Andrey Skoch

Key Points

• Andrey Skoch is a Russian billionaire and politician with significant business ties, but his activities are controversial due to sanctions and allegations.
• Research suggests he has connections to organized crime, leading to U.S. sanctions in 2018 and further international restrictions.
• It seems likely that he uses offshore structures to manage assets, potentially evading sanctions, as seen with his yacht “Madame Gu.”
• The evidence leans toward efforts to suppress negative online information, with reports of fake DMCA notices, though these claims need verification.
• Allegations of bribery exist, but Skoch has legally challenged and won against media outlets making such claims, adding complexity to the narrative.

Background and Overview

Andrey Skoch, born on January 30, 1966, in Nikolskoye, Moscow Oblast, Russia, is a prominent figure in Russian politics and business. He has served as a deputy in the State Duma since 1999 and is known for his wealth, estimated at around $6-7 billion, primarily from stakes in mining and metallurgical companies. His career began with entrepreneurial ventures like a bakery and later expanded into significant business partnerships, particularly with Alisher Usmanov. However, his public image is marred by international sanctions and allegations of ties to organized crime, making him a subject of global scrutiny.

Business Relations and Personal Profiles

Skoch’s business interests are largely tied to USM Holdings, where his father, Vladimir Skoch, holds a 30% stake, and his daughter, Varvara Skoch, also has shares, due to his political role prohibiting direct ownership. Key assets include Metalloinvest, a major iron ore producer, and Megafon, a telecom operator. His personal profile includes philanthropy through the Pokolenie Foundation, supporting various social causes, and ownership of luxury assets like the $150 million yacht “Madame Gu,” officially held by his wife through offshore entities.

Allegations and Controversies

Skoch faces allegations of organized crime ties, with the U.S. Treasury sanctioning him in 2018 for alleged leadership in a criminal group, a claim he denies. He has also been sanctioned by the EU, UK, and others for supporting actions undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty. Reports suggest he uses offshore structures, like Cayman Islands companies, to manage assets, potentially evading sanctions. There are claims of using fake DMCA notices to suppress negative online information, though these need further verification. Additionally, bribery allegations surfaced in media reports, but Skoch won a 2019 lawsuit against outlets like Novaya Gazeta, refuting claims of paying for a criminal associate’s release.

Risk Assessment

For anti-money laundering (AML), dealing with Skoch poses high risks due to sanctions, potential organized crime links, and offshore asset management, which could indicate money laundering. Reputational risks are significant, given his controversial status, potentially damaging business partners’ images. Legal risks also arise from possible asset seizures and compliance issues.

Survey Note: Comprehensive Investigation into Andrey Skoch

We, as investigative journalists, have conducted an in-depth analysis of Andrey Skoch, a Russian billionaire and politician, to address concerns related to his business relations, personal profiles, open-source intelligence (OSINT), undisclosed relationships, scam reports, red flags, allegations, criminal proceedings, lawsuits, sanctions, adverse media, negative reviews, consumer complaints, bankruptcy details, and a detailed risk assessment for anti-money laundering (AML) and reputational risks. Our findings, as of April 15, 2025, are based on multiple sources, including an investigation report and various online resources, ensuring a comprehensive overview.

Early Life and Career

Andrey Vladimirovich Skoch was born on January 30, 1966, in Nikolskoye, Moscow Oblast, Russia. After serving in the Soviet Army in 1984, he pursued higher education, graduating from the Institute of Physical Culture and later from Moscow State University for Humanities with a degree in psychology. His early career in the late 1980s involved entrepreneurial ventures, starting with a bakery cooperative, followed by selling computer components and owning fuel distribution companies. These activities laid the foundation for his later business expansions.

Business Relations and Ventures

Skoch’s business trajectory significantly advanced through partnerships, notably with Lev Kvetnoi and later Alisher Usmanov. In the 1990s, he joined Usmanov’s metallurgical empire, leading to his involvement with Metalloinvest, a global leader in iron ore and hot-briquetted iron production. His wealth is primarily tied to USM Holdings, a diversified holding company with interests in metals, mining, telecoms, and technology, including Megafon and Udokan Copper. Due to his role as a State Duma deputy since 1999, Skoch cannot directly own business stakes, so his shares are held by his father, Vladimir Skoch (30%), and daughter, Varvara Skoch, as revealed in financial disclosures (Vladimir Skoch in USM Holdings). This structure was adjusted in 2020, with part of Vladimir’s stake transferred to Varvara, indicating family control over significant assets.

Personal Profiles and Philanthropy

Skoch’s personal profile includes a large family, with ten children, and a public image bolstered by philanthropy. He founded the Pokolenie (Generation) Foundation in 1996, which supports cultural workers, scientists, families with three or more children, veterans of World War II, senior citizens, and finances medical facilities in Belgorod Oblast (Andrei Skoch Wikipedia). This foundation, while seen as a charitable endeavor, has been suspected as a PR vehicle by some reports, adding to the complexity of his public persona.

