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Ivan Savvidis

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Ignatyevich and the family name is Savvidi.

Ivan Ignatyevich Savvidi (Russian: Иван Игнатьевич Саввиди, [jɪˈvan jɪɡˈnatʲɪvit͡ɕ sɐˈvʲɪdʲi(s)], Greek: Ιβάν Σαββίδης, romanized: Ivan Savvidis, [iˈvan saˈviðis], Georgian: ივან ეგნატეს ძე სავიდი, Ivan Egnates dze Savidi, [ivan eɡnates dze savidi], also known as Ivan Savvidis; born 27 March 1959[1]), is a Russian-Greek businessman who has been called an oligarch. He is one of Russia's wealthiest men and was a member of the Russian Parliament, closely linked to the President Vladimir Putin.[2] According to Forbes, his fortune is estimated to $1.4 billion.[3]

Ivan Savvidis
Ivan Savvidis in 2010
Deputy of the State Duma
Fifth Convocation
In office
2 December 2007 – 4 December 2011
ConstituencyRostov
Fourth Convocation
In office
7 December 2003 – 2 December 2007
ConstituencyRostov
Personal details
Born (1959-03-27) 27 March 1959 (age 65)
Santa Gruzino, Tsalka District, Georgian SSR, USSR
NationalityRussian, Greek
Political partyUnited Russia
Residence(s)Thessaloniki, Greece
Rostov-on-Don, Russia
EducationRostov State University of Economics, Rostov-on-Don
OccupationOwner of PAOK F.C.
Founder & Owner of Agrokom Group
Chairman of CJSC Donskoy Tabak
Owner of Dimera Group Ltd
Owner of Dimera Media Investments
Owner of Belterra Investments Ltd
Owner of Open TV
Websitehttp://www.savvidi.ru/

Biography

Ivan Savvidis was born on March 27, 1959, in the village of Santa,Tsalka District, in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia.[4] His parents (Ignatius and Kleoniki) were Greek pontian workers, originating from Dumanli, Turkey, who had 8 children, including Ivan. He was brought up as a Christian Orthodox, taught Greek history and until the age of 7 spoke only pontic Greek.
At the age of 14 he settled in Rostov-on-Don where he finished high school. He served his military service and was discharged with the rank of sergeant. At the end of his military service he found work at the Don State Tobacco Factory. At the same time, in 1984 he began studying at the Logistics Department of the Rostov Institute of National Economy, from which he graduated in 1988.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Savvidis joined the stream of Greek Pontians fleeing to Greece. [5] After spending some time in the village of Megali Vrysi in Kilkis where his sister lived, trying to encourage Greeks in the area to invest together in the private economy that was shaping the former Soviet Union, he returned to Rostov and his old job. After some time of successful work, the management decided to promote Savvidis, appointing him deputy director. In 1993, was elected by workers as general director of the Donskoy Tabak company.[4] The same year, during the privatisation process, "OJSC Donskoy Tabak" was established. Savvidis became the main shareholder of the company with a 75.71% stake and its chairman.

In 2013, Forbes listed Savvidis as the 30th wealthiest Russian businessman in the world.[6] In 2013 he purchased 82% of the Greek tobacco company SEKAP.[7]

In 2017 he acquirred 19% of Mega Channel but some months later he sold it.[8] In 2017 his Dimera Media company acquired the Pegasus Publications, which includes the newspapers of Ethnos and Imerisia.[9] On 11 August of the same year, he bought the E Channel from businessman Philipos Vryonis and the market agreement was ratified on 21 August 2017.

