Semibankirschina
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Semibankirschina (семибанкирщина; from семь банкиров – seven bankers, named after semiboyarschina – семибоярщина) was a group of seven Russian Business oligarchs which played an important role in the political and economical life of Russia in late 1990s. In spite of internal conflicts, the group worked together in order to reelect President Boris Yeltsin in 1996.
The oligarch and their companies are:
- Boris Berezovsky – Sibneft
- Mikhail Khodorkovsky – Bank Menatep, Yukos
- Mikhail Fridman – Alfa Group
- Vladimir Gusinsky – Media-Most holding
- Vladimir Potanin – UNEXIM Bank
- Alexander Smolensky – Bank Stolichny
- Vladimir Vinogradov – Inkombank
The word was coined by a Russian journalist Andrey Fadin from Obschaya Gazeta, who on November 14, 1996 published an article "Semibankirschina as a new russian variant of semiboyarschina". The list of seven bankers was based on the Boris Berezovsky's interview to Financial Times, in which he named 7 people together controlling more than 50% of Russian economics and influencing the most important internal political decisions of Russia.
Later these people, except maybe Fridman and Potanin, lost their influence. Khodorkovsky, Berezovsky and Gusinsky are now personae non gratae in Russia. Khodorkovsky lost his business as well as freedom in 2003, while Berezovsky and Gusinsky left Russia in 2000. Smolensky still owns significant companies, but lost his political influence. Vinogradov died in 2008. On 23 March 2013, Berezovsky was found dead at his home, Titness Park, at Sunninghill, near Ascot in Berkshire.
