Mikhail Fridman

Fridman was born in 1964 in Lviv, Ukrainian SSR, USSR, where he spent his youth. He graduated from high school in Lviv in 1980. He says he was denied entrance to Moscow's top physics college because he is Jewish, and instead attended the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys. He had various jobs while a college student in Moscow, including washing windows{{cite web|author1=Frontline World|title='Moscow: Rich in Russia: How to Make a Billion Dollars: Mikhail Fridman|url=http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/moscow/fridman.html|website=PBS|access-date=6 February 2018|date=2003}}{{cite book|last1=Goldman|first1=Marshall I.|title=The Piratization of Russia: Russian Reform Goes Awry|date=2003|publisher=Routledge|page=136|isbn=9781134376858|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zP9-AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA136}} and founding and co-owning a student discothèque named Strawberry Fields. He also led a group of students who would queue for tickets at popular Moscow plays, and then use the tickets as hard currency to barter for rare goods and favours. Having studied metallurgical engineering, he graduated with distinction from the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys in 1986.

{{See also|Alfa Group}}

After graduation Fridman worked as a metallurgical design engineer at the Elektrostal Metallurgical Works, a state electrical machinery factory, from 1986 to 1988.{{cite web|title=Fridman, Mikhail|url=https://uk.reuters.com/business/stocks/officer-profile/VEONas.TRE/1525119|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208125002/https://uk.reuters.com/business/stocks/officer-profile/VEONas.TRE/1525119|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 February 2018|website=Reuters|access-date=7 February 2018}}

{{cite news| title = Poor Russia's wealthiest dozen| first =Douglas| last =Birch| url =https://www.baltimoresun.com/2003/11/09/poor-russias-wealthiest-dozen/| work=The Baltimore Sun| date=9 November 2003| access-date = 9 September 2016}} As Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev began to open up the economy in the late 1980s, in 1988 Fridman established a window-washing business,{{cite news|last1=Chazan|first1=Guy|title=Lunch with the FT: Mikhail Fridman|url=https://www.ft.com/content/9527e2be-f5b5-11e5-96db-fc683b5e52db |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/9527e2be-f5b5-11e5-96db-fc683b5e52db |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|access-date=6 February 2018|work=Financial Times|date=1 April 2016}} an apartment rental agency for foreigners, a company that sold used computers, and a company that imported cigarettes and perfumes, with fellow friends from college, employing students from various Moscow universities.

Armenian Robert Yengibaryan ({{langx|ru|Роберт Енгибарян}}) provided strong assistance to Fridman and, later, Yengibaryan's son Vahe Yengebaryan ({{langx|ru|Ваге Енгибарян}}), who was the Russian consul in New York from 2003 onwards, became very close to Fridman's business interests.{{cite news |last=Королев |first=Игорь (Korolyov, Igor) |url=https://www.cnews.ru/news/top/2017-01-19_partnera_bilajna_zapodozrili_v_vyvode_deneg |title=Партнера "Билайна" заподозрили в выводе денег в пользу "сына главы МВД". Схема |trans-title=Beeline's partner was suspected of withdrawing money in favor of the "son of the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs". Scheme |language=ru |work=cnews.ru |date=19 January 2017 |access-date=4 February 2021 |archive-date=31 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831071740/https://www.cnews.ru/news/top/2017-01-19_partnera_bilajna_zapodozrili_v_vyvode_deneg}}{{cite news |last=Королев |first=Игорь (Korolyov, Igor) |url=https://www.cnews.ru/news/top/2017-01-23_syn_glavy_mvd_mog_byt_sovladeltsem_krupnejshego |title=Сын главы МВД мог быть совладельцем крупнейшего агрегатора мобильного контента |trans-title=The son of the Interior Minister could be a co-owner of the largest mobile content aggregator |language=ru |work=cnews.ru |date=23 January 2017 |access-date=4 February 2021 |archive-date=18 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518022822/https://www.cnews.ru/news/top/2017-01-23_syn_glavy_mvd_mog_byt_sovladeltsem_krupnejshego}}{{cite news |last1=Злобин |first1=Андрей (Zlobin, Andrey) |last2=Березанская |first2=Елена (Berezanskaya, Elena) |url=https://www.forbes.ru/milliardery/385867-familiya-imya-druzya-putina-kak-proshlo-zasedanie-madridskogo-suda-s-uchastiem |title=Фамилия, имя, друзья Путина: как прошло заседание мадридского суда с участием Михаила Фридмана |trans-title=Surname, name, friends of Putin: how was the meeting of the Madrid court with the participation of Mikhail Fridman |language=ru |work=Forbes.ru |date=21 October 2019 |access-date=5 February 2021}}{{cite news |last=Черецкий |first=Виктор (Cheretsky, Victor) |url=https://www.dw.com/ru/за-что-в-испании-недолюбливают-российского-олигарха-фридмана/a-40057485 |title=За что в Испании недолюбливают российского олигарха Фридмана: Испанцы неоднозначно восприняли покупку группой миллиардера из России Михаила Фридмана пакета акций местной торговой сети DIA. Чем они недовольны, выясняла DW. |trans-title=Why the Russian oligarch Fridman is disliked in Spain: The Spaniards were ambivalent about the purchase by the group of Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman of a block of shares in the local DIA retail chain. What are they unhappy with, DW found out. |language=ru |work=Deutsche Welle |date=11 August 2017 |access-date=5 February 2021 |archive-date=12 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812053802/https://www.dw.com/ru/%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D1%87%D1%82%D0%BE-%D0%B2-%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8-%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8E%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%8E%D1%82-%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE-%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%85%D0%B0-%D1%84%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0/a-40057485 |url-status=live }} In October 2019, Fridman told a Spanish court that he was a friend of Vahe.{{cite news |url=https://www.europapress.es/economia/noticia-fridman-niega-juez-haber-tenido-capacidad-decisoria-alguna-mercantiles-implicadas-asfixia-zed-20191021144248.html |title=Fridman niega ante el juez haber tenido capacidad decisoria alguna en las mercantiles implicadas en la asfixia de Zed |trans-title=Fridman denies before the judge having had any decision-making capacity in the mercantile companies involved in the asphyxia of Zed |language=es |agency=Europa Press |date=21 October 2019 |access-date=5 February 2021 |archive-date=21 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021235837/https://www.europapress.es/economia/noticia-fridman-niega-juez-haber-tenido-capacidad-decisoria-alguna-mercantiles-implicadas-asfixia-zed-20191021144248.html}}

In 1988, along with German Khan and Alexey Kuzmichev, Fridman co-founded Alfa-Photo (also transliterated as Alfa-Foto), which imported photography chemicals.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}{{cite web|title=Notice of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders|url=https://veon.com/Global/Files/AGM/Notice%20of%202017%20AGM%2024July2017%20FINAL.DOCX.pdf#page=10|publisher=VEON|access-date=7 February 2018|page=10|date=24 July 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Reznikovich|first1=Alexei M.|title=Letter to Vimpelcom's Shareholders|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1023977/000119312506121084/dex992.htm|website=Securities and Exchange Commission|access-date=6 February 2018|date=26 May 2006}} In 1989 the three partners founded Alfa-Eco (Alfa-Echo, Alfa-Eko, Alfa-Ekho), a commodities and eventually oil trading firm,{{Cite news|url=http://online.flipbuilder.com/myab/xfgo/mobile/index.html#p=30|title=CEE's Top Business Leaders: Eastern Europe|work=bne IntelliNews|date=May 2017|access-date=16 May 2017|pages=30–31}}{{cite news|title=Mikhail Fridman: Alfa Group Chairman Builds Russian 'Benchmark'|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1341599.html|access-date=30 March 2018|work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=29 January 2002}}{{cite news|last1=Whalen|first1=Jeanne|title=Brains, Bare Knuckles Are Keys To Success of Firm in Rich Deal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB982793845691156414|access-date=30 March 2018|work=Wall Street Journal|date=22 February 2001}} and Alfa Capital (Alfa Kapital), an investment firm.{{cite book|title=The International Who's Who 2004|date=2003|publisher=Europa Press|page=[https://archive.org/details/internationalwho2004ond/page/567 567]|isbn=9781857432176 |url=https://archive.org/details/internationalwho2004ond|url-access=registration}}{{cite news|last1=Goldman|first1=Marshall|title=Russia's Robber Barons: The Twelve Men Who Own Russia's Economy|url=http://www.bu.edu/globalbeat/pubs/russiasummit/goldman082898.html|access-date=6 February 2018|work=Global Beat|publisher=Boston University|date=28 August 1998}} Alfa-Eco and Alfa Capital developed into Alfa Group Consortium.{{cite news|last1=Fridman|first1=Mikhail|title=Fridman: How I became an oligarch|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/mikhail-fridman/fridman-how-i-became-oligarch|access-date=7 February 2018|work=openDemocracy|date=14 November 2010}} The company, which initially focused on computer trading and copy machine maintenance, expanded into imports and exports and commodities trading, eventually becoming one of Russia's largest privately owned financial-industrial conglomerates, with interests in industries such as telecommunications, banking, retail, and oil.

Using $100,000 of his profits from his businesses to pay the required fee, in January 1991 Fridman co-founded Alfa-Bank.{{cite book|last1=Goldman|first1=Marshall I.|title=Petrostate: Putin, Power, and the New Russia|date=2010|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=66–67|isbn=9780199758548|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-UKfdbP1bWYC&pg=PA66}} The company grew to become one of the largest private banks in Russia. Alfa Group's later divisions include Rosvodokanal, a private water utility; AlfaStrakhovanie, a diversified insurance company; A1 Group, an investment company; and X5 Retail Group, a large chain of food retailers.{{cite web|title=Our Businesses|url=http://www.alfagroup.org/business/|website=AlfaGroup.org|access-date=9 February 2018}}

Alfa Group flourished considerably after Fridman recruited Petr Aven, the former Minister of Foreign Economic Relations for the Russian Federation; in 1994 Aven became president and chairman of Alfa-Bank.{{cite news|last1=Lloyd|first1=John|title=The Autumn Of the Oligarchs|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/08/magazine/the-autumn-of-the-oligarchs.html|access-date=30 March 2018|work=New York Times|date=8 October 2000}}{{cite book|last1=Campbell|first1=Robert Wellington|title=A Biobibliographical Dictionary of Russian and Soviet Economists|date=2012|publisher=Routledge|page=27|isbn=9780415519465|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oMqH56uoh_wC&pg=PA27}} By late 1996, thanks to the success of Alfa-Bank and Alfa Group, Boris Berezovsky, in an interview by the Financial Times, named Fridman and Aven among the seven businessman and bankers who controlled most of the economy and media in Russia,{{cite book|last1=Bojicic-Dzelilovic|first1=Vesna|title=Persistent State Weakness in the Global Age|date=2016|publisher=Routledge|page=104|isbn=9781317082064|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JLgoDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA104}}{{cite news|title=British Paper Names Banking Clique|url=http://old.themoscowtimes.com/sitemap/free/1996/11/article/british-paper-names-banking-clique/316590.html/|access-date=29 March 2018|work=The Moscow Times|date=5 November 1996}}{{cite book|last1=Goldman|first1=Marshall I.|title=The Piratization of Russia: Russian Reform Goes Awry|date=2003|publisher=Routledge|page=132|isbn=9781134376858|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zP9-AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA132}} and who had helped bankroll Boris Yeltsin's 1996 re-election campaign.{{cite book|last1=Kotz|first1=David|last2=Weir|first2=Fred|title=Russia's Path from Gorbachev to Putin: The Demise of the Soviet System and the New Russia|date=2007|publisher=Routledge|page=218|isbn=9781135992057|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=20OUAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT312}} Both Fridman and Aven were quite close to Berezovsky. In his book The age of Berezovsky Aven says: "It was Fridman and I who happened to be by Boris's bed after his attempted assassination in 1994, and it was our yacht that he chose to go after being discharged from hospital".https://petr-aven-books.com/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}

Fridman and Aven sold off most of their Russian government securities in early August 1998, prior to the ruble crisis of 17 August 1998, and emerged relatively unhurt from the 1998 Russian financial crisis.{{cite book|last1=Gitelman|first1=Zvi Y.|last2=Glants|first2=Musya|last3=Goldman|first3=Marshall I.|title=Jewish Life After the USSR|date=2003|publisher=Indiana University Press|page=91|isbn=0253341620|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1vBGPWk3b3AC&pg=PA91}} During the crisis, Alfa-Bank used its holdings related to TNK to avoid a debt default, and was one of the few Russian banks at the time to continue to allow customer withdrawals.