In March 2018, he sold the CJSC Donskoy Tabak, together with the Greek SEKAP, to Japan Tobacco for 1.6 billion.[10]

In February 2024 the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine decided, following a request by the Ukrainian Justice Ministry, to seize the assets of Ivan and Kyriaki Savvidis assets in the country due to his continued support for Russia's war effort in Ukraine. According to media sources, Savvidis' support dates back to 2014 and has been steady and long-standing. The confiscated assets include all of the shares of "PentoPak", a private joint stock company involved in polyamide food packaging, and all of the authorized capital of the Ukrainian subsidiary of food-packaging company "Atlantis-Pak".[11]
The State Property Fund of Ukraine proceeded in May 2024 to an electronic auction of the "PentoPak" company. According to the SPFU, this is the first case of the sale of a sanctioned plant. Its starting price was more than 203 million hryvnia. (about 4.5 million euro) [12]

Real estate

In February 2013, Savvidis took over the management of the Macedonia Palace in Thessaloniki.[13]

He has also acquired a number of historic villas of Thessaloniki (such as the Longos mansion, Villa Zardinidi etc.), while his recent investment in Porto Carras reaches €500million.[14]

Political career

Savvidis was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Rostov Oblast in 1998 and 2003. In 2003, Savvidis was elected as a Deputy in the State Duma; he subsequently served as the Deputy Chairman of the Budget Committee and Taxes. In 2007, Savvidis was re-elected as a Deputy in the State Duma as a member of the party United Russia led by chairman Vladimir Putin, serving until 2011. He served as a member of the Committee International Affairs,[15] as coordinator of Interparliamentary Relations with the Hellenic Parliament[15] and as Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Russia-Belarusian Union.[16]

He has previously made positive comments about the Greek political party Syriza and has likened Alexis Tsipras to Vladimir Putin.[17]

Sports

Between July 2002 and July 2005, Savvidis was President of FC Rostov.[18]

On 10 August 2012, he acquired ownership of the Greek football team PAOK[19] and entered the Forbes list of the richest people in the world.[20]

In 2015 Savvidis paid all of the club's debts to the Greek State, an amount that totalled at €10,886,811.[21] After his exit from the tax office he stated: "I had a cup of tea that cost me €10.8 million."[22]

Under his presidency, PAOK FC has won two Super League championships.

Controversies

Gun demonstration

Ivan Savvidis was the focus of global attention on the evening of March 11, 2018, when he entered the stadium during the PAOK - AEK championship match, which was a pivotal moment in the 2017–2018 season. At the time, the match was tied at 0-0, and at the 90-minute mark, PAOK's Fernando Varela scored the decisive goal with a header. The referee initially allowed the goal to PAOK, but a few minutes later, at the suggestion of the linesman and following protests from the AEK players, he disallowed the goal for offside. The overturning of the goal sparked a huge uproar both in the stands and inside the stadium, with players from both teams storming the pitch. Among them was Ivan Savvidis, who, accompanied by his bodyguards, ordered the PAOK players to leave the stadium. Ivan Savvidis appeared with a revolver strapped to his hip.[23] The referee and the AEK players headed to the locker room when they saw Savvidis with the handgun in his belt and the game was stopped.
The pistol was photographed by the mobile phones of AEK's officials and was soon released on the internet. Although the pistol did not come out of its holster, the spectacle of the gun-toting businessman storming the stadium was the subject of negative commentary worldwide.[24][25]

Savvidis was initially sentenced to 25 months' imprisonment, suspended for three years, after being found guilty of illegal entry into the stadium and possession of weapons. Apart from the criminal aspect, the sports justice system had punished the PAOK FC president with a three-year stadium ban and a fine of 100,000 euros. The sentence handed down by the appeal court was reduced to eight months, with a three-year suspension. The businessman was found guilty only for the accusation of "possession, with intent, of an object that may cause bodily harm during a sporting event".[26]

