Yelena Baturina

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Yelena Nikolayevna Baturina (Template:Langx; born 8 March 1963) is an international billionaire businesswoman and a philanthropist of Russian origin. She is based in Austria.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She was married to Yury Luzhkov, mayor of Moscow (from 1992 to 2010), until his death in 2019.

In 1991, she founded Inteco, an investment and construction company. According to Forbes, with a fortune of $1.2 billion, she was the richest woman in Russia, until Tatyana Bakalchuk overtook her spot in February 2020 with $1.4 billion.<ref name="forbes.ru">Template:Cite web</ref>

As of 2025, Baturina ranks 2,479th on the Forbes Billionaires List with a net worth of $1.3 billion. Her sources of wealth are listed as “investments, real estate, self-made.” She holds the 100th position among Russian billionaires and ranks 4th among the wealthiest women in Russia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Biography

Baturina is a Moscow native who began working as a design-technician at the Template:Ill (where her parents worked) after graduating from high school.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

  • 1980–1982: the Frazer plant, technician-designer, then senior design engineer of the Chief Technologist Department;
  • 1982–1989: Institute of Integrated Economic Development of Moscow, researcher; Russian Union of United Cooperatives, head of the Secretariat; the Mosgorispolkom Commission on cooperative activity, senior specialist.
  • since 1989 engaged in private business activities;
  • 1991–1994: LLP "Inteco", director;
  • 1994–2011: CJSC "Inteco", president;
  • 2006–2011: deputy head of the interdepartmental working group on the priority national project "Affordable and Comfortable Housing to Russian citizens", a member of the commission on the development of affordable housing under the President of the Russian Federation on the implementation of priority national projects and demographic policy.Template:Citation needed

Baturina met her future husband, Yury Luzhkov, in 1987 when they were both serving at Mosgorispolkom, a Soviet-era municipal commission. At the period of their co-working the relationships were purely professional. In one of her interviews Baturina remembers: "We never even thought about anything like that when we were working together, it all happened much later".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Baturina and Luzhkov married in 1991. The next year, he became mayor of Moscow. In 2010, he was dismissed by President Dmitry Medvedev amidst still unproven accusations of corruption and mismanagement voiced on state run television.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

After her husband's dismissal, Baturina moved to London. She explains the choice of the city by the fact that her two daughters decided to study in London<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In November 2010, Luzhkov gave an interview to the Telegraph newspaper stating that the couple was sending their daughters to study in London to protect them from possible persecution from the Russian authorities. He also said that a house had been rented in the west of the city for them and that he and his wife intend to visit them regularly.<ref name="Telegraph 7 Nov 2010">Template:Cite news</ref> Luzhkov also claimed that the Russian authorities were planning to break up Baturina's business empire and that the couple would fight the attempt: "We will not give up. My wife will battle for her business and for her honour and self-worth. That is for sure".<ref name="Telegraph 7 Nov 2010"/>

In September 2009, The Sunday Times erroneously stated that Witanhurst, a large house in Highgate, North London, had been bought by Baturina, via an offshore front company. Baturina sued the papers owners, Times Newspapers, a subsidiary of News International. Times Newspapers apologized for the story and paid damages to her in October 2011.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

Inteco

In 1989, Baturina launched her first enterprise with her elder brother Victor, primarily dealing with computer software and hardware.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1991 Baturina founded her company, Inteco ("Inteko" (Интеко) in Russian), which focused on construction though it began as a plastics business. In 1994, Inteco purchased a plastic factory. In 1998, the company won the contract for producing 85,000 seats for Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow's largest stadium. The critics claimed that the decision was affected by Luzhkov as Mayor of Moscow, though Inteco stated that their price was 50% less than their nearest competitor's.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the middle of 1990s, Inteco entered the construction business focusing on development of advanced materials and technologies for facade work, cement, brick and poured concrete construction, architectural design and real estate business.<ref name="ria.ru">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2001, Inteco acquired from a private person the controlling stake in one of the leading housebuilding factories in Moscow DSK-3. Following modernization the construction plant provided 500,000 square meters of housing per year. This acquisition, according to Baturina's interviews, became the starting point for the company's major construction activity. "DSK-3 is my first real step into construction. I had been viewing the market for a long time. I saw how quickly and dynamically it was developing, how many opportunities it was offering. Still the deal took place sort of accidentally. The lawyers of the former main owner's widow came to me and said that some unfriendly entities were questioning her property rights and trying to simply rob her of her stake. And the frightened woman had decided to sell all the shares to Inteco on the condition that we defend her rights in court. We have successfully managed that and just like that, almost by accident, became the owners of the plant."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