Fridman's Alfa Group founded the Perekrestok (also transliterated Perekriostok) chain of supermarkets in Moscow in 1995.{{cite news|title=Russian Corporate Giants Enter the World Stage|url=https://www.rbth.com/articles/2008/01/30/corporate_giants.html|access-date=9 February 2018|work=Russia Beyond|date=30 January 2008}}{{cite web|title=History|url=https://www.x5.ru/en/Pages/About/History_old.aspx|website=X5 Retail Group|access-date=9 February 2018}} Through a merger with the Pyatyorochka (also transliterated Pyaterochka) supermarket chain, which had been founded in St. Petersburg in 1999 by Alexander Girda and Andrey Rogachev, Alfa Group founded the X5 Retail Group in 2006.{{cite web|title=Company Information|url=http://x5.ru/en/about/index.php|website=X5 Retail Group|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315200428/http://x5.ru/en/about/index.php|archive-date=15 March 2015}} X5 acquired another grocer, Kopeyka, for $1.65 billion in December 2010.{{cite news|last1=Huddleston Jr.|first1=Tom|title=Dealmaker of the Week: Oxana Balayan of Hogan Lovells|url=http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2010/12/dealmakerdecember10.html|access-date=7 February 2018|work=The Am Law Daily|date=10 December 2010}} X5 is Russia's largest food retailer in terms of sales.{{cite news|last1=Khrennikov|first1=Ilya|title=A Russian Oligarch Walks Away From His $8 Billion Empire|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-16/a-russian-oligarch-walks-away-from-his-8-billion-empire|access-date=6 April 2018|work=Bloomberg News|date=16 February 2018}}{{cite news|title=Russia's X5 Retail Group plans to add 2,500 new stores in 2018|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-russia-x5-retail-group-stores/russias-x5-retail-group-plans-to-add-2500-new-stores-in-2018-idUKKBN1H51Y7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329162057/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-russia-x5-retail-group-stores/russias-x5-retail-group-plans-to-add-2500-new-stores-in-2018-idUKKBN1H51Y7|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 March 2018|access-date=6 April 2018|work=Reuters|date=29 March 2018}}

Alfa Group acquired a 44% stake in Golden Telecom, a large telecommunications and internet company in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, in 2001.{{cite web|title=History of Alfa Group Consortium|url=http://www.alfagroup.org/about-us/history/?print=Y|website=Alfa Group|access-date=9 April 2018}}{{cite news|last1=Tavernise|first1=Sabrina|title=World Business Briefing: Europe; Expansion By Oil Concern|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/04/business/world-business-briefing-europe-expansion-by-oil-concern.html|access-date=9 April 2018|work=New York Times|date=4 April 2001}}{{cite news|last1=Chazan|first1=Guy|title=Russian Conglomerate Alfa Makes Strong Partner for Golden Telecom|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB989275167927688732|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Wall Street Journal|date=8 May 2001}} Also in 2001, Alfa purchased a strategic ownership interest in Vimpelcom, a large cellular operator in Russia, and Fridman joined Vimpelcom's board of directors.{{cite book|last1=McCarthy|first1=Daniel J.|last2=Puffer|first2=Sheila M.|last3=Shekshnia|first3=Stanislav V.|title=Corporate Governance in Russia|date=2004|publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing|page=292|isbn=9781781958216|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ED3Ye9di_zgC&pg=PA292}}{{cite news|title=Vimpelcom Shareholders Approve Strategic Partnership with Alfa Group and Telenor|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N35lAfKa46AC&pg=PA9|work=Russian Telecom Newsletter|date=August 2001}}

Alfa Group consolidated its telecom holdings as Alfa Telecom, and in 2005 renamed it Altimo.{{cite news|last1=Minchom|first1=Clive|title=Mikhail Fridman's Alfa Group To Collect $1.6 Billion On Loan To Turks|url=http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2014/07/30/mikhail-fridmans-alfa-group-to-collect-1-6-billion-on-loan-to-turks/|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Jewish Business News|date=30 July 2014}} Its holdings and acquisitions included MegaFon, Vimpelcom, Golden Telecom, and Kyivstar. In December 2005 Altimo also acquired a 13.2% interest in Turkcell, the largest telecoms company in Turkey.

Fridman's desire to merge Vimpelcom and Kyivstar was thwarted by his Vimpelcom partner, the Norwegian telecoms group Telenor,{{cite web|title=VimpelCom shareholders overwhelmingly approve strategic partnership with Alfa Group and Telenor|url=https://veon.com/en/media-center/Press-releases/2001/VimpelCom-shareholders-overwhelmingly-approve-strategic-partnership-with-Alfa-Group-and-Telenor/|website=VEON|access-date=9 April 2018|format=press release|date=27 July 2001}} which held stakes in both companies. Fridman resorted to protracted and aggressive efforts to strong-arm Telenor in 2005, and although the merger of Vimpelcom and Kyivstar was achieved in 2010,{{cite news|last1=Nicholson|first1=Chris V.|title=Telenor and Alfa Reach Deal on VimpelCom|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2009/10/05/telenor-and-alfa-reach-deal-on-vimpelcom/|access-date=9 April 2018|work=New York Times|date=5 October 2009}}{{cite news|title=Vimpelcom-Kyivstar merger finally cleared by anti-monopoly authority|url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2010/10/20/vimpelcom-kyivstar-merger-finally-cleared-by-anti-monopoly-authority/|access-date=9 April 2018|work=TeleGeography|date=20 October 2010}} conflicts with Telenor over control of Vimpelcom lasted seven years in total.{{cite news|last1=Hotten|first1=Russell|title=BP antagonist has Altimo ambitions|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/2792008/BP-antagonist-has-Altimo-ambitions.html|access-date=9 April 2018|work=The Telegraph|date=22 June 2008}}{{cite news|title=Timeline: Uneasy Vimpelcom partners Telenor and Alfa-Group|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vimpelcom/timeline-uneasy-vimpelcom-partners-telenor-and-alfa-group-idUSTRE7171VP20110208|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Reuters|date=8 February 2011}}{{cite book|last1=Wellhausen|first1=Rachel L.|title=The Shield of Nationality: When Governments Break Contracts with Foreign Firms|date=2014|publisher=Cambridge University Press|pages=133–141|isbn=9781316124031|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P4JIBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA133}}

From 2003 until 2007 Fridman's Altimo was locked in a complex four-year battle of claims and counter-claims of fraud with the Bermuda-based investment firm IPOC International Growth Fund associated with Leonid Reiman and Jeffrey Galmond over ownership of a 25.1% stake in MegaFon that was formerly held by Leonid Rozhetskin's LV Finance.{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Heidi|last2=Noon|first2=Chris|title=Russian Billionaire's Alfa Group Sued In Federal Court|url=https://www.forbes.com/2006/06/09/fridman-alfa-group-cx_cn_0609autofacescan06.html|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Forbes|date=9 June 2006}}{{cite news|title=Alfa Group Accused of Bribing to Buy MegaFon|url=http://www.kommersant.com/p681467/r_500/Alfa_Group_Accused_of_Bribing_to_Buy_MegaFon/|work=Kommersant|date=13 June 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930170829/http://www.kommersant.com/p681467/r_500/Alfa_Group_Accused_of_Bribing_to_Buy_MegaFon/|archive-date=30 September 2007}}{{cite news|last1=Kent|first1=Jonathan|title=The rise and fall of IPOC|url=http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20080509/BUSINESS/305099948|access-date=9 April 2018|work=The Royal Gazette|date=9 May 2008}}{{cite news|last1=Fidler|first1=Stephen|title=Ipoc cleared of money laundering charges|url=https://www.ft.com/content/13e938a8-6387-11db-bc82-0000779e2340 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/13e938a8-6387-11db-bc82-0000779e2340 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Financial Times|date=24 October 2006}} James Hatt, a British telecommunications executive, represented Fridman's interests while Jeffrey Galmond, a Danish attorney, represented Reiman's interests during deliberations between the two groups.{{cite news |last1=Fidler |first1=Stephen |last2=Ostrovsky |first2=Arkady |last3=Buckley |first3=Neil |author-link2=:ru:Островский, Аркадий Михайлович |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a47d51d2-d2f1-11da-828e-0000779e2340 |title=A disputed stake pits an oligarch against a Putin ally |work=Financial Times |date=23 April 2006 |access-date=11 February 2021 |archive-date=12 February 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210212031452/https://www.ft.com/content/a47d51d2-d2f1-11da-828e-0000779e2340}} Altimo's ownership of the stake was finally maintained in 2007.{{cite news|last1=Belton|first1=Catherine|author-link=Catherine Belton|title=Court backs Alfa Group right to Megafon stake|url=https://www.ft.com/content/7b9f782e-9f70-11dc-8031-0000779fd2ac |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/7b9f782e-9f70-11dc-8031-0000779fd2ac |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Financial Times|date=30 November 2007}}{{cite news|title=Russia's Altimo says MegaFon dispute resolved|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/altimo-megafon/russias-altimo-says-megafon-dispute-resolved-idUKL3089982120071130|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409110041/https://uk.reuters.com/article/altimo-megafon/russias-altimo-says-megafon-dispute-resolved-idUKL3089982120071130|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 April 2018|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Reuters|date=30 November 2007}}{{cite news|last1=Middleton|first1=James|title=Altimo vs. Ipoc: it's all over|url=http://telecoms.com/320/altimo-vs-ipoc-its-all-over/|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Telecoms.com|date=30 July 2007}} During the dispute in 2005, Altimo hired the Haley Barbour-founded BGR public relations firm, which then hired a security firm, Richard Burt's Due Diligence, in order to infiltrate and obtain information about the KPMG independent investigations funded by Paula Cox, who was the Bermuda Minister of Finance, into the IPOC International Growth Fund.{{cite news |url=http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20080509/BUSINESS/305099948 |title=The rise and fall of IPOC |work=Royal Gazette |last=Kent |first=Jonathan |date=9 May 2008 |access-date=18 March 2020 |archive-date=7 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807083001/http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20080509/BUSINESS/305099948}}{{cite news |url=http://www.cphpost.dk/get/83083.html |title=Dane battles for Russian mobile company |work=Copenhagen Post |date=28 October 2004 |access-date=18 March 2020 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927181854/http://www.cphpost.dk/get/83083.html}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2007-02-25/spies-lies-and-kpmg |title=Spies, Lies & KPMG: An inside look at how the accounting giant was infiltrated by private intelligence firm Diligence |work=Bloomberg |last=Javers |first=Eamon |date=25 February 2007 |access-date=18 March 2020 |archive-date=4 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704042250/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2007-02-25/spies-lies-and-kpmg}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/2792008/BP-antagonist-has-Altimo-ambitions.html|title=BP antagonist has Altimo ambitions |date=22 June 2008 |work=The Telegraph |last=Hotten |first=Russell |access-date=18 March 2020|archive-date=11 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111195407/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/2792008/BP-antagonist-has-Altimo-ambitions.html}}{{cite web |url=http://web.nacva.com/JFIA/Issues/JFIA-2014-1_11.pdf |title=Duplicity and Diligence: An Ethical Forensic Case Study of International Espionage |work=Journal of Forensic and Investigative Accounting |last1=Knapp |first1=Michael C. |last2=Knapp |first2=Carol A. |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=272–283 |date=January–June 2016 |access-date=18 March 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.intelligenceonline.com/utils/imageresize?x=800&web=1&file64=SU8vUGhvdG9zLzU0M0EuZ2lm |title=Alfa Group's Arsenal to Fight Rivals in Kiev and Moscow |work=intelligenceonline.com |via=Alfa's Worldwide Network of Consultants |last=Charles |first=B. |date=22 March 2007 |access-date=18 March 2020}} Richard Burt and Mikhail Fridman have a strong working relationship.{{cite news|last1=Schreckinger|first1=Ben|last2=Ioffe|first2=Julia|title=Lobbyist advised Trump campaign while promoting Russian pipeline|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/donald-trump-campaign-lobbyist-russian-pipeline-229264|work=Politico|date=7 October 2016|access-date=18 March 2020}}