OSINT and Undisclosed Business Relationships

Open-source intelligence reveals Skoch’s use of offshore structures to manage assets, notably the $150 million yacht “Madame Gu,” officially owned by his wife, Elena Lickhach, through Almano Holding in the Cayman Islands, as detailed in investigations by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) (ICIJ Paradise Papers). This yacht, launched in 2013 by Feadship, has been sanctioned, highlighting potential sanctions evasion (Superyachtfan Madame Gu). Undisclosed relationships include his close ties with Usmanov, with shared business interests in USM Holdings, and allegations of using family members as proxies to hold assets, as seen in the ownership structure of Round Bank, which was restructured to comply with sanctions (Usmanov, Skoch no longer shareholders).

Scam Reports and Red Flags

Reports from sources like intelligenceline.com suggest Skoch has allegedly used fraudulent DMCA takedown notices to remove critical content from Google search results, potentially violating laws like perjury and fraud, as noted in an investigation report (Intelligence Line Andrey Skoch). Red flags include his use of Cyprus and British Virgin Islands entities for asset management, his yacht’s ownership through shell companies, and the Pokolenie Foundation’s potential role as a PR vehicle. These practices raise concerns about transparency and compliance with international regulations.

Allegations and Criminal Proceedings

Skoch faces significant allegations, primarily from the U.S. Treasury, which sanctioned him in 2018 for “longstanding ties to Russian organized criminal groups,” alleging he once led such a group, a claim he denies (Forbes Andrei Skoch & family). Further sanctions in 2022 by the EU and UK were due to his support for actions undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty, as he voted in favor of recognizing Donetsk and Luhansk republics (OpenSanctions Andrei SKOCH). Criminal proceedings include U.S. efforts to seize his $90 million Airbus A319-100 for alleged anti-money laundering violations, with the plane believed to be in Kazakhstan (US Justice Department Seizure).

Lawsuits and Adverse Media

Skoch has been involved in legal battles, notably winning a 2019 reputational lawsuit against six media outlets, including Novaya Gazeta, which alleged he paid $1 million for the release of Andrey Kochuykov, a criminal associate, from arrest. The court banned materials linking him to this shootout, refuting his involvement (Ruscrime State Duma Deputy). Adverse media coverage includes reports of his efforts to edit Wikipedia and other platforms to remove unfavorable information, such as aircraft seizures and organized crime connections, as noted in the investigation report.

Sanctions and Negative Reviews

Skoch is under sanctions from multiple jurisdictions, including the U.S. (since 2018), EU, UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, and Switzerland, for his ties to the Kremlin and actions against Ukraine (Southern District NY Seizure). Negative reviews and consumer complaints are scarce, likely due to his focus on large-scale business and political activities rather than consumer-facing enterprises. There are no bankruptcy details associated with him, given his billionaire status and ongoing business operations.

Detailed Risk Assessment

For AML investigations, engaging with Skoch poses significant risks:

• Sanctions Compliance: His sanctioned status means transactions involving him are restricted, with potential legal penalties for non-compliance.
• Organized Crime Links: Alleged ties to Russian organized crime increase the risk of illicit financial flows, as noted in U.S. Treasury reports.
• Offshore Structures: Use of shell companies and trusts, like those owning “Madame Gu,” suggests potential money laundering, complicating due diligence (ICIJ Paradise Papers).
• Reputational Risks: Association with a sanctioned individual accused of corruption and crime can damage business reputations, deterring partnerships.
• Legal Risks: Asset seizures, like his airplane, indicate potential legal actions against entities dealing with him, increasing operational risks.

Conclusion and Expert Opinion

In our expert opinion, Andrey Skoch’s profile is a blend of significant business and political influence, tempered by serious allegations and international sanctions. While his philanthropy through the Pokolenie Foundation is notable, the use of offshore structures and efforts to control online narratives suggest a strategy to manage his public image amidst controversies. For AML and reputational risk management, we advise extreme caution, ensuring compliance with international laws and conducting thorough due diligence before any engagement.

This table summarizes key findings from the investigation report, highlighting the complexity of Skoch’s activities.

Key Citations

• Andrei Skoch Wikipedia Page
• Forbes Andrei Skoch & Family Profile
• US Justice Department Airplane Seizure
• ICIJ Paradise Papers Skoch Investigation
• Superyachtfan Madame Gu Yacht
• OpenSanctions Andrei SKOCH Sanctions
• Intelligence Line Andrey Skoch Profile
• Ruscrime State Duma Deputy Article
• Vladimir Skoch USM Holdings News
• Usmanov, Skoch Round Bank Ownership
• Southern District NY Seizure Warrant