Wladimir Jakunin

Wladimir Jakunin is a Russian businessman and former KGB officer, known for his close ties to Vladimir Putin and his involvement in various Russian Railways projects. He has been associated with several high-profile Russian oligarchs, including Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Roman Abramovich. Jakunin's career has been marked by his involvement in Russian foreign policy and his relationships with key figures such as Sergey Lavrov and Dmitry Medvedev. He has also been linked to various European Union officials, including Jose Manuel Barroso and Herman Van Rompuy.

● Early Life and Education

Wladimir Jakunin was born in Leningrad and graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Railway Engineers, where he studied alongside other notable figures such as Anatoly Chubais and Boris Berezovsky. He later attended the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, where he earned a degree in international relations and studied under prominent professors such as Andranik Migranyan and Sergey Karaganov. Jakunin's early career was influenced by his connections to the KGB and his involvement in Soviet foreign policy, particularly during the Cold War era, when he interacted with key figures such as Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin.

● Career

Jakunin's career has been marked by his involvement in various Russian Railways projects, including the development of the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Baikal-Amur Mainline. He has worked closely with other notable figures in the Russian railway industry, such as Vladimir Yakunin and Alexander Misharin. Jakunin has also been involved in Russian foreign policy, particularly in regards to Russia's relations with the European Union and NATO. He has participated in various international forums, including the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he has interacted with prominent global leaders such as Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron.

● Business Interests

Jakunin has been involved in various business ventures, including the development of the North-South Transport Corridor and the Eurasian Land Bridge. He has worked with several major Russian companies, including Gazprom and Rosneft, and has been involved in various joint ventures with European companies such as Siemens and Alstom. Jakunin has also been linked to various offshore companies and tax havens, including those in Cyprus and the British Virgin Islands, which have been associated with other notable figures such as Sergey Pugachev and Oleg Deripaska.

● Controversies and Sanctions

Jakunin has been involved in several controversies, including allegations of corruption and money laundering. He has been subject to sanctions by the United States Department of the Treasury and the European Union, particularly in regards to his involvement in Russian actions in Ukraine and his connections to Vladimir Putin. Jakunin has also been linked to various Russian propaganda efforts, including the promotion of RT (TV network) and Sputnik (news agency), which have been associated with other notable figures such as Margarita Simonyan and Dmitry Kiselyov.

● Personal Life

Jakunin is married and has several children, and is known to maintain a low public profile. He has been associated with various Russian cultural institutions, including the Bolshoi Theatre and the Tretyakov Gallery, and has been involved in various charitable organizations, including those supporting Russian orphans and veterans of the Soviet-Afghan War. Jakunin has also been linked to various Russian Orthodox Church figures, including Patriarch Kirill and Metropolitan Hilarion, and has been involved in various interfaith dialogue initiatives, including those with the Roman Catholic Church and the Islamic Community of Russia.