Viktor Gushan

Viktor Anatolievich Gushan (Russian: Виктор Анатольевич Гушан; Romanian: Victor Gușan; born 9 September 1962) is a Moldovan–Russian businessman and former KGB officer.

Viktor Gushan
Born (1962-09-09) September 9, 1962
CitizenshipMoldovan
Transnistrian
Russian
Ukrainian[1]
Occupation(s)Spy, businessman, police officer
ChildrenEvgeniy Viktorovich Gushan[2]

Biography

Gushan was born on September 9, 1962.[3] He was a KGB officer,[4] where, according to some sources, he was known as the "Sheriff".[5][6] According to other sources, he was a combatant in the Transnistria war, fighting on the side of the separatists and contributing to the arrest of members of the Ilașcu group.

In 1993, together with Ilya Kazmaly, he founded the Sheriff holding company, inspired either from his nickname or from his interests toward the Wild West police force of the United States during the 19th century.[7][8][9] Since March 2012, Gushan has full control of the company and is its chairman.[10] Initially, the company was active in the cigarette and alcohol trade, and subsequently expanded to other areas. Sheriff holds a monopoly on trade, oil, telecommunications and Transnistrian media. In 2021, the company controlled about 60% of the economy of Transnistria.

Gushan is one of the richest people in post-Soviet space, with his fortune estimated at $2 billion.[11][12] Besides Russia and Moldova (especially Transnistria), Gushan also has business in Ukraine, Cyprus and Germany.[13] he also owns properties in the Odesa Oblast of Ukraine.[14][15] Following Russia's annexation of Crimea, Gushan expanded his business to this region.[16][17]

The success of Sheriff was facilitated by former Transnistrian president Igor Smirnov, who exempted the company from paying customs duties. The company supports the political party Obnovlenie, which has held power in the Transnistria for years.[18][19] During his tenure as President of Transnistria, Yevgeny Shevchuk criticized the Sheriff monopoly and accused Gushan of being involved in various criminal activities.[20] After completing his mandate, Shevchuk fled Transnistria, accusing Gushan of trying to assassinate him.[21] Following the 2020 elections, Obnovlenie is the only party present in the Supreme Soviet of the Transnistria, thus concentrating all power in Gushan's hands.[22] For these reasons, Gushan is considered an oligarch,[23] or even the shadow leader of Transnistria.[24][25][26] He is also the president of FC Sheriff.

References
  1. https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-sheriff-tiraspol-murky-business/31516518.html
  2. https://newsmaker.md/rus/novosti/v-pridnestrove-opublikovali-predvaritelnye-rezultaty-vyborov-v-verhovnyy-sovet-storonniki-obnovleniya-pobezhdayut-v-bolshinstve-okrugov/
  3. "Profile: Виктор Гушан". Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  4. "Dezvăluiri incredibile". Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  5. "Transnistria Isn't the Smuggler's Paradise It Used to be". Archived from the original on September 1, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  6. "Dezvăluiri incredibile". Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  7. "FC Sheriff: The Moldova minnows who beat Real Madrid and now face Man Utd".
  8. Wesolowsky, Tony (October 19, 2021). "The Shadowy Business Empire Behind the Meteoric Rise of Sheriff Tiraspol". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
  9. "Совладельцы "Первого канала" создадут бизнес с приднестровским олигархом". Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  10. "Profile: Виктор Гушан". Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  11. "Приднестровье выбирало между вертикалью и вермишелью". November 30, 2015. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  12. "Становление олигархических СМИ в Приднестровье". Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  13. "Separatism pe bani mari. Mafioții de la Sheriff și-au deschis zeci de firme în Europa cu banii furați de la moldoveni". July 2021. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  14. "Povestea de film a omului de afaceri care deține Sheriff. Rege la Tiraspol, persoana non-grata în UE". September 29, 2021. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  15. "Transnistrenii Viktor Gușan și Ilya Kazmaly riscă să rămână fără Intertelecom, afacerea lor profitabilă din Ucraina". Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  16. "Averea secretă din Ucraina a celui mai influent oligarh transnistrean". Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  17. "Milionarii din Transnistria își extind afacerile în Crimeea – MoldStreet". Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  18. "Приднестровский референдум выиграла старая гвардия". September 19, 2006. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  19. "Приднестровью облегчили последствия выбора". December 12, 2016. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  20. "Экс-президент Приднестровья уплыл в бега". June 28, 2017. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  21. "Бывший глава Приднестровья заявил о готовившемся на него покушении". June 29, 2017. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  22. "Пришерифская молдавская республика". November 30, 2020. Archived from the original on December 26, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  23. "Formația moldoveană a dat lovitura în Liga Campionilor". Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  24. Averea secretă a omului din umbră de la Tiraspol şi problemele sale cu UE: interzis la victoria istorică a lui Sheriff cu Real Madrid » Fanatik.ro, Fanatik.ro, September 28, 2021, archived from the original on July 4, 2022, retrieved July 4, 2022
  25. Diana Răileanu (July 1, 2016), ""Republica Sheriff": o investigație despre afacerile oligarhilor transnistreni Victor Gușan și Ilia Kazmali", Radio Europa Liberă, archived from the original on May 18, 2022, retrieved July 4, 2022
  26. Приднестровье и Молдавия поговорили по-деловому (in Russian), www.kommersant.ru, November 27, 2017, archived from the original on September 30, 2021, retrieved July 4, 2022
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