Sunday, May 25, 2014

Ukrainian Oligarch Rinat Akhmetov Is Facing Blow-Back From Pro-Russian Separatists

An eastern Ukrainian steel and coal magnate Rinat Akhmetov during a news conference in Kiev in this March 30, 2006 file photo. REUTERS/Ivan Chernichkin

Armed Separatists Gather Outside Home Of Ukraine's Richest Man -- Reuters

May 25 (Reuters) - Scores of armed pro-Russian separatists massed outside the walled home of Ukraine's richest man, Rinat Akhmetov, in the eastern city of Donetsk on Sunday as Ukrainians voted for a new president.

The rebels, roundly denounced by Akhmetov, have prevented voting in Donetsk, an industrial hub of a million people, and other parts of mainly Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine, where they have declared "people's republics" outside Kiev's control.

Coal and steel billionaire Akhmetov, whose factories and mines employ about 300,000 people, denounced the rebels last week, accusing them of "genocide", and urged people to vote on Sunday despite intimidation and threats from the separatists.

Read more ....

More News On Ukrainian Oligarch Rinat Akhmetov

Ukraine oligarch campaigns to save his country -- Deutsche Welle
After Neutrality Proves Untenable, a Ukraine Oligarch Makes His Move -- New York Times
Oligarchs, Russia and Ukraine: What Magnitsky, Akhmetov And Kiev's Elections Bode -- Forbes
Rinat Akhmetov's choice -- The Economist
Can This Mega-Rich Oligarch Bring Peace to Eastern Ukraine? -- Carol Matlack and Katherine Jacobse, Bloomberg Businessweek

My Comment: He is in a no-win situation. Separatists have threatened to nationalize his industries if he does not pay tax monies to them .... and on the flip side he is dependent on Kiev to protect his businesses in the other parts of the country.

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