German Valeryevich Gorbuntsov is a Russian businessman, banker and philanthropist, now living in London, UK. He was a member of the board of directors of the banks: Inter-Rus, Bank Industrial Credit, InterCredit Bank, VIP Money Transfer, Conversbank-Moscow & Interprogress.
Biography
In 2006, Gorbuntsov became the owner of Spartak hockey club, and his close friend Pyotr Chuvilin became the director of the club who was later arrested. It was these two who later became the defendants in a high-profile case, in which police officers were implicated, demanding a large amount of money for the protection of Inkreditbank Gorbuntsov. Three months before the purchase, the hockey team virtually ceased to exist due to financial difficulties, but by December 2006, it had returned to the top division in the Russian championship. In February 2008, Gorbuntsov received the “Person of the Year 2007” award “For his contribution to the revival of Russian sport”. Later, in 2009-2011, he was also the chairman of the board of Spartak. At the end of 2008, Gorbuntsov acquired about 80 percent of the shares of Moldovan bank Universalbank. According to media reports that same year, the banker received Moldovan citizenship. In 2012, German Gorbuntsov survived an unsuccessful attempt on his life in central London. According to The Guardian, the assassination attempt on Gorbuntsov originated from the Solntsevskaya Bratvaorganized crime syndicate in Moscow. Gorbuntsov, who was seriously injured, was hospitalized in critical condition and put into an artificial coma, which he was in until April 1. Gorbuntsov later testified that the attack on him was organized by the pro-Russian politician Renato Usatii.
Scandals
Gorbuntsov was a partner of the Moldavian oligarch Vladimir Plakhotnyuk. A criminal case was brought against Plakhotnyuk in Russia for the alleged creation of a criminal community and the illegal withdrawal of funds abroad, in which Gorbuntsov was alleged to have participated.