In 2012 Fridman sold his entire stake in MegaFon for $5 billion.{{cite news|last1=Garside|first1=Juliette|title=Russian mobile network MegaFon confirms London IPO|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/oct/09/russian-mobile-megafon-london-ipo|access-date=9 April 2018|work=The Guardian|date=9 October 2012}}{{cite news|title=MegaFon deal gives Teliasonera mega payday|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-megafon/megafon-deal-gives-teliasonera-mega-payday-idUSBRE83N0EC20120424|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Reuters|date=24 April 2012}}

{{See also|TNK-BP}}

In 1997, Fridman had collaborated with Len Blavatnik and Viktor Vekselberg to purchase the state-owned TNK (Tyumen Oil Company), an oil company in Siberia, for $800 million.{{cite news|last1=Schmouker|first1=Olivier|title=Qui est Mikhail Fridman?|url=http://www.lesaffaires.com/secteurs-d-activite/general/qui-est-mikhail-fridman-/507444|access-date=31 March 2018|work=Les Affaires|date=9 December 2009|language=fr}} In February 2003, the British multinational oil and gas company BP agreed to form the TNK-BP joint venture with the AAR (Alfa-Access-Renova) consortium, which included Alfa Group, Blavatnik's Access Industries, and Vekselberg's Renova.{{cite news|title=The billionaire oligarchs behind Alfa-Access-Renova (AAR)|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/may/17/aar-billionaire-oligarchs|access-date=7 February 2018|work=The Guardian|date=17 May 2011}}{{cite news|title=TNK-BP: a troubled history|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/9295398/TNK-BP-a-troubled-history.html|access-date=7 February 2018|work=The Telegraph|agency=Reuters|date=28 May 2012}} After the merger, TNK-BP became the third largest oil producer in Russia, and one of the top 10 largest private oil companies in the world. Fridman was TNK-BP chairman for nine years, and CEO for three years.{{cite news|last1=Vasilyeva|first1=Nataliya|title=Russian tycoon unexpectedly quits as CEO of TNK-BP|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-russian-tycoon-unexpectedly-quits-as-ceo-of-tnk-bp-2012may28-story.html|access-date=9 February 2018|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|agency=Associated Press|date=28 May 2012}}

Prior to the TNK-BP joint venture, in 1999 Fridman had thwarted BP by seizing BP's stake in the Siberian oil company Sidanko, via bankruptcy maneuvers widely regarded as unfair practices.{{cite news|last1=Levine|first1=Steve|title=The last free oligarch|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2012/07/25/the-last-free-oligarch/|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Foreign Policy|date=25 July 2012}}{{cite book|last1=Fox|first1=Merritt B.|last2=Heller|first2=Michael|title=Corporate Governance Lessons from Transition Economy Reforms|date=2006|publisher=Princeton University Press|page=133|isbn=0691125619|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UZtaphZr0acC&pg=PA133}}{{cite news|last1=Gismatullin|first1=Eduard|title=BP, TNK End Feud And Split Sidanko|url=http://old.themoscowtimes.com/sitemap/free/1999/12/article/bp-tnk-end-feud-and-split-sidanko/268521.html|access-date=9 April 2018|work=The Moscow Times|date=23 December 1999}}{{cite book|last1=Goldman|first1=Marshall I.|title=The Piratization of Russia: Russian Reform Goes Awry|date=2003|publisher=Routledge|pages=137–138|isbn=9781134376858|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zP9-AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA137}}{{cite book|last1=Sakwa|first1=Richard|title=Putin: Russia's Choice|date=2004|publisher=Psychology Press|pages=194|isbn=9780415296649|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygi-5SUl9igC&pg=PA194}}{{cite news|title=Russian roulette|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2006/may/31/20060531-090602-9573r/|access-date=9 April 2018|work=The Washington Times|date=31 May 2006}} And although TNK-BP was highly successful financially, Fridman's relationship with BP during the TNK-BP years was contentious, and included blocking BP's 2011 planned partnership with Rosneft for Arctic oilfield exploration.{{cite news|last1=Davies|first1=Megan|last2=Akin|first2=Melissa|title=Russian risks bear down on oligarch Fridman|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-tnkbp-fridman/russian-risks-bear-down-on-oligarch-fridman-idUSBRE8550S420120606|access-date=2 April 2018|work=Reuters|date=6 June 2012}}{{cite news|last1=Corcoran|first1=Jason|title=PROFILE: Mikhail Fridman – the teflon oligarch new to Londongrad|url=http://www.intellinews.com/profile-mikhail-fridman-the-teflon-oligarch-new-to-londongrad-94873/|access-date=5 April 2018|work=bne IntelliNews|date=11 April 2016}}

He resigned as CEO of TNK-BP in May 2012.{{cite news|last1=Chazan|first1=Guy|last2=Belton|first2=Catherine|title=Fresh crisis at TNK-BP as Fridman exits|url=https://www.ft.com/content/f334b2e4-a8aa-11e1-a747-00144feabdc0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/f334b2e4-a8aa-11e1-a747-00144feabdc0 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|access-date=9 February 2018|work=Financial Times|date=28 May 2012}} In 2013, TNK-BP was sold to Russia's state-owned energy group Rosneft for $56 billion,{{cite news|last1=Rodova|first1=Nadia|last2=Elliott|first2=Stuart|title=Rosneft takes final steps to oil pinnacle; Closes $56 billion TNK-BP deal ahead of schedule|url=https://www.platts.com/latest-news/oil/moscow/rosneft-takes-final-steps-to-oil-pinnacle-closes-8253180|access-date=9 February 2018|work=S&P Global Platts|date=21 March 2013}} with Fridman and his Russian partners receiving $28 billion for their 50% stake, at the height of crude oil prices.{{cite news|last1=Vardi|first1=Nathan|title=The Four Horsemen Of Russia's Economic Apocalypse|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2015/01/21/the-four-horsemen-of-russias-economic-apocalypse/|access-date=9 February 2018|work=Forbes|date=21 January 2015}}

{{See also|LetterOne}}

File:Mikhail_Fridman.jpg launch on 14 September 2015 in New York.]]

Using the proceeds from the sale of their stakes in TNK-BP, Fridman and his Alfa Group partners Khan and Kuzmichev established the international investment company LetterOne (L1) in 2013,{{cite news|last1=Васильева|first1=Елена|title=Время покупать: куда Фридман и партнеры вложили деньги от продажи ТНК-BP|url=http://www.forbes.ru/kompanii/resursy/281723-vremya-pokupat-kuda-fridman-i-partnery-vlozhili-dengi-ot-prodazhi-tnk-bp|access-date=9 February 2018|work=Forbes Russia|date=3 March 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Marlow|first1=Ben|title=Rainmaker: Rich Russians look for new fights in gas and telecoms|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/11516159/Rainmaker-Rich-Russians-look-for-new-fights-in-gas-and-telecoms.html|access-date=9 February 2018|work=The Telegraph|date=4 April 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Solomon|first1=Brian|title=Russian Billionaires Bet $200 Million On Uber|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/briansolomon/2016/02/12/russian-billionaire-bets-200-million-on-uber/|access-date=9 February 2018|work=Forbes|date=12 February 2016}} and Fridman became the company's chairman.{{cite web|title=Our story|url=http://www.letterone.com:80/about-us/our-story|website=LetterOne|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009203127/http://www.letterone.com/about-us/our-story|archive-date=9 October 2015|access-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}} LetterOne's additional co-founders were Petr Aven and Andrei Kosogov.{{cite web|title=Leadership & governance|url=https://www.letterone.com/about-us/leadership-and-governance/|website=LetterOne|access-date=8 April 2018}} Headquartered in Luxembourg, the company was created to invest in international projects in energy, telecoms, finance, technology, and other sectors.{{cite news|last1=Olearchyk|first1=Roman|title=Mikhail Fridman: Oligarchy with all that jazz|url=https://www.ft.com/content/a9281620-ed67-11e2-8d7c-00144feabdc0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/a9281620-ed67-11e2-8d7c-00144feabdc0 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|access-date=9 February 2018|work=Financial Times|date=30 July 2013}} As of 31 December 2013, LetterOne had $29 billion in assets under management. In May 2015 Mervyn Davies (Lord Davies) was appointed deputy chairman of LetterOne, and former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt was appointed as the board's advisor.

In 2013 LetterOne also formed L1 Energy, an energy investment vehicle, initially focused particularly on undervalued international oil and gas assets during the slump in oil prices.{{cite news|title=Fridman's Alfa Group sets up energy fund, to invest $20 bln|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/alfa-energy/fridmans-alfa-group-sets-up-energy-fund-to-invest-20-bln-idUSL5N0ET16Y20130617|access-date=9 February 2018|work=Reuters|date=17 June 2013}}{{cite news|last1=Williams|first1=Selina|title=British Oil-Deals Maven John Browne Returns to the Field|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/british-oil-deals-maven-john-browne-returns-to-the-field-1449020790|access-date=9 February 2018|work=Wall Street Journal|date=1 December 2015}} John Browne (Lord Browne) was appointed to its advisory board,{{cite news|last1=Chazan|first1=Guy|last2=Olearchyk|first2=Roman|title=Former BP chief Lord Browne to advise Alfa on oil and gas deals|url=https://www.ft.com/content/4ae01e52-d762-11e2-a26a-00144feab7de |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/4ae01e52-d762-11e2-a26a-00144feab7de |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|access-date=9 February 2018|work=Financial Times|date=17 June 2013}} and in March 2015 became its chairman.

File:Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven and Lord Browne at the L1 Energy launch New York.jpg and Lord Browne (2015)]]

On 3 March 2015, L1 Energy acquired the international oil and gas company DEA from the German utility RWE for $7 billion (€5.1 billion). Headquartered in Hamburg, Germany{{cite news|last1=Reed|first1=Stanley|title=Under Political Pressure, Russian Billionaire Sells Energy Assets in North Sea|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/12/business/under-political-pressure-russian-billionaire-sells-energy-assets-in-north-sea.html|access-date=9 February 2018|work=New York Times|date=11 October 2015}} with extensive assets in the British North Sea, RWE DEA had total natural gas production output of 2.6bn cubic metres in 2013.{{cite news|last1=Adams|first1=Christopher|last2=Pickard|first2=Jim|title=Oligarch's oil deal caught in sanctions crossfire|url=https://www.ft.com/content/a32d5cbe-c0e5-11e4-876d-00144feab7de |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/a32d5cbe-c0e5-11e4-876d-00144feab7de |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|access-date=9 February 2018|work=Financial Times|date=2 March 2015}} The purchase was opposed by the UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey, who raised concerns that Fridman might one day face international sanctions due to the Russo-Ukrainian war, which could force L1 Energy to shut down production in the North Sea, thus imperiling oil supplies and 5% of Britain's North Sea natural gas output. On 4 March 2015, Davey gave Fridman a one-week deadline to convince the UK government not to force him to sell the North Sea oil and gas assets. In April 2015, the government gave Fridman up to six months to sell.{{cite news|last1=Williams|first1=Selina|title=U.K. Tells Russia's Mikhail Fridman to Sell North Sea Gas Fields|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-tells-russias-mikhail-fridman-to-sell-north-sea-gas-fields-1429549867|access-date=9 February 2018|work=Wall Street Journal|date=20 April 2015}}

In October 2015 Fridman and the LetterOne Group sold L1 Energy's British North Sea assets to Ineos, a Switzerland-based petrochemical company owned by Jim Ratcliffe, for $750 million.{{cite news|last1=Reed|first1=Stanley|title=Under Political Pressure, Russian Billionaire Sells Energy Assets in North Sea|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/12/business/under-political-pressure-russian-billionaire-sells-energy-assets-in-north-sea.html|access-date=7 February 2018|work=New York Times|date=11 October 2015}}{{cite news|title=Ineos buys 12 North Sea gas fields for £490m|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/oct/11/ineos-buys-12-north-sea-gas-fields-for-490m|access-date=7 February 2018|work=The Guardian|agency=Press Association|date=11 October 2015}} The British government assured LetterOne that the forced sale was "not a judgement on the suitability of LetterOne's owners to control these or any other assets in the UK".