At one point, Inteco was said to control 20% of construction in the capital.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, according to experts, quoted by media, from 2000 to 2010 of construction activities Inteco's share in the state order was no more than 2%. While the main contractors for the implementation of the Moscow government orders were construction companies MFS-6 (24.5%) Glavmosstroy (20.7%), SU-155 (13.7%) and MSM-5 (12.2%). In 2002, Inteco created a subsidiary "Strategy Construction Company", whose main objective was the construction of monolithic buildings. Such cement plants as "Podgorensky cementnik" and "Oskolcement", one of the largest cement producers in the central Russia, were also bought at that time.<ref>[1] Inteco</ref>

In 2005, Inteco sold its cement works for estimated US$800 000 to Eurocement Group in order to consolidate financial and administrative recourses that the company needed for the implementation of perspective construction programs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2006, Baturina was appointed Deputy Head for the inter-ministerial group under the national project "Affordable and Comfortable Housing for Russian citizens".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Shortly afterwards, Inteco sold DSK-3, a producer of prefabricated buildings, as well and fully concentrated on the construction of monolithic housing and commercial real estate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Part of the proceeds from the sale of these assets were directed by Baturina to buying some high-yield "blue chips" of the largest Russian companies such as Gazprom and Sberbank. This step allowed the visionary businesswoman to later sell the shares in the crisis year of 2009 at a significant profit and return Inteco's earlier business development bank loans ahead of schedule, which allowed to keep the businesses afloat. The interest rate on loans at that time sprang up from 10.8 to 18 percent, which led to the ruin of a significant number of Russian developers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

At the same time, as part of a new cement project, Inteco purchased Verkhnebakansky Cement Plant and the Atakaytsement cement factory located in the Krasnodar region.<ref>Template:Cite web"Inteco" will spend USD 500 mln on cement. 15 December 2006</ref><ref>[2] Template:Webarchive "Inteco" does not want to depend on price policy of cement suppliers</ref>

As of 2007, the company owned such entities as Inteko Plast (55%), Bistro Plast (50%), construction firms SK DSK-3 (100%), Styre (100%), Inteco CENTER (100%), Inteco Chess (Elista, 100%), Intekostroy (70%). The company also owned enterprises in the city of Sochi - Park (100%), The Matrix (100%), Sochi AO (75.58%), Horizont (50%), Selectioner (Belgorod region., 100%) and Uspensky Agromashplast (Moscow reg., Uspensky, 38%). Inteco Group also included Russian Zemelny Bank and trading house Moscow River involved in the supply of grain.Template:Citation needed

In 2007, the company's revenue, according to its own data, amounted to $1 billion.<ref name="ria.ru"/>

At the end of 2008, along with Gazprom and Russian Railways, Inteco was included into the list of 295 strategic enterprises of the country.<ref>[3] Template:Webarchive The rock of Inteco has been defined. 7 September 2011</ref>

In 2009, the company begins cooperating with an outstanding Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill as part of the programme aimed at creating fundamentally new systems for mass housing in Russia.<ref>[4] Inteco cooperates with Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill. 29 July 2009</ref>

In 2010, Inteco launched the construction of the second academic building for the Moscow State University named after Lomonosov.<ref>[5] New page in the MSU development history has been opened. 28 January 2010</ref>

In 2010, Baturina was named one of the largest taxpayers in Russia, the taxes to the state budget for 2009 amounted to 4 billion rubles. As of 2009, 99% of the company is owned by Baturina, 1% is on the balance sheet of the Company itself. The project development portfolio is more than 7,000,000 square meters, the cement capacities exceed 0.6 million tons per year.<ref>[6] ZAO "Inteco". Overview. 6 September 2011</ref>