Allegations of joint ownership

His rivalry with Evangelos Marinakis, owner of Olympiacos F.C., is particularly bitter; their rivalry, combined with their respective spending power, far superior to that of other Greek football clubs, is seen by analysts as one of the causes of the sport's problems in the country.[27] In 2019, a television channel controlled by Marinakis broadcast an investigation accusing Savvidis of using figureheads to acquire ownership of another Super League team, Xanthi F.C., in violation of FIFA regulations governing professional leagues. An independent, government-appointed commission of inquiry was tasked with investigating the allegations: in 2020, after completing its investigations, the commission decided that the two clubs should be punished with relegation.
In Thessaloniki, there was an immediate outcry against this hypothesis, accusing the institutions of favoring Olympiakos; in the face of this and protests from certain political circles, the government tabled an amendment to the law stipulating as a penalty for such cases of multiple ownership the deduction of 5 to 10 points. [28]

The case reached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which referred it to the Appeals Committee for a new hearing on the merits. In 2021, the Appeals Committee of the EPO cleared PAOK F.C. of all charges. [29]

Personal life and community service

Savvidis is President of the Federation of Greek Communities of Russia,[30] and was a key figure in pushing for the newly created region by the World Council of Hellenes Abroad in the Black Sea countries.

In 2022, during the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, Savvidis ordered his associates to prepare around 487 rooms available at the Porto Carras resort in Chalkidiki within northern Greece in order to host refugees of the country during this time.[31]

He is married to Kyriaki Savvidi and has two sons, George (Giorgi) and Nick (Nikolai).

Awards

State

  • Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" IV degree (21 February 2008) – for achievements in legislative activity, strengthening of Russian statehood and the development of Rostov-on-Don[32]
  • Order of Honour (13 December 2003) – for labor achievements and many years of diligent work [33]
  • Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" II degree (6 September 1999) – for his contribution to the socio-economic development of the city of Rostov-on-Don, and in connection with its 250th anniversary [34]

Church

Public organizations

  • Medal "Patron of the Year" – for the revival of Russian culture and the Rostov-on-Don region (1999–2009)