In October 2015 LetterOne Group acquired German utility company E.ON's equity interests in 43 Norwegian oil and gas licences, including interests in three producing Norwegian fields, all located in the North Sea, for $1.6 billion.

In April 2015, LetterOne Technology (L1 Technology) was launched in London. Its focus was on buying "struggling telecom or technology companies that require a fresh infusion of capital".{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} Various advisory board members were appointed including Brent Hoberman, Denis O'Brien, and Sir Julian Horn-Smith.{{cite news|last1=Thomas|first1=Daniel|title=Billionaire Fridman targets US and Europe in $16bn telecoms spree|url=https://www.ft.com/content/f0a1579a-d876-11e4-ba53-00144feab7de |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/f0a1579a-d876-11e4-ba53-00144feab7de |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|access-date=9 February 2018|work=Financial Times|date=5 April 2015}}

The L1 Technology fund began acting as a holding company for the 48 percent stake in Vimpelcom owned by Fridman and his partners. The fund also has a 13.2% share in the Turkish telecom company Turkcell, which since 2005 has been hampered by a long-running feud between its three largest shareholders: Cukurova, owned by Turkcell founder Mehmet Emin Karamehmet, Fridman's LetterOne via Alfa Telecom/Altimo, and Sweden's Telia Company.{{cite news|title=Telia sells further 7% of Turkcell; no longer holds direct stake|url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2017/09/19/telia-sells-further-7-of-turkcell-no-longer-holds-direct-stake/index.html|access-date=9 April 2018|work=TeleGeography|date=19 September 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Rolander|first1=Niclas|title=Telia Sells $500 Million Turkcell Stake to Focus on Nordics|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-03/telia-to-sell-520-million-stake-in-turkcell-to-focus-on-nordics|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Bloomberg News|date=3 May 2017}}{{cite news|title=UPDATE 1-Russia's Alfa interested in buying Cukurova's Turkcell stake - sources|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/turkcell-ma/update-1-russias-alfa-interested-in-buying-cukurovas-turkcell-stake-sources-idUSL8N1NG4T4|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Reuters|date=10 November 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Reznik|first1=Irina|last2=Ersoyon|first2=Ercan|title=Turkcell Feud Unresolved as Fridman Buyout Option Expires|url=http://businessweekme.com/2016/11/29/turkcell-feud-unresolved-as-fridman-buyout-option-expires/|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Bloomberg Businessweek|date=29 November 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Sezer|first1=Can|title=Russian tycoon could take control of Turkcell: source|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-turkcell-m-a-cukurova/russian-tycoon-could-take-control-of-turkcell-source-idUKKBN13G17G|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213050829/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-turkcell-m-a-cukurova/russian-tycoon-could-take-control-of-turkcell-source-idUKKBN13G17G|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 February 2018|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Reuters|date=21 November 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Sezer|first1=Can|title=Turkcell sees potential to double user count within 2-3 years|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkcell-strategy/turkcell-sees-potential-to-double-user-count-within-2-3-years-idUSKBN1DO0UT|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Reuters|date=24 November 2017}}

In February 2016, Vimpelcom agreed to pay $800 million to settle U.S. and Dutch claims that it had bribed officials to win contracts in Uzbekistan between 2006 and 2012.{{cite news|title=VimpelCom pays $835m to US and Dutch over Uzbekistan telecoms bribes|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/19/vimpelcom-pays-835m-to-us-and-dutch-over-uzbekistan-telecoms-bribes|access-date=9 April 2018|work=The Guardian|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=18 February 2016}}{{cite news|title=Veon must face lawsuit over bribery disclosures: U.S. judge|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-veon-lawsuit/veon-must-face-lawsuit-over-bribery-disclosures-u-s-judge-idUSKCN1BU2T0|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Reuters|date=19 September 2017}} A year later the company rebranded itself VEON, and changed its focus to mobile internet services such as banking, taxis, and messaging.{{cite news|title=Veon's CEO resigns, chairwoman to take over temporarily, COO named|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-veon-moves/veons-ceo-resigns-chairwoman-to-take-over-temporarily-coo-named-idUSKBN1H30IM|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Reuters|date=27 March 2018}}{{cite news|last1=Deutsch|first1=Anthony|last2=Auchard|first2=Eric|title=Exclusive: Vimpelcom set for radical overhaul from telco to internet player - CEO|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-telecoms-vimpelcom/exclusive-vimpelcom-set-for-radical-overhaul-from-telco-to-internet-player-ceo-idUSKBN12Z1ZE|access-date=9 April 2018|work=Reuters|date=4 November 2016}}

In February 2016, Fridman's LetterOne fund invested $200 million in Uber. In August 2016 LetterOne invested $50 million in telecommunications start-up FreedomPop, to help finance its international expansion.{{cite news|last1=Fildes|first1=Nic|title=Mikhail Fridman pumps $50m into FreedomPop|url=https://www.ft.com/content/4ac8f950-6e24-11e6-9ac1-1055824ca907 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/4ac8f950-6e24-11e6-9ac1-1055824ca907 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=29 March 2018|work=Financial Times|date=30 August 2016}}{{cite news|title=Mikhail Fridman's LetterOne confirms $50 million investment in 'disruptive' US mobile service provider|url=http://www.ewdn.com/2016/09/02/mikhail-fridmans-letterone-confirms-50-million-investment-in-disruptive-us-mobile-service-provider/|access-date=29 March 2018|work=East-West Digital News|date=2 September 2016}}

In 2012 Fridman partnered with American real-estate developer Jack Rosen in a joint venture to invest $1 billion in distressed real estate properties along the U.S. East Coast.{{cite news|last1=Karmin|first1=Craig|title=The Russians Are Coming|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204058404577109073899340722|access-date=31 March 2018|work=Wall Street Journal|date=21 December 2011}}{{cite news|last1=Aris|first1=Ben|title=PROFILE: Mikhail Fridman, chairman of Alfa Group|url=http://www.intellinews.com/profile-mikhail-fridman-chairman-of-alfa-group-121087/|access-date=5 April 2018|work=bne IntelliNews|date=10 May 2017}}

In June 2016, LetterOne prepared to expand into healthcare by launching the $3 billion fund L1 Health in the United States, for investments in the global healthcare industry.

{{cite news|title=Fridman's LetterOne expands into healthcare in United States|url =https://www.reuters.com/article/us-letterone-healthcare-idUSKCN0YS1OL| newspaper=Reuters| date=6 June 2016|access-date = 9 September 2016}}

In October 2016, Alfa Group acquired Ukrainian bank Ukrsotsbank, by offering its parent, the Italian financial conglomerate UniCredit Group, a minority stake of 9.9% in ABH Holdings.{{cite news|title=Alfa-Group completes deal on acquisition of Ukrsotsbank|url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/economic/380517.html|access-date=29 March 2018|work=Interfax-Ukraine|date=31 October 2016}}

In December 2016, LetterOne launched L1 Retail, headquartered in London, to invest $3 billion in "the retail stars of tomorrow" in Europe and the UK.{{cite news|title=New Retail Fund from Russia That Plans To Invest $3bn In The Retail Stars Of Tomorrow Will Be Headquartered In London|url=http://www.haggerston-times.com/new-retail-fund-from-russia-that-plans-to-invest-3bn-in-the-retail-stars-of-tomorrow-will-be-headquartered-in-london/|access-date=6 April 2018|work=Haggerston Times|date=20 December 2016}}

In 2016 Fridman coined the term "Indigo Era", for his theory of a global shift to an emerging era of economics based on creativity and digital skills rather than on natural resources.Solomon, Shoshanna. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-ranks-36th-out-of-152-nations-in-new-innovation-index/ "Israel ranks only 36th out of 152 nations in new innovation index"]. Times of Israel. 7 December 2016.{{cite news|title=Q&A: Searching for Growth in an Unstable Global Economy|url=http://www.milkenreview.org/articles/searching-for-growth-in-an-unstable-global-economy|access-date=25 April 2018|work=Milken Institute Review|date=7 July 2016}} In 2017 he funded a £100,000 Indigo Prize for new economic-measurement models based on the paradigm.[http://www.cityam.com/assets/uploads/content/2017/07/cityam-2017-07-06-595d7682d02a3.pdf#page=11 "Economics turns into a new moneyspinner"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033547/http://www.cityam.com/assets/uploads/content/2017/07/cityam-2017-07-06-595d7682d02a3.pdf#page=11 |date=1 December 2017 }}. City A.M. 6 July 2017. p. 11.O'Donnell, Gus; Hoberman, Brent. [https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/think-beyond-gdp-to-measure-the-true-success-of-an-economy-a3581436.html "Think beyond GDP to measure the true success of an economy"]. Evening Standard. 6 July 2017.

In June 2017 LetterOne's L1 Retail division acquired Holland & Barrett, Europe's largest health-food store chain, for £1.8 billion ($2.3 billion).{{cite news|title=Holland & Barrett sold to Russian billionaire for £1.8bn|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jun/26/holland-barrett-sold-russian-billionaire-mikhail-fridman|access-date=29 March 2018|work=The Guardian|agency=Press Association|date=26 June 2017}} Also in 2017 Fridman, via LetterOne, invested $3 billion in Pamplona Capital Management,{{cite news|last1=Березанская|first1=Елена|last2=Кравченко|first2=Екатерина|title=Михаил Фридман — о жизни в Лондоне, банковском кризисе и агентах Кремля|url=http://www.forbes.ru/milliardery/355341-mihail-fridman-o-zhizni-v-londone-bankovskom-krizise-i-agentah-kremlya|access-date=29 March 2018|work=Forbes Russia|date=29 December 2017|language=ru}} a private-equity firm that was founded by Alexander Knaster, the former CEO of Alfa-Bank, and which Fridman had invested in previously.{{cite news|last1=Davies|first1=Megan|title=Russia's Alfa says it has $1.5 billion in Pamplona|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-pamplona-alfa/russias-alfa-says-it-has-1-5-billion-in-pamplona-idUSBRE85S0JJ20120629|access-date=29 March 2018|work=Reuters|date=29 June 2012}}{{cite news|last1=Chassany|first1=Anne-Sylvaine|title=Fridman-backed Pamplona seals second US deal|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d6b1841e-bd74-11e2-890a-00144feab7de |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/d6b1841e-bd74-11e2-890a-00144feab7de |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|access-date=29 March 2018|work=Financial Times|date=15 May 2013}}

In January 2018, due to concerns over possible sanctions stemming from the 2017 U.S. Congressional sanctions on Russia, Fridman announced that Alfa-Bank was phasing out its holdings in Russia's defense industry.{{cite news|last1=De Haldevang|first1=Max|title=Russian oligarchs are desperately lobbying to avoid new US sanctions|url=https://qz.com/1182138/us-sanctions-have-russian-oligarchs-lobbying-hard/|access-date=6 April 2018|work=Quartz|date=18 January 2018}}