At the end of 2010, Baturina sold its Russian Zemelny Bank (RZB) to foreign investors.<ref>[7] Baturina sold her bank to foreigners. 10 February 2010</ref>

The most significant completed projects of Inteco in Moscow (in the period of company Baturina's ownership) are: the residential quarter "Shuvalov" (270,000 square meters), the residential quarter "Grand Park" (400,000 square meters), the residential site "Volga" (400,000 square meters), the multifunctional complex "Fusion Park" with the "Autoville" - museum of unique cars from private collections (100,000 square meters), the Fundamental Library (60,000 square feet), and the academic building for Humanities (100,000 square meters) of the Moscow State University.<ref>[8] ZAO "Inteco". 7 September 2011</ref>

After her husband's resignation, Baturina started selling her assets in Russia. The best offer was filed by Mikail Shishkhanov and Sberbank Investments. They bought the 95% and 5% shares of Inteco correspondingly.<ref>[9] Russian records. Kommersant Vlast 17 October 2011</ref> The exact amount of the transaction was never disclosed, but the report of Sberbank stated that according to the experts that participated in the preparation of the deal, the market value of Inteco, its projects and structures was around 1.2 billion dollars.<ref>[10] Baturina sold Inteco. 6 September 2011</ref> The deal did not include the cement plants of Inteco. One of them was later sold to Lev Kvetnoy for estimated 17 billion rubles.<ref>Template:Cite web Baturina sold Verkhebakanskiy cement plant to Lev Kvetnoy</ref>

Hotel business

The first development in the new hotel chain was the five-star Grand Tirolia Golf & Ski Resort, located in the heart of the Eichenheim golf club in Kitzbühel, Austria. Construction, which was completed in 2009, cost in the region of €35–40 million.<ref>[11] Kitzbühel und die "Snowciety" aus Osteuropa 18 February 2010</ref> The hotel is located in the center of the golf club Eichenheim, together they make Grand Tirolia Golf & Ski Resort. In 2009, the hotel achieved honorary status as the "Home of Laureus" in Austria, and became the official venue for the annual ceremony of the prestigious international award that those in the field call the "Oscar" of sports journalism.<ref>[12] Template:Webarchive Das Grand Tirolia Golf & Ski Resort bleibt bis 2014 Partner des Laureus Medien Preises. 22 June 2011</ref> In 2018, the hotel was sold to the Austrian investor, presumably for €45 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2010, Baturina opened the New Peterhof Hotel in Saint Petersburg, which received a number of architectural awards.<ref>[13] Inteco company opened a 4-star hotel in Peterhof. 28 June 2010</ref> In 2012, following major reconstruction work, Baturina opened the Quisisana Palace in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. Housed in a late 19th century building, the hotel combines elements of Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Gothic styles. The restoration of the historic building required significant investment.<ref>[14] Quisisana Palace</ref> The hotel is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World association.<ref>[15] Quisisana Palace</ref> In 2013, Baturina opened the Morrison Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. She bought it from NAMA in early 2012 for €22 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 138-room hotel on Dublin's Lower Ormond Quay has undergone a €7 million refurbishment.<ref>[16] Morrison to reopen in February as a Hilton DoubleTree. 4 January 2013</ref> It was sold in 2022 to Zetland Capital for €65 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Grand Tirolia Hotel and Resort, Kitzbühel

The first development in the hotel chain, located in the heart of the Eichenheim golf club in Kitzbühel, Austria. Its construction was completed in 2009. In 2018, the hotel was sold to the Austrian investor.Template:Citation needed

Quisisana Palace, Karlovy Vary

Quisisana Palace is a restored 19th-century building turned boutique hotel with 19 guest rooms and suites, a restaurant and a wellness centre. It opened in September 2012.Template:Citation needed

