Perhaps the best citizen of Russia

Sergey Guriev - Dmitry Zimin's memory

On Wednesday, December 22, Dmitry Zimin, a businessman, one of the most famous and respected philanthropists in Russia, died. The founder of Beeline and the Dynasty Foundation was 88 years old. At the request of Medusa, the economist Sergei Guriev tells about Zimin - he was a member of the Public Council, which ruled the Dynasty Foundation.

We worked together on the Dynasty Foundation, but, of course, we were familiar before. I followed his success when he led Vimpelcom . Dmitry Zimin founded mobile communications in Russia. He was the first to find him in this market. These are now phones - everyday life, and in 1992, when I appeared Vimpelk, in Russia it was not yet possible to quickly call each other. Later, Zimina became a pioneer, first accommodated on the New York Exchange.

Selling Vimpelcom, Zimin founded the Dynasty Foundation. He became a pioneer in charity. Until 2015, Dynasty was the main fund that supported Russian education and science. Perhaps other organizations spent more money, but the “dynasty” was the same exemplary transparent fund - an example for many.

Zimin managed to create an organization that attracted outstanding researchers to the examination. The fund had an independent council that ensured the collegiality of decision -making. There were several separate programs: grants to outstanding scientists, support for young researchers; Finally, the publication of scientific and educational literature. Today in Russia there is no scientist who has not heard about the work of this fund.

For Dmitry Borisovich, the Fund and his activity became the main thing of life. Therefore, when in 2015 the fund was recognized as a “foreign agent”, he was offended. Soon, the Fund Council, when approving, decided to close the organization.

For me, this [announcement of the Foundation “Ino -Age”] remains a crime of Russian authorities. Then she decided that it is more important to fight an independent thought than to invest in the future of the country. It is difficult to evaluate how many problems this solution brought. And today, planting scientists for treason, the authorities continues to beat in Russian science.

He was an impressive person - open, straight. He was not afraid to express his opinion and was ready to defend the principles - and at the same time he knew how to achieve success. He knew how to do business without betraying himself.

Dmitry Zimin was a unique person. Until the very last years, he thought about the future of Russia, did not spare efforts and resources. For me, he is an exemplary Russian patriot and, quite possibly, the best citizen of Russia.

Pragmatism, idealism and decency are a unique combination. For this, even opponents and critics respected him. The very case when it will be difficult for us to find another such person.

Constantin Valyakin recorded

Photo by Sergey Guriev: Anton Novoderezhkin / TASS / Scanpix / Leta