In May 2018 Fridman and Aven spoke to an off-the-record private dinner at the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C.{{cite news |last1=Fitzpatrick |first1=Catherine A. |title=Private Dinner with Russian Oligarchs at Atlantic Council |url=http://www.interpretermag.com/private-dinner-with-russian-oligarchs-at-atlantic-council/ |access-date=31 May 2018 |work=The Interpreter |date=28 May 2018}}{{cite news |title=Russian Oligarchs Attend Closed-Doors Meeting at The Atlantic Council in D.C. |url=https://themoscowtimes.com/news/russian-oligarchs-attend-closed-doors-meeting-at-atlantic-council-in-dc-61560 |access-date=31 May 2018 |work=Moscow Times |date=24 May 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Saakov |first1=Rafael |title=US Think Tank Takes Heat for Hosting Putin-Linked Oligarchs |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/us-think-tank-takes-heat-for-hosting-putin-linked-oligarchs/4406945.html |access-date=31 May 2018 |work=Voice of America |date=23 May 2018}}{{cite news |title=Russia's two 'friendliest' oligarchs reportedly come to D.C. bearing a message from the Kremlin |url=https://meduza.io/en/news/2018/05/22/russia-s-two-friendliest-oligarchs-reportedly-come-to-d-c-bearing-a-message-from-the-kremlin |access-date=31 May 2018 |work=Meduza |date=22 May 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Marusic |first1=Damir |last2=Orlova |first2=Karina |title=The Great Oligarch Whitewash |url=https://www.the-american-interest.com/2018/05/30/the-great-oligarch-whitewash/ |access-date=31 May 2018 |work=The American Interest |date=30 May 2018}} The invitation and the privacy of the meeting drew criticism of the Atlantic Council from a group of 13 Russian and U.S. experts and activists, who wrote that "In our view ... Aven, Fridman, and other key Alfa-Bank oligarchs are ... close cronies and insiders of Putin's regime, and do not operate independently of Putin's demands."{{cite web |last1=Zaslavskiy |first1=Ilya |last2=Piontkovsky |first2=Andrei |last3=Kasparov |first3=Garry|display-authors=etal|title=Oligarchs from Alfa Group Should be Asked Critical Questions at the Atlantic Council Dinner |url=http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/oligarchs-from-alfa-group-should-be-asked-critical-questions-at-the-atlantic-council-dinner |website=AtlanticCouncil.org |access-date=31 May 2018 |date=21 May 2018}} The Atlantic Council responded that the private meeting was not "a sweetheart platform",{{cite web |last1=Herbst |first1=John E. |title=The Atlantic Council Must be Open to Dialogue—Even if Critics Disagree |url=http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/the-atlantic-council-must-be-open-to-dialogue-even-if-critics-disagree |website=Atlantic Council |access-date=31 May 2018 |date=21 May 2018}} and the Kremlin responded that the two oligarchs represented the interests of their business.{{cite news |title=Kremlin: Russian tycoons Aven, Friedman didn't serve as 'Putin envoys' to Atlantic Council |url=http://tass.com/economy/1006003 |access-date=31 May 2018 |work=TASS |date=24 May 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Saakov |first1=Rafael |title=Kremlin: Russian Bankers Weren't 'Envoys' to Atlantic Council |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/kremlin-says-russian-bankers-weren-t-envoys-to-atlantic-council/4408716.html |access-date=31 May 2018 |work=Voice of America |date=24 May 2018}}

In 2019, Mikhail Fridman acquired a 50% stake in one of the suppliers of computing devices for the Russian defense industry via the structures affiliated with A1 investment company.{{Cite news|title=Конфликт совладельцев "Корунд-М" дошел до "Ростеха"|url=https://www.rbc.ru/newspaper/2019/11/14/5dcab50e9a7947dbf17f0205|access-date=14 July 2020|website=Газета РБК}}

On 28 February 2022, the European Union blacklisted Fridman and had all his assets frozen as part of a package of sanctions imposed against Russian officials and oligarchs in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{cite news |author1=Valentina Pop |author2=Sam Fleming |author3=Max Seddon |title=EU freezes assets of Russia's leading oligarchs and allies of Putin |url=https://www.ft.com/content/85d76bd6-f585-4ac9-abae-b9abbf21e4bf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/85d76bd6-f585-4ac9-abae-b9abbf21e4bf |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |work=The Financial Times |date=28 February 2022}}{{Cite web |title=Foreign Secretary announces 65 new Russian sanctions to cut off vital industries fuelling Putin's war machine |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-announces-65-new-russian-sanctions-to-cut-off-vital-industries-fuelling-putins-war-machine |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} Fridman said that the war would "damage two nations who have been brothers for hundreds of years" and called for the "bloodshed to end".{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Greg |title=Ukraine invasion opens faint, but once unthinkable, fissures between Putin and Russian oligarchs |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/28/russia-oligarchs-putin-deripaska-fridman-abramovich/| url-status=live | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220301/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/28/russia-oligarchs-putin-deripaska-fridman-abramovich/| archive-date=2022-03-01 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=28 February 2022}}{{cbignore}}

{{cite news | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/28/business/oligarchs-russia-ukraine-fridman-deripaska/index.html | title=Two Russian oligarchs call for an end to Putin's war | newspaper=CNN | date=28 February 2022 | last1=Riley | first1=Charles }} The United Kingdom also sanctioned Fridman on 15 March 2022.{{cite web |title=CONSOLIDATED LIST |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1188172/Russia.pdf |date=29 September 2023}}

In October 2022 Fridman offered to transfer $1 billion of his personal wealth into the Ukrainian Sense Bank{{Cite web|url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/economic/865550.html|title=Alfa-Bank Ukraine shareholders ready to capitalize it by $1 bln or donate it to state - Fridman|date=2022-10-14|website=interfax.com.ua}} that he co-founded. Officials said the proposal was calculated to persuade the UK to lift sanctions against him.{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-billionaire-mikhail-fridman-offers-1-billion-to-ukraine-in-hope-of-sanctions-relief-11662659071 | title=Russian Billionaire Mikhail Fridman Offers $1 Billion to Ukraine in Hope of Sanctions Relief | newspaper=Wall Street Journal | date=8 September 2022 | last1=Forrest | first1=Brett | last2=Talley | first2=Ian }} Fridman denied making a quid pro quo offer to Ukraine.{{cite web | url=https://finance.yahoo.com/video/russian-billionaire-seeks-sanctions-relief-142933787.html | title=Russian billionaire seeks sanctions relief, FTX buys 30% stake in Skybridge, Tapestry unveils growth strategy | date=9 September 2022 }} Following the invasion of Ukraine Sense Bank transferred millions of its own budget to the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and territorial defense units.{{Cite web |title=Альфа-Банк Україна надав понад 104 млн грн на допомогу ЗСУ|url=https://delo.ua/banks/alfa-bank-ukrayina-nadav-ponad-104-mln-grn-na-dopomogu-zsu-406168/|date=2022-11-01 |website=delo.ua |language=uk}}
{{Cite web |title=Альфа-Банк виділив 60 млн гривень на допомогу українським захисникам — Delo.ua |url=https://delo.ua/uk/society/alfa-bank-vidiliv-60-mln-griven-na-dopomogu-ukrayinskim-zaxisnikam-398495/ |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=delo.ua |date=25 May 2022 |language=uk}} Fridman was sanctioned by the UK government in 2022 in relation to the invasion.{{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}}

In September 2023 the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation HM Treasury (UK) updated the text of the financial sanctions notice related to Mikhail Fridman. He is now referred to as "an involved person under the Russia regulations" instead of "a prominent Russian businessman and pro-Kremlin oligarch". Additionally, a phrase alleging close ties between Mikhail Fridman and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been deleted from the document.{{Cite web |title=Notice Russia |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1185896/Notice_Russia_190923.pdf |access-date=2023-10-12}}

On 5 September 2023, the Security Service of Ukraine announced in absentia that Fridman was suspected of violating Article 110 of the Criminal Code, which provides for liability for financing actions to seize power, overthrow the constitutional order, or change the territory of the state. Under this article, he could face up to 8 years in prison with confiscation of property. The SSU believes that since the start of the conflict, the banker has invested about 2 billion rubles in Russian defense enterprises, in particular, in the Tula Cartridge Plant.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ru/politics/05/09/2023/64f713aa9a7947e0d4a68d58|title=СБУ обвинила Фридмана в финансировании военных действий|language=ru|date=2023-09-05|website=RBC}}

In April 2024, following a legal challenge, The General Court of the European Union stated there were no evidence to put him on EU sanctions list.{{cite web |last1=Norman |first1=Laurence |title=Russian Billionaire Wins Legal Case Against EU Sanctions |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/russian-billionaire-wins-legal-case-against-eu-sanctions-cac0bbfd |website=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=17 May 2024}}

In May 2024, Fridman sued the Luxembourg government, becoming the first Russian billionaire to challenge European sanctions and demand compensation for his frozen assets.{{cite web |title=Russian oligarch Fridman to take Luxembourg to court in a $15.8bn sanctions compensation claim |url=https://www.intellinews.com/russian-oligarch-fridman-to-take-luxembourg-to-court-in-a-15-8bn-sanctions-compensation-claim-326433/ |website=BNE Intellinews |date=22 May 2024 |access-date=24 May 2024}} In August 2024, Fridman, after loss of trial in Luxembourg, started arbitration dispute with Luxembourg at the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC).{{Cite news |last=Marrow |first=Alexander |date=August 15, 2024 |title=Russian billionaire Fridman seeks to settle $16 bln Luxembourg dispute in Hong Kong |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-billionaire-fridman-seeks-settle-16-bln-luxembourg-dispute-hong-kong-2024-08-14/ |work=Reuters}}

In March 2025, the Financial Times reported that Hungary's ambassador to the EU sought the removal of Fridman from the sanctions list, threatening to veto the extension of the 2000-person sanctions list. Hungary's effort to remove Fridman from sanctions list was supported by Luxembourg.{{cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/8d9a8b40-79fe-4604-bacc-70311620780c |title=Hungary threatens to cancel sanctions on 2,000 Russians unless EU exempts Mikhail Fridman |publisher=Financial Times |access-date=14 March 2025}}

Fridman first appeared in the Spanish press in November 2002, when the Liberian tanker Prestige sank off the coast of Galicia. It was transferring 77,000 tons of Russian heavy oil; the cargo belonged to Crown Resources, a company owned by Fridman's Alfa Group. The oil spill contaminated the Spanish coast, causing a major environmental disaster, with total damage estimated at 1.5 billion euros. After the disaster, the Spanish newspaper El Mundo called Fridman ‘Dirty Michael’.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elmundo.es/cronica/2002/372/1038815093.html|title=Mijail "el sucio"|website=www.elmundo.es|access-date=3 October 2019}}

In the summer of 2016, the Spanish entrepreneur Javier Perez Dolset, head of the ZED Corporation (mobile apps developer), addressed the Spanish prosecutor's office with a complaint about his Russian partners associated with VimpelCom Ltd. According to Dolset, they had illegally seized the capital of their joint venture, which resulted in the bankruptcy of the parent company. El Confidencial published a series of articles about the story of ZED's bankruptcy, and accused Fridman of staging an illegal takeover by removing Javier Perez Dolset from the business and ruining him financially.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/empresas/2016-12-31/el-magnate-ruso-amigo-de-los-dolset-bajo-el-ojo-del-fbi-y-la-policia-espanola_1310688/|title=Quién es Fridman, el magnate 'ruso' con socios españoles investigado por el FBI|date=29 June 2017|website=El Confidencial|language=es|access-date=3 October 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/mundo/2017-01-16/policia-fbi-trump-putin-peter-wakkie-mikhail-fridman_1316924/|title=La Policía detiene a la mano derecha del millonario ruso vinculado a Putin y Trump|date=29 June 2017|website=El Confidencial|language=es|access-date=3 October 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/empresas/2017-03-22/ing-holanda-investigacion-blanqueo-uzbekistan_1352362/|title=ING está siendo investigado por un caso de blanqueo relacionado con Fridman|date=22 March 2017|website=El Confidencial|language=es|access-date=3 October 2019}}