New Peterhof, St. Petersburg

New Peterhof Hotel opened in June 2010.Template:Citation needed

Development business

In late 2015, Baturina set up an office in New York to oversee her US$10 million investment into commercial buildings she acquired in central Brooklyn, and look into the prospects of developing a construction project: “The company is considering transferring the land they are located on to a category suitable for residential construction, so that a large-scale development project can be realised.”<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

In November 2016, Baturina's structures launched a construction and development project in Europe. Her company acquired a land plot on the coastline of Limassol, Cyprus. The construction of high-end apartment building Symbol Residence was launched in 2019, the overall investment into the project has exceeded EUR 40 million, and the consrtuction was completed in 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Membrane Construction

In autumn 2015, Baturina's structures became a strategic investor of Hightex GmbH, a global membrane construction company based in Rimsting, Germany.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Citation needed

Renewable energy

Since 2014, Baturina's Investment Group has been developing a project to generate, use and market renewable energy in Europe.<ref name="Buddensiek">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2018, Baturina's enterprise has launched the first ESCO (Energy Services Company) project in Cyprus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Brother

In 2007, Viktor Baturin, Baturina's brother, with whom she founded Inteco, sued Inteco for US$120 million for wrongful dismissal.<ref name=":0">Tycoon sues billionaire little sister for £120m Template:Webarchive</ref>

The court dismissed all the claims later that year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

After that, in 2011 he was found guilty by the Presnensky Court of Moscow in a real-estate fraud case and got a 3 years suspended sentence.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2013, the Nikulinsky Court of Moscow sentenced him for attempting to cash in forged Inteco promissory notes worth more than 5 billion rubles. He was released in January 2016, with the unserved time of his sentence replaced with a fine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2017, another case was initiated against Viktor Baturin for attempted fraud of a large scale and two counts of evidence falsification in a civil case. In 2021 he was formally accused and arrested. In 2022, Viktor Baturin pleaded guilty to fraud and falsification of evidence<ref name="Виктор Батурин закрепил признание">Template:Cite web</ref> and in November 2023, found guilty by the Simonovsky court of Moscow and sentenced to six years imprisonment and a fine of 500 thousand rubles.<ref name="RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty">Template:Cite news</ref>

According to leaked diplomatic cables, the US ambassador to Russia, John Beyrle, reported unsupported allegations that Baturina had links to major criminal groups, particularly Solntsevskaya Bratva.<ref name="Harding" /> The full text of the cable makes clear that Mr Beyrle is simply repeating gossip and allegations conveyed to him by journalist Sergei Kanev. Beyrle writes, 'Kanev told us that Luzhkov's wife, Yelena Baturina, definitely has links to the criminal world, and particularly to the Solntsevo criminal group'. Beyrle stated that her husband Yury Luzhkov sat on top of a "pyramid of corruption". "Luzhkov oversees a system in which it appears that almost everyone at every level is involved in some form of corruption or criminal behaviour," wrote Beyrle. "Analysts identify a three-tiered structure in Moscow's criminal world. Luzhkov is at the top. The FSB, MVD and militia are at the second level. Finally ordinary criminals and corrupt inspectors are at the lowest level." Beyrle also suggested that much of Luzhkov's business empire had been acquired using municipal finances to invest in "less than transparent" projects with former Soviet republics.<ref name="Harding">Template:Cite news</ref> The couple denied the accusations as "total rubbish" and they never resulted in any investigation or legal action.<ref name="Harding" />

Philanthropy

Elena Baturina has been involved in local and international charities since 1990s.The main focus of her charitable projects is transforming the world and society for the better, based on the principles of sustainability, design-thinking, and investing into the creative mind power of the next generation.

Since 2012, the BE OPEN Foundation<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> has been the vehicle of Elena Baturina's international philanthropy. BE OPEN is a Switzerland-registered “cultural and social initiative which aims to become a bridge between the great minds of our time, and the promising new minds of the next generation through a system of conferences, competitions, exhibitions, master classes and art events.”<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

BE OPEN has been actively cooperating with the world renown designers, international brands, educational and cultural institutions, and state bodies, i.e. the Government of India, Greater London Authority, the Municipality of Milan, the EXPO Universal Exposition, and many others.

