 |archive-date=11 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711223009/https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/03/19/married-to-the-ukrainian-mob/}}{{efn|In 1998, Itera became largest independent natural gas producer in Russia by 1998, and, in 2002, Gazprom began to reduce Itera’s market share by increasing transit tariffs.{{cite news |last=Lelyveld |first=Michael |url=https://www.rferl.org/amp/1101703.html |title= Russia: Gazprom Seeks Turkmenistan-Ukraine Gas Trade |date=December 17, 2002|access-date=July 20, 2019}}}} In 2012, ITERA entered into a joint venture with Rosneft and a year later, Rosneft acquired Itera Oil and Gas Company for $2.9 billion.{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/igor-makarov/|title=Igor Makarov|work=Forbes|access-date=2017-05-12|language=en}} In 2015, ITERA International Group of Companies was renamed ARETI International Group as a result of a rebranding to signal a new direction subsequent to sale of Itera Oil and Gas Company in 2013.{{cite web |last1=Renaud |first1=Karine |title=The Mineral Industry of Turkmenistan |url=https://prd-wret.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/atoms/files/myb3-2015-tx.pdf |website=USGS |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior}}{{cite news |last1=Hasanov |first1=Huseyn |title=ARETI interested in implementation of joint projects in Turkmen fuel and energy complex |url=https://menafn.com/1098943926/ARETI-interested-in-implementation-of-joint-projects-in-Turkmen-fuel-and-energy-complex |access-date=August 30, 2019 |publisher=Menafn.com}}

On 26 September 2022, Makarov was sanctioned by the government of the United Kingdom due to the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War.{{cite web |title=CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK - Russia |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1179214/Russia.pdf |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=gov.uk}}{{cite web |title=UK sanctions collaborators of Russia's illegal sham referendums - GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-sanctions-collaborators-of-russias-illegal-sham-referendums |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=gov.uk}} On 5 March 2024, United Kingdom removed sanctions on Makarov after a successful legal challenge.{{Cite web |date=5 March 2024 |title=Financial Sanctions Notice 05/03/2024 |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65e6f2233f69457ff103608f/Notice_Russia_050324.pdf |publisher=HM Treasury}}{{Cite web |title=UK lifts sanctions against Itera founder Makarov, who renounced Russian citizenship |url=https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-stories/100144/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=interfax.com}} On 22 May 2025, Australia also removed sanctions on Makarov.{{Cite web |last=KC |first=Maya Lester |date=2025-05-22 |title=Australia Russia sanctions delisting |url=https://globalsanctions.com/2025/05/australia-russia-sanctions-delisting/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=Global Sanctions |language=en-US}}

Makarov was a member of the USSR national cycling team, champion and prizewinner of the all-Union (USSR) and international cycling competitions. Makarov is also a Master of Sports of International Class.{{Cite web|url=http://www.itera.ru/isp/eng/index/1/9/|title=ARETI INTERNATIONAL GROUP|website=www.itera.ru|language=ru|access-date=2017-05-12|archive-date=2013-09-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927140316/http://www.itera.ru/isp/eng/index/1/9/|url-status=dead}}

He actively supports and sponsors the international cycling movement.{{cite web |title=Inside UCI |url=https://www.uci.org/inside-uci/governance/management-committee |website=World Cycling Centre}} From 2010 to 2016, he was President of the Russian Cycling Federation (RCF){{Cite web|url=http://www.fvsr.ru/president-of-federation-english.html|title=Федерация велосипедного спорта России|website=www.fvsr.ru|language=ru-RU|access-date=2017-05-12|archive-date=2016-04-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427134622/http://fvsr.ru/president-of-federation-english.html|url-status=dead}} and in 2016 was elected as Honorary President of the Russian Cycling Federation. In March 2011, Makarov became a member of the Management Committee of the International Cycling Union, UCI.{{Cite web |url=http://uec-federation.eu/news/new_european_members_of_the_uci_board_elected-s279.html |title=New European members of the UCI Board elected. March,11,2011 |access-date=2012-07-21 |archive-date=2012-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326191115/http://uec-federation.eu/news/new_european_members_of_the_uci_board_elected-s279.html |url-status=dead }} The UCI team Katusha was created by Makarov in 2008 to develop cycling in emerging countries.