References

  1. ^ "Саввиди Иван Игнатьевич" [Savvidi Ivan Ignatievich]. State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
  2. ^ "Putin's Wealthy Ally behind Sole Bidder for Bulgartabac". Novinite. One Click Media Group. 7 August 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Ivan Savvidis & family". Forbes. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b Мария Строителева (20 July 2018). "Кто такой Иван Саввиди? Биография ростовского бизнесмена, которого называют агентом влияния Путина в Европе" [Who is Ivan Savvidi? Biography of the Rostov businessman who is called Putin's agent of influence in Europe]. yuga.ru.
  5. ^ Alexander Clapp (5 January 2018). "The New Greek Oligarchy". The American Interest. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Ιβάν Σαββίδης: Ο 30ός πλουσιότερος Ρώσος" [Ivan Savvidis: The 30th Highest Russian]. Ta Nea (in Greek). 24 August 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Savvidis was aware of the problems when he bought SEKAP".
  8. ^ "Γιατί πούλησε τις μετοχές του Μega o Σαββίδης". Protagon.gr. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  9. ^ "Η είσοδος του Ιβάν Σαββίδη στον Πήγασο" [The entry of Ivan Savvides to Pegasus]. Naftemporiki (in Greek). 27 July 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  10. ^ "Ο Ιβάν Σαββίδης πούλησε τη Donskoy Tabak στην Japan Tobacco για $1,6 δισ". ProtoThema. 16 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Ukrainian court authorizes seizure of assets of Greek-Russian businessman Ivan Savvidis". ekathimerini.com. Η ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ. 9 February 2024.
  12. ^ Артур Крижний (6 May 2024). "Фонд держмайна виставляє на продаж завод за 200 мільйонів, конфіскований у російського олігарха" [The State Property Fund puts up for sale a plant for 200 million confiscated from a Russian oligarch]. epravda.com.ua. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  13. ^ Pegasus Interactive. "Ivan Savvidis changes 'Macedonia Pallas'". Ethnos. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Δίκη: "Μισό δισ. ευρώ η επένδυση Ιβάν στο Πόρτο Καρράς" (ηχητικό)". 31 October 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Иван Саввиди" [Ivan Savvidis]. Savvidi.ru. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012.
  16. ^ "Парламентское Собрание Союза Беларуси и России / Главная страница". www.belrus.ru. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  17. ^ "Ιβάν Σαββίδης: Ο Τσίπρας στη Βουλή μου θύμισε τον Πούτιν". ProtoThema (in Greek). 2 May 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  18. ^ Светлана Кочеткова (12 November 2015). "Бизнесмен Иван Саввиди оказал финансовую помощь ФК "Ростов"" (in Russian). Yuga.ru. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  19. ^ Ανακοίνωση ΠΑΕ ΠΑΟΚ (in Greek). paokfc.gr. Retrieved 21 August 2012.[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ "Ivan Savvidis". forbes.com. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  21. ^ PAOK FC (12 May 2015). Πληρώθηκαν τα χρέη, 14.15 ο Ιβάν στην ΦΑΕ! [Debts were paid, 14–15 Ivan to FAE!]. OLAPAOK (in Greek). 24 Media Group. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015.
  22. ^ "Ξεχρέωσε ο ΠΑΟΚ - Σαββίδης: "Ήπια τσάι στην Εφορία αξίας 10,8 εκατ."". Typosthes.gr.
  23. ^ "ΠΑΟΚ – ΑΕΚ: Ο αγώνας που έκανε «άνω-κάτω» το πρωτάθλημα" [PAOK - AEK Athens: the match that turned the championship "upside down"]. sportime.gr. SPORTIME DIGITAL SMPC. 11 March 2021. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021.
  24. ^ John Dunne (24 July 2018). "Ivan Savvidis 'gun' video: Owner of Greek football team PAOK FC brings 'weapon' onto pitch after disputed goal". standard.co.uk. The Standard.
  25. ^ Harry Sherlock (24 May 2024). "Soccer's wildest stories: Greek tragedy! PAOK owner Ivan Savvidis's gun-toting pitch invasion". goal.com.
  26. ^ "Θεσσαλονίκη: Δικάζεται στο εφετείο η υπόθεση εισβολής του Ιβάν Σαββίδη με όπλο στο γήπεδο, στον αγώνα ΠΑΟΚ-ΑΕΚ το 2018" [Thessaloniki: The case of Ivan Savvidis' invasion of the stadium with a gun at the 2018 PAOK-AEK game is tried in the Court of Appeal]. protothema.gr. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  27. ^ "Due miliardari in lotta nel disastrato calcio greco" [Two billionaires battling it out in the Greek football debacle]. ilpost.it. 26 February 2020. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023.
  28. ^ Χρήστος Μπόκας (28 January 2020). "ΠΑΟΚ - Ξάνθη: Στη Βουλή η τροπολογία - Προβλέπει αφαίρεση πέντε έως δέκα βαθμών" [PAOK vs Xanthi: The amendment in Parliament - Provides for the deduction of five to ten points]. protothema.gr.
  29. ^ "Το σκεπτικό-κόλαφος που καταρρίπτει την σκευωρία εις βάρος του ΠΑΟΚ" [The rationale that refutes the conspiracy against PAOK]. ethnos.gr. ΕΘΝΟΣ. 10 February 2021. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021.
  30. ^ "SAE – Ivan Savvidi re-elected President of the Federation of Greek Communities in Russia (AGOOR) / World Council of Hellenes Abroad". en.sae.gr. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  31. ^ Papadopoulos, Kosta (3 March 2022). "Greek-Russian soccer boss Ivan Savvidis to host Ukrainian refugees". greekcitytimes.com.
  32. ^ "Presidential Decree on February 21, 2008 № 233". Archived from the original on 9 July 2012.
  33. ^ "Presidential Decree of 13 December 2003 № 1485".
  34. ^ "Presidential Decree on September 6, 1999 № 1172". Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  35. ^ DECR Communication Service (24 July 2011). "Состоялся торжественный акт по случаю 65-летия Отдела внешних церковных связей Московского Патриархата" [A solemn act on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate]. The Russian Orthodox Church (in Russian).
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