For two years, Mrs Baturina served as a Trustee to the Board of the Mayor's Fund for London.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Mrs Baturina also serves as vice-president for Maggie’s, a UK-based charity that offers free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer. She is also a member of Maggie's London Board which is responsible for the coordination of all Maggie's fundraising activity in London.

BE OPEN Foundation

BE OPEN is a cultural and social initiative set up in 2012, and funded by Elena Baturina with the “aim to harness the brainpower of creative leaders through a system of conferences, competitions, exhibitions, master classes and art events.”<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

“A long-term, international, multidisciplinary, multi-faceted project, BE OPEN is committed to becoming a bridge between the great minds of our time – philosophers, sociologists, designers, architects, artists, publishers, writers, businessmen and opinion leaders — and the promising new minds of the next generation. It also strives to help leading contemporary thinkers and creatives meet up with those in the media and business, discuss their ideas and visions and ultimately make change happen.”<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

The foundation was launched at Milan Design Week 2012.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Working in collaboration with leading design publication Interni, the foundation had significant presence at the Fuori Salone.

BE OPEN revisited Milan Design Week in 2013 with a multi-sensory experience, with a focus on synaesthesia, exploring the overlap between colour and taste, smell and sight represented in the House of the Senses, designed by French architect Christophe Pillet and in 2015 with a mesmerizing Garden of Wonders exposition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> dedicated to redesigning defunct perfume brands.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2014, with support from the Government and ministries of India, BE OPEN created an important exhibition of works by promising local designers in Delhi to encourage artisans to explore alternative ways of using traditional skills and keeping them alive. “Made in…India” became an important milestone for many of the participating designers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other significant global design events that BE OPEN has been part of over the years are Design Basel with an exposition of projects by students of European top design schools. Design Miami with a conference on sensory design.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> London Design Festival with an installation in Trafalgar square<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Chelsea College of Art roundtable on sound design and others.

BE OPEN has worked with the Mayor’s Fund for London, the Mayor's Office and GLA on a number of charitable programmes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

BE OPEN's every ‘public appearance’ is a multi-faceted event that features celebration of winners of dedicated student competitions with expositions and awards ceremonies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Since 2019, the foundation has been running a multiyear competition programme<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Among the partners of the programme are the Cumulus Global Association of Art and Design Education and Student Energy. BE OPEN rewards the best work with money prizes, honorary mentions and trips to major international events.BE OPEN have been able to share its experience at the MED/UNECE forums on ESD in Cyprus, at the educational hub of COP28 in Dubai, the Student Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, COP29 in Baku, and a number of other events.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The competition programme is designed to raise awareness among young professionals in creative and engineering fields about the urgent need for action regarding the Sustainable Development Goals. BE OPEN has held 6 competitions and covered SDGs 2, 7, 11, 12, 13 and one dedicated to foresight as to SDGs for 2050.

  • SDG#12 Second Life in Design in 2019/2020 called for solutions for SDG#12: Responsible Consumption and Production. The сcompetition became an integral part of Cumulus Green 2020: For A New Circular Economy, and called for ideas that demonstrate a creative, design-oriented take on the problems of sustainability, wiser production and consumption.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • SDG#11 Design for Sustainable Cities in 2020/2021 focused on SDG#11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. The solutions responded to such issues as Economy of Sharing for better social interaction and more effectively utilized environment; Collective and Value for collectivity to co-create the value; and Mass Protection for healthier relationship between nature and culture within urban environment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • SDG#2 Design to Nurture the Planet in 2021/2022 aimed to bring the talent and creativity of the global community to focus on SDG2: Zero Hunger. Under the umbrella of zero hunger, the projects submitted were not only about ending hunger, but also achieving food security and improved nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • SDG#7 Better Energy by Design in 2022/2023 focused on SDG#7: Affordable and Clean Energy to collect ideas ensuring that a growing number of households, communities and production companies use green energy technologies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • SDG#13 Design Your Climate Action is 2023/2024 aimed to encourage creation of innovative solutions and to raise awareness about SDG#13 and the necessity of urgent action among the young and upcoming professionals to combat climate change and its effects on all the levels of our lives.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • SDGs for 2050: Designing Futures in 2024/2025 involved younger creatives into updating the SDG agenda in the light of the realities of today, and encourages them to take a larger part in the actualization and implementation of the realistic sustainable actions plan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

BE OPEN Art

In 2020, BE OPEN set up a nonprofit online gallery BE OPEN Art to offer emerging artists around the globe an opportunity to be seen, and a starting point for connections to be built between the creators and collectors of today. The gallery opened to help battle the challenges that creative community had to face due to COVID-19.