On 16 January 2017, Peter Wakkie, a Dutch attorney known as Fridman's righthand man, was arrested at Madrid's Barajas Airport for possible business fraud.{{cite news |url=http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/economia/policia-espanola-detiene-administrador-zed-por-posible-fraude-empresarial-5745748 |title=La policía española detiene al administrador de Zed+ por posible fraude empresarial: El detenido, Peter Wakke, es la mano derecha del magnate ruso Mikhail Fridman |trans-title=Spanish police detain Zed + administrator for possible business fraud: The detainee, Peter Wakke, is the right-hand man of Russian magnate Mikhail Fridman |language=es |work=elperiodico.com |date=16 January 2017 |access-date=4 February 2021 |archive-date=11 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611221413/http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/economia/policia-espanola-detiene-administrador-zed-por-posible-fraude-empresarial-5745748}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newsru.com/world/17jan2017/wakkie.html |title=В Испании задержали первого подозреваемого по делу о переводе взяток родне чиновников правительства РФ |trans-title=In Spain, the first suspect in the case of transferring bribes to relatives of government officials of the Russian Federation was detained |language=ru |work=newsru.com |date=17 January 2017 |access-date=4 February 2021}}{{cite news |last=Зайцев |first=Петр (Zaitsev, Peter) |url=https://life.ru/p/960181 |title="Правую руку" Михаила Фридмана арестовали в Испании по делу о коррупции |trans-title=Mikhail Fridman's "right hand" arrested in Spain on corruption charges |language=ru |agency=L!FE |date=17 January 2021 |access-date=4 February 2021 |archive-date=5 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205025504/https://life.ru/p/960181 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last=Mijnherr |first=Dennis |url=https://www.ftm.nl/artikelen/bonje-in-de-boardroom-bij-telecomgigant-sleurt-peter-wakkie-mee |title=Hoe topadvocaat Peter Wakkie wordt meegesleurd in Spaans-Russische telecomvete [update] |trans-title=How top lawyer Peter Wakkie is dragged into Spanish-Russian telecom feud [update] |language=nl |work=Follow the Money |date=17 January 2017 |access-date=4 February 2021 |archive-date=31 January 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210131000000/https://www.ftm.nl/artikelen/bonje-in-de-boardroom-bij-telecomgigant-sleurt-peter-wakkie-mee}}{{efn|Fridman, who is very close to Vladimir Putin, is alleged to have provided significant support to the Russian hacking efforts of the United States Democratic Party's National Committee server during the 2016 United States elections.}}

In October 2019, Fridman attended court proceedings relating to the Zed case in order to be questioned by Spain's National Court in Madrid. He was summoned to a pre-trial hearing as a person under investigation. The accusation was formulated as “a series of actions which brought about the insolvency of Spanish firm Zed Worldwide… in order to acquire it at a derisory price, far lower than its market value.” The prosecutor referred to Fridman's dealings with Zed Worldwide as a 'raid', clarifying that this was a technique used “typically used by the Russian mafia” with the purpose of taking over a business illegally. And while his legal representatives claimed that Fridman had never been a director of any entities involved in Zed's takeover or driving down Zed's market value, the Spanish prosecutors insisted that Fridman “hides his control of criminal activities behind subordinates.”{{Overly detailed inline|date=May 2021}}{{Cite web|last=Boutreux|first=Laurence|title=Russian Jewish tycoon grilled by Spain's top court for alleged 'corporate raid'|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/russian-jewish-tycoon-grilled-by-spains-top-court-for-alleged-corporate-raid/|access-date=14 July 2020|work=The Times of Israel|date=21 October 2019|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=21 October 2019|title=Russia Oligarch Questioned by Spanish Criminal Court|url=https://www.courthousenews.com/russia-oligarch-questioned-by-spanish-criminal-court/|access-date=14 July 2020|language=en-US}} After the pre-trial hearing, Jose Grinda, who was the lead prosecutor in the case, commented to the media that “from the perspective of the Prosecutor's Office, Fridman will remain in the status of the accused.”{{Cite web|last=James|first=Claire|date=9 December 2019|title=The year of change for Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman|url=https://www.news-review.co.uk/business/12/2019/the-year-of-change-for-russian-oligarch-mikhail-fridman/2724/|access-date=14 July 2020|website=NewsReview|language=en-GB}} On 15 December 2020 the Spanish National Court dismissed the case. According to the decision, the judge considered that the continuation of the case against Fridman contradicted the principle of the presumption of innocence and stated that there were "no reasonable grounds to accuse the suspect as an author, accomplice or accessory."{{cite news|title=Spanish National Court Dismisses Case Against Russian Businessman Fridman - Lawyers|url=https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/spanish-national-court-dismisses-case-against-1115030.html/|date=15 December 2020}} Subsequently, in an order dated 22 February 2021, the National High Court of Spain dismissed appeals by Zed Group in Fridman's favor, concluding there was no evidence to demonstrate that Zed Group's allegations were true,{{Citation |last= |first= |date=24 February 2021 |title=Judge García Castellón confirms the file of the case for the Russian magnate Mikhail Fridman for the bankruptcy of Zed |publisher=Europa Press |publication-place= Spain|page=1 |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-juez-garcia-castellon-confirma-archivo-causa-magnate-ruso-mikhail-fridman-quiebra-zed-20210224175951.html |access-date=31 May 2020}} and that the text messages originally used as evidence failed to implicate Fridman "beyond references from third parties."{{Citation |last= |first= |date=25 February 2021 |title=Judge confirms provisional file of investigation to Fridman (DIA) by Zed |publisher=El Economista |publication-place= |page=1 |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https://www.eleconomista.es/empresas-finanzas/noticias/11070390/02/21/Juez-confirma-archivo-provisional-de-la-investigacion-a-Fridman-DIA-por-Zed.html |access-date=5 June 2021}}

In mid-2017, Fridman's LetterOne investment company acquired Dia, a Spanish supermarket chain. From 2011 to 20 December 2018, Dia was listed in the so-called IBEX 35 as one of the 35 largest Spanish companies on the stock market. Economy expert Sergio Avila commented: “... With the entry of [LetterOne] into [Dia] the sales fell sharply, the profitability of enterprises decreased, which was accompanied by a fall in Dia's share prices on the Madrid Stock Exchange. Therefore, I assess Dia's prospects as extremely negative, and in no way recommend it to investors.” El Confidencial recalled past episodes associated with Fridman and qualified his actions as raider attacks on Spanish enterprises.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/empresas/2018-12-22/fridman-el-gran-jefe-de-la_1723986/|title=Fridman, "el gran jefe" ruso de la trama que asalta los súper de DIA|date=23 December 2018|website=El Confidencial|language=es|access-date=3 October 2019}} In January 2021, the Spanish National Court dismissed a case alleging that Fridman had manipulated the market to devalue Dia's shares,{{Citation |last= |first= |date=18 January 2021 |title=Spain Court Drops Russia Tycoon Probe Over Supermarket Buy |publisher=Barron's |publication-place=United States |page=1 |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/spain-court-drops-russia-tycoon-probe-over-supermarket-buy-01610974204 |access-date=31 May 2021}} with the judge stating the court instead saw Dia's decline in value as a result of "mismanagement" and lack of investments in marketing.

Fridman is on the board of directors of ABH Holdings, which is the Luxembourg-headquartered holding company of Alfa Banking Group.{{cite web|title=Directors|url=http://www.abhh.lu/about-us/directors/|website=ABH Holdings|access-date=7 February 2018}} Since DEA Deutsche Erdoel AG was bought by L1 Energy in 2015, he has been a member of its supervisory board.

Fridman is a member of numerous public-facing bodies, including the National Council on Corporate Governance in Russia and a boardmember of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. In February 2001, he became a member of the Council for Entrepreneurship at the Government of the Russian Federation. He was elected as a member of the Public Chamber of Russia in November 2005. Since 2005, he has been a Russian representative on the international advisory board of the Council on Foreign Relations.

In 1996 Fridman was one of the founders of the Russian Jewish Congress, and he has been an active member since then, including having been its vice president and head of its cultural committee. He is a major donor to the European Jewish Fund, which promotes inter-religious dialogue. In 2007, Fridman, along with Stan Polovets, Alexander Knaster, Petr Aven, and German Khan, founded the Genesis Philanthropy Group, whose purpose is to develop and enhance Jewish identity among Russian-speaking Jews worldwide.{{cite news |last1=Gur |first1=Haviv Rettig |date=19 December 2009 |title=Fund Gives Millions Of Dollars To Keep Russian-Speaking Jews Jewish |work=The Jerusalem Post |url=http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Fund-gives-millions-of-dollars-to-keep-Russian-speaking-Jews-Jewish |access-date=9 February 2018}} The Genesis Prize, which the group founded in 2012, is a million-dollar annual prize for Jewish contributions to humanity. Fridman was also one of the major funders of the Holocaust memorial project at Babi Yar in Kyiv, Ukraine, which was launched in 2016.{{cite news| title=No Monument Stands Over Babi Yar| first =Linda| last =Kinstler| url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/09/ukraine-jewish-babi-yar-russia-holocaust-germany-poroshenko/502517/| work =The Atlantic| date=30 September 2016

| access-date = 6 October 2016}}{{cite web

| title =Petro Poroshenko announces initiative to create Holocaust Memorial Center

| url =http://www.babiyar.org/news/16-petro-poroshenko-announces-initiative-to-create-holocaust-memorial-center.html| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20161004210031/http://www.babiyar.org/news/16-petro-poroshenko-announces-initiative-to-create-holocaust-memorial-center.html|website=BabiYar.org| date =29 September 2016| archive-date = 4 October 2016}}

In 2011 he founded the annual Alfa Jazz Fest, which is funded by Alfa-Bank, in his place of birth Lviv, Ukraine,{{cite news|last1=Bondarenko|first1=Andrei|title=Russian culture through Lviv's looking glass|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/andrei-bondarenko/russian-culture-through-lviv-s-looking-glass|access-date=29 March 2018|work=openDemocracy|date=12 April 2016}}{{cite news|title=Alfa-Bank to continue organizing Alfa Jazz Fest in Lviv|url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/press-conference/327398.html|access-date=29 March 2018|work=Interfax-Ukraine|date=25 February 2016}} and in 2014 launched the Alfa Future People Festival, an annual electronic music festival held on the banks of the Volga River in the Nizhny Novgorod region in Russia.{{cite news|last1=СОЛОВЬЁВА|first1=КСЕНИЯ|title=DJ Фридман: зачем форбс придумал русский Tomorrowland|url=https://www.tatler.ru/geroi/dj-fridman-zachem-forbs-pridumal-russkij-tomorrowland|access-date=29 March 2018|work=Tatler|date=27 June 2017|language=ru}}{{cite news|last1=Sedukhina|first1=Anastasia|last2=Destrée|first2=Maïlis|title=Mikhaïl Fridman, le milliardaire en vue|url=https://www.lecourrierderussie.com/economie/2018/01/mikhail-fridman-milliardaire-vue/|access-date=29 March 2018|work=Le Courrier de Russie|date=29 January 2018|language=fr}}

