Translated material
“A little nervous.” Great conversation with Boris Zimin*
The relationship between Russian-language independent media and their sponsors is usually very opaque and confusing. Both sides avoid publicity and do not want to advertise their connections. Boris Zimin* is one of the few who finance media without hiding his name. But he also prefers not to disclose the amount of funding and the degree of his participation in the editorial policy of specific media outlets. At the same time, Zimin made accusations against the associates of politician Alexei Navalny, who died in custody, reproaching them for the opacity of relations with major donors (one of whom he himself was for 12 years). Rimma Polyak publicly invited Boris Zimin* to give an interview where he could honestly answer the questions that arose in this regard - and he accepted this offer. True, I preferred to answer in writing.
Rimma Polyak: Boris*, you set a very high bar for transparency and frankness regarding FBK**** when you commented on the situation with the founders of Probusinessbank Zheleznyak and Leontiev, who donated to this political organization. It would be logical and fair for you to demonstrate an equally high degree of honesty, frankness and transparency, especially since you are the manager of the Zimin family endowment and the founder of the “Editorial Board” journalistic prize, that is, you influence, albeit indirectly, many Russian media and public organization, and thereby on the public opinion of Russians.
I am very grateful that you agreed to answer my questions, and I hope that this conversation will raise the level of honesty and transparency in matters of financing of Russian media and political and public organizations that operate independently of the Russian government (at least declare such independence). Because, in my opinion , honesty and transparency in this area are sorely lacking.
Boris Zimin*: Although I myself sometimes use this term - “endowment”, it is not very suitable to describe our capital, which is not an endowment in the precise sense of the word, although there are some restrictions for it. For example, some of it is not intended for personal use. And in any case, this is private, not public capital.
Rimma Polyak: Then let's start from the roots, that is, with your father Dmitry Zimin, the founder of the VimpelCom company, who back in 2001 sold his stake in this business and founded the Dynasty Foundation * to support and develop fundamental science and education in Russia. 5 years after the founding of the foundation*, your father made an even more drastic decision, unusual not only for Russia, but also for any rich family. To quote the Zimin Foundation website : “In 2007, Dmitry Zimin transferred about 90% of his wealth to the ownership of an endowment, legally formalized as the Zimin Trust.” Although the Zimin family has a decisive say in the use of funds from the endowment to support non-profit projects, neither Dmitry Zimin himself nor his heirs are the beneficiaries of this trust.”
Boris Zimin*: This is true up to the word “endowment”. But, in essence, it is true.
Rimma Polyak: I will assume that Dmitry Zimin made such a cardinal decision, which directly affects the fate of his children, grandchildren and beyond, after serious thought and as a result of some family disasters. I started looking for information about your family and read that your older brother Sergei is called the leader of the Koptevskaya organized crime group and his name is associated with a number of high-profile contract killings. At the end of the 90s, Sergei Zimin fled from Russia to the West, and in 2021 he was put on the international wanted list.
You, unlike your older brother, are a law-abiding person, not associated with crime, you have many children from several marriages, but your father decided to place almost all of his fortune in a trust, which you cannot dispose of, and the money from which you do not belong even after entering into inheritance after the death of the father.
Boris Zimin*: Of course, I not only can, but also must give orders, although my responsibility has quite a few limitations of a fundamental and procedural nature. Most famously, most of the capital or income from it can be spent on the public good (for the mission), and not on family needs.
But first, before you spend, you need to earn. Secondly, what is a “public good”?
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