In 2023, BE OPEN Art expanded its operations to run BE OPEN Regional Art, a series of competitions for emerging artists, aimed to support those whose art best represents their regional, cultural and ethnic identities. Each regional stage lasts three months, therefore four stages are run a year, with a winner named for each of them. The regional winners get cash prizes, while a selection of artwork best representing the region forms an exhibition, in order to share the art with the wide public and celebrate the artists involved.

In the course of 2023, 2024 and 2025 BE OPEN Regional Art has selected and awarded emerging artists of the Eastern Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Central and Southern Africa, Southeastern, South and Central Asia, Middle East, Central America and Oceania.

In June 2023, at the Centre of Visual Arts and Research in Nicosia, BE OPEN Art hosted an exhibition of artwork selected over the Eastern Mediterranean region. The exhibition was attended by the participating artists and their families, representatives of Cyprus's Ministries of Education and Culture, Nicosia municipality, members of academic, artistic and business communities, guests of the island, etc.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

In 1991, Baturina married Yury Luzhkov. In 1992 their first daughter, Elena, was born, followed in 1994 by Olga. In November 2010, Luzhkov gave an interview to the Telegraph newspaper stating that the couple were sending their daughters to study in London to protect them from possible persecution by the Russian authorities.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Elena Baturina owns a house in Aurach, Austria, and spends a lot of her time there.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

It is understood that the family owns a home in the affluent Kensington area of London, purchased in 2013 through an offshore company domiciled in Gibraltar. The property, near Holland Park, was reported in 2018 to be worth at least £25 million.<ref name="Eye">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In her interviews Baturina often said that she and Luzhkov were very lucky, as they still loved each other. She enjoys cooking his favourite dish, borscht, and claims that a traditional "Soviet upbringing" made a good housewife of her.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Baturina has had no contacts with her brother since a public conflict on business issues that occurred in 2007.

She was involved in a libel case against a former financial director for her brother. After failing to appear before a court in December 2019, the court declared Baturina a "fugitive".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The subpoena was rescinded in late January by Elista City Court.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Allegedly, the subpoena was issued under instruction from the A1 investment company as part of its financial claim to Elena Baturina.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May 2021, Viktor Baturin, his financial director and his representatives have lost their final case in a series of litigations in the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow. As of today, Viktor Baturin is in a detention facility in Moscow, he was detained for a suspected attempt at fraud and admitted committing the crime.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2017, another case was initiated against Viktor Baturin for attempted fraud of a large scale and two counts of evidence falsification in a civil case. In 2021 he was formally accused and arrested. In 2022, Viktor Baturin pleaded guilty to fraud and falsification of evidence<ref name="Виктор Батурин закрепил признание"/> and in November 2023, found guilty by the Simonovsky court of Moscow and sentenced to six years imprisonment and a fine of 500 thousand rubles.<ref name="RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

From 1999 to 2005, Baturina was President of the Equestrian Federation of Russia.<ref name="gazeta.aif.ru">[17] Yelena Baturina breeds horses - Arguments and Facts, Moscow</ref><ref name="lenta.ru">[18] Baturina Yelena, Lenta.ru</ref><ref>[19] Baturina, Lenta.ru</ref> Baturina succeeded in raising funds for developing equestrian sport in Russia to the sufficient level for such competition.<ref>[20] Template:Webarchive Equestrian Russia at the turn of the third millennium, the magazine "Horse Breeding and Equestrian Sport"</ref>