In 2003, Fridman received the Golden Plate Award from the Academy of Achievement in Washington, presented by former U.S. President Bill Clinton,{{cite web|title=Golden Plate Awardees: All Honorees|url=http://www.achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/all-honorees|website=Academy of Achievement|access-date=23 April 2018}} and he was named one of "The Stars of Europe: 25 Leaders at the forefront of change" by BusinessWeek.{{cite news|title=The Stars of Europe|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2003-07-06/the-stars-of-europe|access-date=7 February 2018|work=BusinessWeek|date=7 July 2003}}{{cite news|title=The Stars of Europe: 25 Leaders at the forefront of change|url=http://europe.businessweek.com/magazine/toc/03_27/B38400327eustars.htm|work=BusinessWeek|date=7 July 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050425071315/http://europe.businessweek.com/magazine/toc/03_27/B38400327eustars.htm|archive-date=25 April 2005}} In 2004 he was included in the Financial Times list of 25 business executives named "Leaders of the New Europe".{{cite news|last1=Groom|first1=Brian|title=Leaders of The New Europe: Business stars chart a course for the profits of the future|url=https://alfabank.com/media/clippings/2004/04/20/|access-date=7 February 2018|work=Financial Times|date=20 April 2004}} In 2004 he was included in Fortune magazine's list of the Power 25 in Europe and was given GQ Russia's Man of the Year national award in 2006. Forbes Russia named Fridman Russian Businessman of the Year in 2012 and 2017.{{cite news|last1=Малкова|first1=Ирина|last2=Березанская|first2=Елена|last3=Игуменов|first3=Валерий|title=Бизнесмен года: по каким правилам Михаил Фридман строит бизнес|url=http://www.forbes.ru/sobytiya/lyudi/231939-biznesmen-goda-po-kakim-pravilam-mihail-fridman-stroit-biznes|access-date=7 February 2018|work=Forbes Russia|date=14 January 2013}}{{cite news|last1=Березанская|first1=Елена|title=Новая территория. Михаил Фридман — бизнесмен года по версии Forbes|url=http://www.forbes.ru/milliardery/354795-novaya-territoriya-mihail-fridman-biznesmen-goda-po-versii-forbes|access-date=7 February 2018|work=Forbes Russia|date=21 December 2017}}

In 2003, two "elite dachas" owned by the Russian government were sold below market value, one to Fridman and another to former Russian prime-minister Mikhail Kasyanov.{{cite news|last1=ЗАПОДИНСКАЯ|first1=ЕКАТЕРИНА|title=Михаил Касьянов уклонился от госдачи показаний|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/597882|access-date=7 February 2018|work=Kommersant|date=2 August 2005}} The sales caught the attention of the press in July 2005, with State Duma member and journalist Aleksandr Khinshtein stating that the sales had gone through without the mandatory media announcement of auction. Khinshtein also alleged a preferential loan from Fridman to Kasyanov, which Fridman denied. Fridman stated that the property's asking price was low because the building was dilapidated and sold without land. Radio Free Europe reported that Khinshtein's investigation appeared to be an attempt to intimidate Kasyanov, who aspired to head anti-Putin forces.{{cite news|title=Investigation Of Former Premier Threatens To Acquire Political Dimension|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1143436.html|access-date=9 February 2018|work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=12 July 2005}} In early 2006, the Moscow Court of Arbitration ruled that the two houses should be returned to the state, maintaining Fridman's right to a refund but arguing the proper procedures were not followed during the privatization.{{cite news|title=Проданную Фридману госдачу национализировали|url=http://www.newsru.com/russia/17jan2006/freedman.html|access-date=7 February 2018|work=NEWSru|date=17 January 2006}} On 1 March 2006, government officials responsible for the sale of the two properties were charged with misappropriation of entrusted property for an especially large sum by an organized group.{{cite news|url=http://www.newsru.com/russia/01mar2006/sos.html |title= Предъявлены первые обвинения по делу о продаже элитных дач Касьянову и Фридману |work=NEWSru |date=1 March 2006 |access-date=14 May 2011}}

In 2005, a United States district court in Washington, D.C. dismissed a 2000 libel suit by Fridman and Petr Aven against the Center for Public Integrity over an online article which included a suggestion that they had been involved in drug-running and organized crime; the federal judge ruled that there was no evidence of actual malice on the part of the publication and that Fridman and Aven were limited public figures regarding the public controversy involving corruption in post-Soviet Russia.{{cite news|last1=Gerstein|first1=Josh|title=3 Russians named in Trump dossier sue Fusion GPS for libel|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2017/10/04/trump-dossier-fusion-gps-russians-lawsuit-fridman-aven-khan-243461|access-date=29 March 2018|work=Politico|date=4 October 2017}}{{cite web|title=Libel case over mafia-Halliburton link dismissed|url=https://www.rcfp.org/browse-media-law-resources/news/libel-case-over-mafia-halliburton-link-dismissed|website=Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press|access-date=29 March 2018|date=4 October 2005}}{{cite news|title=Alfa Loses Libel Suit in U.S. Court|url=http://old.themoscowtimes.com/sitemap/free/2005/9/article/alfa-loses-libel-suit-in-us-court/209607.html|access-date=29 March 2018|work=The Moscow Times|date=29 September 2005}}{{cite book|last1=Fortescue|first1=Stephen|title=Russia's Oil Barons and Metal Magnates: Oligarchs and the State in Transition|date=2006|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|page=69|isbn=9780230800748|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kr-JDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA69}}

In May 2017 Fridman, along with fellow Alfa-Bank owners Petr Aven and German Khan, filed a defamation lawsuit against BuzzFeed for publishing the unverified Steele dossier,{{cite news|last1=Porter|first1=Tom|title=Russian Bankers Sue BuzzFeed Over Publication Of Unverified Trump Dossier|url=http://www.newsweek.com/alfa-bank-buzzfeed-trump-dossier-616763|access-date=28 May 2017|work=Newsweek|date=27 May 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Gerstein|first1=Josh|title=Russian bank owners sue BuzzFeed over Trump dossier publication|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2017/05/26/trump-dossier-russian-bank-owners-sue-buzzfeed-238876|access-date=28 May 2017|work=Politico|date=26 May 2017}}{{cite web|title=Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven, and German Khan v. Buzzfeed, Inc. - Summons and Complaint|url=https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000015c-46e1-dd50-abfd-dffd3af20001|date=26 May 2018|access-date=20 August 2018|via=Politico|format=PDF}} which alleged financial ties and collusion between Putin, Trump, and the three bank owners.{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Geoffrey|title=Here's Why Russian Intelligence Bombshell on Donald Trump Might Be Believable|url=http://fortune.com/2017/01/11/donald-trump-intelligence-russian/|access-date=5 April 2018|work=Fortune|date=11 January 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Sommer|first1=Allison Kaplan|title=Controversial Dossier on Trump Alleges That Russia Targets Jewish-American Businessmen|url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/leaked-trump-dossier-alleges-that-russia-targets-jewish-americans-1.5484596|access-date=5 April 2018|work=Haaretz|date=11 January 2017}} In October 2017 Fridman, Aven, and Khan also filed a libel suit against the private-investigation firm Fusion GPS and its founder Glenn Simpson, who had commissioned former MI6 agent Christopher Steele to compile the dossier, for circulating the dossier among journalists and allowing it to be published. In April 2018 Fridman, Aven, and Khan filed a libel suit against Steele in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia,{{cite news|last1=Polantz|first1=Katelyn|title=3 Russian oligarchs sue Christopher Steele|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/20/politics/oligarchs-lawsuit-christopher-steele/index.html|access-date=22 April 2018|work=CNN|date=20 April 2018}}{{cite web|title=Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven, and German Khan v. Orbis Business Intelligence Limited and Christopher Steele|url=http://cdn.cnn.com/cnn/2018/images/04/20/complaint.from.fridman.against.steele.orbis.in.dc.superior.court.pdf|date=16 April 2018|access-date=20 August 2018|via=CNN}} but the suit was dismissed with prejudice the following August.{{cite web|title=Russia's Alfa Bank fails in lawsuit over Steele's Trump dossier|url=https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/russia-s-alfa-bank-fails-in-lawsuit-over-steele-s-trump-dossier-1303085635995|website=MSNBC|series=The Rachel Maddow Show|type=video|date=20 August 2018|access-date=20 August 2018}} Aven, Khan, and Fridman then brought a lawsuit for defamation in Britain against Orbis Business Intelligence, Steele's private intelligence firm. The trial started in March 2020 in London, with Steele arguing the claim should be dismissed as the subject matter "fell within the remit of national security".{{Citation |last=Browning |first=Jonathan |date=16 March 2020 |title=Russian Oligarchs Dismiss Kremlin Links in Trump Dossier Case |publisher=Bloomberg |publication-place=New York City, New York, United States |page=1 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-16/russian-oligarchs-dismiss-kremlin-links-in-trump-dossier-case |access-date=5 June 2021}} In July 2020, Mr. Justice Mark Warby in the Queen's Bench Division of the British High Court of Justice ordered Orbis pay $23,000 to both Fridman and Aven in damages,{{Citation |last=Cullison |first=Alan |date=8 July 2020 |title=Christopher Steele's Firm Ordered in U.K. to Pay Damages to Russian Bankers |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |publication-place=New York City, New York, The United States |page=1 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/christopher-steeles-firm-ordered-in-u-k-to-pay-damages-to-russian-bankers-11594247095 |access-date=5 June 2021}} after Steele claimed they had delivered "large amounts of illicit cash" to Vladimir Putin when Putin was deputy mayor of St. Petersburg. Warby stated that the claim was "demonstrably false" and awarded the damages to compensate "for the loss of autonomy, distress and reputational damage caused by the breaches of duty". The judge also stated that Steele's dossier inaccurately claimed that Aven and Fridman provided foreign policy advice to Putin.{{cite news |last1=Kantchev |first1=Alan Cullison and Georgi |title=Christopher Steele's Firm Ordered in U.K. to Pay Damages to Russian Bankers |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/christopher-steeles-firm-ordered-in-u-k-to-pay-damages-to-russian-bankers-11594247095?mod=rsswn |access-date=9 July 2020 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=8 July 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Re |first1=Greg |title=Ex-spy Christopher Steele ordered to pay damages over 'inaccurate' dossier claims |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/christopher-steele-ordered-pay-damages-dossier |access-date=9 July 2020 |publisher=Fox News |date=9 July 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Re |first1=Greg |title=Ex-spy Christopher Steele ordered to pay damages over 'inaccurate' dossier claims |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/ex-spy-christopher-steele-ordered-to-pay-damages-over-inaccurate-dossier-claims/ar-BB16v4e7 |access-date=9 July 2020 |work=www.msn.com |publisher=MSM |date=9 July 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Dunleavy |first1=Jerry |title=British judge orders Christopher Steele to pay damages to Russian bankers named in dossier |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/british-judge-orders-christopher-steele-to-pay-damages-to-russian-bankers-named-in-dossier |access-date=9 July 2020 |work=Washington Examiner |date=8 July 2020 |language=en}} Fridman testified in the proceedings that he had never been asked by Putin to perform political favors, with Warby agreeing that "in the context of his position as a businessman, the idea of [Fridman] doing Mr Putin's political bidding makes no sense."{{Citation |last=Croft |first=Jane |date=8 July 2020 |title=Russian oligarchs win case over 'Trump dossier' ties to Putin |publisher=The Financial Times |publication-place=England |page=1 |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d9c5e9ce-afbb-4618-a42c-37b01fd8ada2 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/d9c5e9ce-afbb-4618-a42c-37b01fd8ada2 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 June 2021}}

On 1 December 2022, an unnamed 58-year-old man was arrested at his residence in London and later released on bail by officers from the Combatting Kleptocracy Cell, established by the UK’s National Crime Agency.{{cite web | title=Wealthy Russian businessman arrested on suspicion of multiple offences | website=National Crime Agency | url=https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/wealthy-russian-businessman-arrested-on-suspicion-of-multiple-offences | access-date=27 December 2022 | quote=The National Crime Agency has conducted a major operation to arrest a wealthy Russian businessman on suspicion of offences including money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the Home Office and conspiracy to commit perjury. }} Several media, such as the Russian state-owned news agency TASS, alleged the man was Mikhail Fridman.{{Cite web|url=https://tass.com/society/1545311|title=Russian businessman Mikhail Fridman detained and released on bail in London|website=TASS|accessdate=26 February 2023}} Alfa-Bank denied that Fridman was the man in question.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-britain-money-laundering/32160289.html|title=Russian Businessman Mikhail Fridman Reportedly Detained In London On Money-Laundering Suspicions|newspaper=Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty |accessdate=26 February 2023}} The Russian Embassy in London, meanwhile, stated that Fridman had not asked for consular assistance{{Cite web|url=https://tass.com/politics/1549151|title=Businessman Fridman never turned to Russian Embassy in London, says ambassador|website=TASS|accessdate=26 February 2023}} Later, in September 2023, the National Crime Agency closed the investigation. An NCA spokesman said that the agency would take no further action against Fridman based on the warrant executed at Athlone House in December 2022.

