Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanow speaks personally about his time in Rottach-Egern: Insight into the inner life of an oligarch

Created: 08/18/2022, 07:00

Felt at home on Lake Tegernsee: Alisher Usmanow, here in the Bay of Eger.

© Georg Hilgemann

With the outbreak of the Ukraine war and the imposition of EU sanctions, Alisher Usmanov also hit the headlines.

Now the 68-year-old oligarch, who lives in Rottach-Egern, has personally responded to a written request for the first time.

The answers give insight into his inner life.

Rottach-Egern –

A lot has been written about him lately.

He is Vladimir Putin's favorite oligarch with close ties to the Russian President.

Familiar with the flow of money, he became one of the richest men in Russia with a fortune of around $16 billion.

With Putin's war of aggression in Ukraine, all this became his undoing: Usmanov ended up on the EU sanctions list.

His second home in Rottach-Egern has been out of reach for him since then - and he expressly regrets that, according to a personal statement by the 68-year-old.

Written answer to questionnaire

In his written answers to a questionnaire, Usmanov also describes his point of view and makes it clear: "I was never an oligarch." He has never participated in the privatization of state property.

His interests are of a different nature after he retired "from the business".

"Over the past 15 years, I have used a significant portion of my wealth - billions of dollars - for philanthropic purposes, supporting cultural, sporting, social, environmental and health projects around the world," says the Wahl-Rottacher .

Lawsuit for the release of his assets

But at his vacation home on Lake Tegernsee, none of that seemed to have arrived in the end.

On the contrary: The tradesmen who were still working on the completion of his villa on Forellenstrasse in March, which he “purchased with honest money”, have been waiting for their bills to be settled ever since.

It is said to be more than 100,000 euros, which is why the work was stopped.

"I regret that the companies cannot be paid, but that's not my fault," says Usmanov, whose cash flows are blocked in Europe because of EU sanctions.

But he assures: “Whatever I can legally do to lift the sanctions, I will do.” In the meantime, he and three other Russian billionaires are suing the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for the release of his assets.

"Realize that I am not an enemy but a friend"

Meanwhile, the municipality of Rottach-Egern has “an unfinished and empty spirit house that still has to be maintained at public expense,” said the 68-year-old native of Uzbek, who in his answers left no doubt that the Tegernsee Valley is close to his heart : "The fairest thing this community can do is recognize that I am not an enemy but a friend."

Meeting with Gorbachev in Rottach-Egern

The billionaire probably had few enemies at Tegernsee.

Many lived very well from his commissions and orders for years, whether as staff, craftsmen, managers of his four properties or restaurateurs.

Above all, he felt drawn to the nearby luxury hotel Überfahrt.

According to his own statements, he also met Russia's ex-president Mikhail Gorbachev here in 2011, who dined there with his daughter Irina.

At that time she owned the nearby Hubertus-Schlößl.

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Permanent guest at Hotel Überfahrt

Usmanow also stuck to the crossing in other respects, "where I rented rooms like other guests."

His chauffeur service in luxury limousines constantly fetched his favorite foods from there.

“Sometimes I would have a beer there with friends after a walk.

Things that I love.” He first visited Rottach-Egern in Munich in 2008 after an eye operation.

"The magic of this unique place Rottach-Egern is that I felt at home in Uzbekistan," says Usmanow.

The Wallberg can't keep up with the peaks of its homeland, but "I loved watching the hang-gliders take off up there - I was fascinated".

desire to return

And he is very grateful to this place and "of course its residents for the happiness that I have experienced and that I will hopefully experience again in the future".

In view of Putin's campaign of annihilation against Ukraine, however, this will probably take years.

BY KLAUS WIENDL