Baturina runs the BE OPEN Foundation she set up in 2012.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="At Design Miami/Basel, the new Be Open think tank focused on design schools: Inside the Academy was the second edition of an initiative which fosters creativity and innovation.">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Russian Billionaire Launches Project to Create a Better World">Template:Cite web</ref> BE OPEN works in close partnership with the Mayor's Fund for London.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Baturina was a trustee for the Mayor's Fund for London from 2017 to 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal wealth

In 2021, the Sunday Times Rich List estimated Baturina's net worth to be £1.133 billion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018 and 2019, her net worth was estimated at $1.2 billion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Forbes profile Elena Baturina"> Template:Cite news</ref> In 2020, Forbes announced that Baturina's position as the richest woman in Russia was overtaken by Tatyana Bakalchuk, the founder of Wildberries, with a net worth of $1.4 billion.<ref name="forbes.ru" />

According to Forbes, Baturina's net worth was US$4.2 billion in 2008,<ref name="Bailout">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> up from US$3.1 billion in 2007,<ref name="Forbes profile Elena Baturina" /> US$2.3 billion in 2006<ref name="autogenerated1">Template:Cite news</ref> and US$1.1 billion in 2004.<ref name="Forbes2004">Template:Cite news</ref> According to magazine Finans, her wealth fell during the credit crunch to just US$1 billion in February 2009, causing her to ask the Russian government for a bailout for Inteko.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Her wealth, as of 2012, was listed as US$1.1 billion.<ref name="Forbes profile Elena Baturina" />

In the noughties, Baturina owned hotels in the Black Sea tourist resort of Sochi, over 72,000 hectares of agricultural land in the Belgorod Oblast and also a factory that produces a million cans of sweetened condensed milk each year.<ref name="Forbes2004" /> In the following decade - a hotel in Dublin through a private foundation in Austria, other hotels in Austria and the Czech Republic,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> But now all the assets except for the hotel in Dublin are no longer associated with Baturina.Template:Citation needed

She owns a private jet.<ref name="sobesednik.ru">Template:Cite web</ref> She claims to own one of the largest private collections of Russian Imperial porcelain, preferring the porcelain of the era of Nicholay I.<ref>[21] Dozhd TV channel</ref> In April 2011, Yelena Baturina donated about 40 pieces of art – a part of her collection of rare porcelain – to the "Tsaritsyno" museum in Moscow.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Up to early 2010s, she owned the "Veedern" horse breeding estate founded in the 18th century. In 2020, Alexander Luzhkov, Yury Luzhkov's son from his previous marriage, became the sole owner of the estate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After a major reconstruction the estate is now successfully breeding Hanoverian and Trakehner horses.<ref name="lenta.ru" />

In 2011, Baturina won a lawsuit against the British newspaper "The Sunday Times", which attributed to the Russian businesswoman the acquisition of Witanhurst estate in London, which is the second value after Buckingham Palace. As a result, the newspaper published a retraction and apologized.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Honours and awards

Baturina won the State Prize of the Russian Federation for Science and Technology in 2003. Inteco and its projects have won numerous awards and competitions, including: the "Russian Building Olympus" prize for "Architecture and Design Planning" (2008);<ref name="Stroyolimp">Template:Cite web</ref> "Brand of the Year/EFFIE 2007"; national prize for "Construction and Real Estate" (2008);<ref name="Interfax">http://www.interfax.ru/realty/realtyinf.asp?sec=1461&id=8112 Template:Dead link</ref> International Star of Leadership award for quality at the 13th Business Initiative Directions (BID) international convention (Paris, 2009), "Company of the Year" national prize for business for "The Best Investment and Construction Company in Russia in 2009" (2009);<ref name="The Best Investment and Construction Company in Russia in 2009">http://www.interfax.ru/realty/realtyinf.asp?id=113177&sec=1458 Template:Dead link</ref> International Award for Technology & Quality (Madrid, 2010);<ref name="International Award for Technology & Quality (Madrid, 2010)">http://www.interfax.ru/realty/realtyinf.asp?sec=1458&id=136621 Template:Dead link</ref> International Construction Award (France, 2011).<ref name="International Construction Award">Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

References

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