Fridman was based for many years in Moscow, often spending time in European cities such as London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Hamburg. In 2015 he moved to London,{{cite news|last1=Lepido|first1=Daniele|title=Telecom Italia Said to Snub Fridman's $4 Billion Oi Offer|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-26/telecom-italia-said-to-pursue-its-own-brazil-telecom-strategy|access-date=29 March 2018|work=Bloomberg News|date=26 October 2015}} and by 2016 had purchased Athlone House for £65 million to be his primary residence.{{Cite news |date=2022 |title=Broke Oligarch Says Sanctioned Billionaires Have No Sway Over Putin |work=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-03-17/broke-russian-oligarch-fridman-says-sanctioned-billionaires-can-t-sway-putin}} He is divorced and has four children.{{cite news |last1=Radice |first1=Orlando |date=26 October 2017 |title=Mikhail Fridman: The opinionated billionaire with a giving nature |work=The Jewish Chronicle |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/news-features/mikhail-fridman-the-opinionated-oligarch-with-a-giving-nature-1.446738 |access-date=30 March 2018}} In 2016 Fridman announced that by virtue of his will, his entire fortune will be left to charity.

Fridman and his first wife Olga have two daughters Katya (Ekaterina) and Lora (Larisa) ({{langx|ru|Лора}}). Olga studied with Mikhail at the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys, but in the 1990s she attended design courses in Paris and became an interior designer. As of May 2014, she and the daughters live in France.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.ru/forbes-woman-photogallery/lichnoe-vremya/256055-15-bogateishikh-kholostyakov-rossii-2014/photo/1|title=15 богатейших холостяков России-2014|website=Forbes.ru|date=6 May 2014 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.compromat.ru/page_34542.htm|title=Топ-15 богатейших холостяков России (рейтинг Forbes — 2014). - Компромат.Ру / Compromat. Ru|website=www.compromat.ru|date=30 November 2023 }} Fridman has two children with his second wife Oksana Ozhelskaya ({{langx|ru|Оксана Ожельская}}).

{{Portal|Russia}}

• Energy in Russia
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{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em|refs=

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| title =Jewish Billionaire Mikhail Fridman Leaving Nothing to his Children

| url =http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/jewish-billionaire-mikhail-fridman-leaving-nothing-to-his-children/2016/05/23/0/?print

| newspaper =Jewish Press

| date =23 May 2016

| access-date = 9 September 2016

}}

{{cite news

|title=Biography for Mikhail Fridman

|url=http://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-mikhail-fridman-5_2262220231696973824_4

|publisher=SiloBreaker

|date=28 May 2009 |url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027145416/http://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-mikhail-fridman-5_2262220231696973824_4

|archive-date=27 October 2010

}}

{{cite news

| title =The 'evolving oligarch'

| url =https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/b15135r36rgw6y/the-evolving-oligarch

| newspaper =Institutional Investor

| date =1 September 2003

| access-date = 12 January 2018

}}

{{cite news

| title = Russian Tycoon Fridman Should Make U.K. Feel Nervous

| first = Howard

| last = Amos

| url =https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/russian-tycoon-fridman-should-make-uk-feel-nervous-44604

| work =The Moscow Times

| date =10 March 2015

| access-date = 9 September 2016

}}

{{cite news

|title = Alfa's Mikhail Fridman Skirts Russian Sanctions to Invest Abroad

|first = Jonathan

|last = Kandell

|url = http://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/3450336/banking-and-capital-markets-emerging-markets/alfas-mikhail-fridman-skirts-russian-sanctions-to-invest-abroad.html

|newspaper = Institutional Investor

|date = 4 May 2015

|access-date = 9 September 2016

|archive-date = 24 August 2017

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170824133616/http://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/3450336/banking-and-capital-markets-emerging-markets/alfas-mikhail-fridman-skirts-russian-sanctions-to-invest-abroad.html

|url-status = dead

}}

{{cite news

| title =The Genesis Prize: Reflecting on Jewishness

| first =Mikhail

| last =Fridman

| url =http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/The-Genesis-Prize-Reflecting-on-Jewishness-406530

| newspaper = Jerusalem Post

| date =18 June 2015

| access-date = 9 September 2016

}}

{{cite news

| title =Mikhail Fridman - Profile

| url =http://www.themoscowtimes.com/mt_profile/mikhail_fridman/433919.html

| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160530020429/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/mt_profile/mikhail_fridman/433919.html

| newspaper = The Moscow Times

| archive-date = 30 May 2016

}}

{{cite web

|title= Forbes Profile: Mikhail Fridman

|url= https://www.forbes.com/profile/mikhail-fridman/

|work=Forbes |date=25 June 2021|access-date=25 June 2021}}

{{cite news

| title =New Athlone House owner: 'I want to restore it to its former glory'

| first =Anna

| last =Behrmann

| url =http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/new-athlone-house-owner-i-want-to-restore-it-to-its-former-glory-1-4598330

| work = Ham & High

| date =30 June 2016

| access-date = 9 February 2018

}}

{{cite news

| title =Profile: Mikhail Fridman — from rugs to riches

| first =John

| last =Aglionby

| url =https://www.ft.com/content/c5aafbe6-c0bf-11e4-876d-00144feab7de

| newspaper = Financial Times

| date =2 March 2015

| access-date = 9 September 2016

}}

{{cite news

| title =Billionaire Jim Ratcliffe snaps up North Sea oil fields

| first =Mehreen

| last =Khan

| url =https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/11925169/Billionaire-Jim-Ratcliffe-snaps-up-North-Sea-oil-fields.html

| newspaper = The Daily Telegraph

| date =11 October 2015

| access-date = 9 September 2016

}}

{{cite news

| title =Ex-BP boss aims to build major energy industry player from scratch

| first =Terry

| last =Macalister

| url = https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/08/ex-bp-boss-aims-to-build-major-energy-industry-player-from-scratch

| newspaper = The Guardian

| date =8 March 2015

| access-date = 9 September 2016

}}

{{cite news

| title =Former Swedish premier Bildt appointed LetterOne board adviser

| url =http://uk.reuters.com/article/letterone-sweden-idUKL5N0Y51JB20150514

| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160811033152/http://uk.reuters.com/article/letterone-sweden-idUKL5N0Y51JB20150514

| url-status =dead

| archive-date =11 August 2016

| newspaper = Reuters

| date =14 May 2015

| access-date = 9 September 2016

}}

{{cite news

| title =Ex-British trade minister Davies joins Russia's LetterOne - Sky News

| url =https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ex-british-trade-minister-davies-joins-russias-letterone-224642392--finance.html#FmMTWg

| newspaper = Reuters

| date =7 May 2015

| access-date = 9 September 2016

}}

{{cite news

| title =LetterOne completes purchase of RWE Dea for €5.1 billion

| url =http://www.ogj.com/articles/2015/03/letterone-completes-purchase-of-rwe-dea-for-5-1-billion.html

| newspaper = Oil & Gas Journal

| date =2 March 2015

| access-date = 9 September 2016

}}

{{cite news

| title =Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman given North Sea deadline

| url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31739727

| publisher =BBC News

| date =4 March 2015

| access-date = 4 March 2015

}}

{{cite news

| title =Russia's Fridman spends $1.6bn on Norwegian oil and gas fields

| url =https://next.ft.com/content/28f32d9a-7254-11e5-bdb1-e6e4767162cc

| newspaper = Financial Times

| date =14 October 2015

| access-date = 9 September 2016

}}

{{cite news

| title =Fridman looks to avert political row by selling North Sea fields

| url =https://www.ft.com/content/34395a46-ccad-11e4-b5a5-00144feab7de

|first1=Christopher

|last1= Adams

|first2= Arash

|last2=Massoudi

| newspaper = Financial Times

| date =17 March 2015

| access-date = 9 February 2018

}}

{{cite news

| title =Russian Billionaire Mikhail Fridman Looks to Sell U.K. Gas Fields

| first =Michael

| last =Amon

| url =https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-billionaire-mikhail-fridman-to-sell-u-k-gas-fields-1431109653

| newspaper = Wall Street Journal

| date =8 May 2015

| access-date = 9 September 2016

}}

{{cite news

| title =Ineos targets further North Sea assets in wake of $750m deal

| first =Christopher

| last =Adams

| url =http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2d178112-7008-11e5-9b9e-690fdae72044.html#axzz3shBAy0YC

| newspaper = Financial Times

| date =11 October 2015

| access-date = 9 September 2016

}}

{{cite news

| title =E.ON agrees 1 billion pound sale of North Sea assets to Fridman

| url =http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-northsea-m-a-e-on-idUKKCN0S80TV20151014

| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20151208205339/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-northsea-m-a-e-on-idUKKCN0S80TV20151014

| url-status =dead

| archive-date =8 December 2015

| newspaper = Reuters

| date =14 October 2015

| access-date = 9 September 2016

}}

{{cite news

| title =Russians Join Israel to Start Jewish Prize of $1 Million

| first =David M.

| last =Herszenhorn

| url =https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/world/europe/russians-establish-1-million-jewish-prize-with-israel.html?_r=0

| newspaper = The New York Times

| date =26 June 2012

| access-date = 9 September 2016

}}

{{cite news

| title =Not All Russian Billionaires Are Putin Cronies

| first =Leonid

| last =Bershidsky

| url =http://www.themalaymailonline.com/opinion/bloomberg/article/not-all-russian-billionaires-are-putins-pals-leonid-bershidsky

| newspaper = Bloomberg

| date =5 March 2015

| access-date = 9 September 2016

}}

{{cite news|url=http://www.newsru.com/russia/02aug2005/dachniki.html |title=Михаила Фридмана допросили в Генпрокуратуре по делу о госдачах |work=NEWSru |date=2 August 2005|access-date=14 May 2011}}

{{cite news|last1=ЗАПОДИНСКАЯ|first1=ЕКАТЕРИНА|url=http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.html?docId=641510 |title=Михаил Фридман лишился дачи по-хорошему |work=Kommersant |date=18 January 2006 |access-date=14 May 2011}}

{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2006/02/02/dacha/ |title=В России: У Касьянова отобрали дачу "Сосновка-1" |publisher=Lenta.ru |access-date=14 May 2011}}

{{cite web

| title =DEA Supervisory Board starts work

| url =http://www.dea-group.com/en/dea-new-dea

|website=DEA Group

| access-date = 11 January 2018

}}

}}

{{Commons category-inline}}

• {{Official website|https://mikhailfridmansite.com/}}
• [http://www.alfagroup.org/about-us/supervisory-board/member/mikhail-fridman/ Mikhail Fridman Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816053431/http://www.alfagroup.org/about-us/supervisory-board/member/mikhail-fridman/ |date=16 August 2021 }} at Alfa Group
• [http://www.letterone.com/about-us/leadership-and-governance/board-members/mikhail-fridman Mikhail Fridman Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824134154/http://www.letterone.com/about-us/leadership-and-governance/board-members/mikhail-fridman |date=24 August 2017 }} at LetterOne
• [http://alfabank.com/investor/governance/directors/fridman/ Mikhail Fridman Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831042837/http://alfabank.com/investor/governance/directors/fridman/ |date=31 August 2017 }} at Alfa-Bank

{{Authority control}}

{{Privatization in Russia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Friedman, Mikhail}}

Category:1964 births

Category:Living people

Category:Soviet Jews

Category:Russian businesspeople in retailing

Category:Businesspeople from Lviv

Category:Ukrainian Jews

Category:Alfa Group

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Category:20th-century Russian engineers

Category:21st-century Russian engineers

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Category:National University of Science and Technology MISiS alumni

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Category:Russian oligarchs

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