Makarov has been decorated with state awards from different countries for his significant contributions to developing economic relations and strengthening friendship and cooperation between the people. Among the awards are the Order of Friendship of Peoples and the Medal of Francisk Scorina (state awards of Belarus), the Friendship Medal (state award of Mongolia), the Order "Gloria Muncii" (Work Merit) (the state award of Moldova), as well as the Order of Holy Faithful Prince Daniel of Moscow and Innokenty the Sanctifier Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna, 3rd Class of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Order of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, 3rd Class of the Russian Orthodox Church, Honorary Reward "Аkinfy Nikitich Demidov" of the International Demidov's Foundation.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iteragroup.com/isp/eng/index/1/9/|title=iteragroup.com - iteragroup Resources and Information.|website=www.iteragroup.com|access-date=2017-05-12}}

In 2025, Makarov was awarded the Aristidis Konstantinidis Prize by the Cyprus Cycling Federation{{Cite web |title=Βραδιά αφιερωμένη στους κορυφαίους! {{!}} Κυπριακή Ομοσπονδία Ποδηλασίας |url=https://cypruscycling.org/news/cypruscyclingawards2024?fbclid=IwY2xjawIWl1RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXGUEubrP0F3FCfZwwo3cDCuNNsqr1aLCy-lrae_iRXbyaVJRDVBVxKPsA_aem_vrcjx1UAjf9SKE9gF7mmNA |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=cypruscycling.org |language=en}} for his contribution to his country's cycling initiatives, including the ARETI Gran Prix Cyprus and INEX Charity Club Ride.{{Cite web |last=Virgo |first=Georgette |date=2025-01-21 |title=Leader's Vision In Making Cyprus A Cycling Destination: An Interview With Limassol Deputy Mayor Demos Katsis |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/leaders-vision-making-cyprus-cycling-destination-interview-limassol-deputy-mayor-demos-katsis-3760319 |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=International Business Times |language=en-US}}

Makarov has created the charitable Makarov Foundation to support children's welfare and people with autism and other developmental disabilities. Makarov, through his foundation, has given a grant to build the Mount Sinai Adult Autism Clinic,{{cite news |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Rene |title=Mount Sinai opens clinic for autistic adults |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article127564169.html |access-date=January 19, 2017 |publisher=Miami Herald}} supported the Best Buddies International’s annual Hublot Best Buddies Challenge: Miami{{cite news |title=Makarov Foundation Supported The Hublot Best Buddies Challenge: Miami |url=https://www.bestbuddies.org/makarovfoundation |work=Best Buddies International |publisher=Bestbuddies.org |date=20 December 2019}} and the annual Tour de Broward 2020, which raised more than $700,000 for the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital.{{cite news |last1=Curreri |first1=Gary |title=Tour de Broward raises $700K for children's hospital |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/the-trailblazer/fl-cn-miramar-tour-de-broward-20200311-20200306-5ktggebjprg2deqwjevrsbzqtm-story.html |work=sun-sentinel.com |agency=Sun Sentinel |date=March 6, 2020}} In addition, Makarov also donated money to the Flight of Hope Project to save the population of Siberian cranes.{{cite news |last1=Makarov |first1=Igor |title=Flight of Hope Project: The Conservation of Cranes |url=https://medium.com/@_IgorMakarov/flight-of-hope-project-the-conservation-of-cranes-d403e182f0c2 |date=15 June 2017}}

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Category:1962 births

Category:Russian energy industry businesspeople

Category:Soviet male cyclists

Category:Turkmenistan male cyclists

Category:Recipients of the Order of Francysk Skaryna

Category:Recipients of the Order of Work Glory

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Ashgabat

Category:Turkmen State University alumni

Category:21st-century philanthropists

Category:Former Russia citizens

Category:People who lost Russian citizenship

Category:People who renounced Russian citizenship

Category:Russian businesspeople in Cyprus