# Boris Berezovsky

> Russian oligarch, government official, engineer and mathematician (1946–2013)

**Wikidata**: [Q311019](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q311019)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Berezovsky_(businessman))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/boris-berezovsky

## Summary

Boris Abramovich Berezovsky (1946–2013) was a Russian oligarch, government official, engineer, mathematician, and entrepreneur who became one of the most influential business figures in post-Soviet Russia. He founded and controlled numerous enterprises across media, automotive, and oil industries, and held significant political influence during the 1990s and early 2000s. Berezovsky was known for his close ties to the Kremlin and his role in Russian politics until his exile in the early 2000s.

## Biography

- **Born**: January 23, 1946
- **Died**: March 23, 2013
- **Nationality**: Soviet Union (until 1991), Russia (1991–2013)
- **Citizenship**: Soviet Union, Russia
- **Education**: 
  - Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU)
  - MSU Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics (established 1933)
  - Additional education at Russian Academy of Sciences institutions
- **Known for**: Building a business empire in post-Soviet Russia, owning TV-6, political involvement with United Russia, close association with Tatyana Yumasheva
- **Employer(s)**: Various business enterprises (notably TV-6)
- **Field(s)**: Mathematics, Engineering, Economics, Politics, Entrepreneurship

## Contributions

Berezovsky's contributions spanned multiple domains:

1. **Mathematics and Academia**: He was trained as a mathematician at Moscow State University's Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, one of the most prestigious mathematical institutions in the Soviet Union.

2. **Business Empire**: Berezovsky built extensive business holdings across several sectors:
   - **Media**: Owned TV-6, the first Russian commercial television channel launched in 1993, which was closed in 2002
   - **Automotive**: Involved in the Russian automotive industry
   - **Oil**: Held interests in oil-related enterprises

3. **Political Influence**: He maintained close ties to the Russian government and was associated with United Russia, the ruling Putinist political party established in 2001. He was connected to Tatyana Yumasheva, a Russian politician.

4. **Awards and Recognition**:
   - Russian Federation Presidential Certificate of Gratitude
   - Lenin Komsomol Prize (established March 28, 1966, USSR award)

## FAQs

**What was Boris Berezovsky's professional background?**

Berezovsky was trained as a mathematician and engineer, graduating from Lomonosov Moscow State University's Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics. He later became a prominent entrepreneur and business oligarch in post-Soviet Russia.

**What businesses did Boris Berezovsky own?**

Berezovsky owned TV-6, the first Russian commercial television channel launched in 1993, which was defunct by 2002. He also had extensive interests in the automotive and oil industries in Russia.

**What was Boris Berezovsky's political affiliation?**

Berezovsky was associated with United Russia, the ruling Putinist political party in Russia, and maintained close ties to the Kremlin during the 1990s and early 2000s.

**What awards did Boris Berezovsky receive?**

He received the Russian Federation Presidential Certificate of Gratitude and the Lenin Komsomol Prize, a prestigious Soviet Union award established in 1966.

**When and where did Boris Berezovsky live?**

Berezovsky was born on January 23, 1946, in the Soviet Union and died on March 23, 2013. He was a citizen of both the Soviet Union and later Russia.

## Why They Matter

Berezovsky mattered as one of the first and most prominent oligarchs to emerge from the privatization era of post-Soviet Russia. His influence extended across business, media, and politics, making him a key figure in Russia's transition from communism to capitalism. His ownership of TV-6 gave him significant media influence during a formative period in Russian democracy. His relationships with political figures, including connections to United Russia and Tatyana Yumasheva, demonstrated the close intermingling of business and politics in 1990s Russia. The closure of TV-6 in 2002 and Berezovsky's subsequent exile marked a significant shift in the Russian media landscape and political environment. His life and career serve as a case study of the chaotic privatization process and the rise of oligarchic capitalism in Russia during the 1990s.

## Notable For

- Being among the first generation of Russian oligarchs after the Soviet Union's dissolution
- Owning TV-6, Russia's first commercial television channel (1993–2002)
- Maintaining close ties to the Kremlin and United Russia party
- Holding degrees in mathematics and engineering from Moscow State University
- Receiving the Lenin Komsomol Prize (Soviet-era award)
- Receiving the Russian Federation Presidential Certificate of Gratitude
- Having connections to Tatyana Yumasheva, a Russian politician
- Being a citizen of both the Soviet Union and Russia

## Body

### Early Life and Education

Boris Abramovich Berezovsky was born on January 23, 1946. He pursued higher education at Lomonosov Moscow State University, one of Russia's most prestigious academic institutions, attending the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, which was established in 1933. This faculty produced many of the Soviet Union's leading mathematicians and scientists. Berezovsky's mathematical training provided him with analytical skills that would later benefit his business ventures.

### Academic and Professional Background

Berezovsky's professional identity encompassed multiple roles: mathematician, engineer, economist, politician, and entrepreneur. His background in mathematics was not merely academic—he applied quantitative and analytical approaches to his business endeavors. The Russian Academy of Sciences, founded in 1724, represented the pinnacle of Soviet scientific achievement, and Berezovsky's connection to this institution through his education placed him among Russia's intellectual elite during the Soviet era.

### Business Empire

Berezovsky became one of the most prominent oligarchs in post-Soviet Russia. His business empire spanned multiple industries:

**Media**: His most visible business venture was TV-6, the first Russian commercial television channel, launched in 1993. TV-6 represented a new era in Russian media, moving beyond state-controlled broadcasting. The channel operated until 2002 when it was closed, a development that marked a significant shift in the Russian media landscape.

**Automotive Industry**: Berezovsky held interests in Russia's automotive sector, which became a key area of economic activity during the privatization era.

**Oil Industry**: He also maintained business interests in the oil sector, one of Russia's most valuable industries.

### Political Connections

Berezovsky's political influence was substantial during the 1990s and early 2000s. He was associated with United Russia, the dominant political party in Russia established on December 1, 2001. His connections to the Kremlin were extensive, and he was known for his ability to navigate the complex political landscape of post-Soviet Russia. He was connected to Tatyana Yumasheva, a Russian politician with ties to the presidential administration.

### Awards and Recognition

Berezovsky received several honors recognizing his contributions:

- **Russian Federation Presidential Certificate of Gratitude**: An official recognition from the Russian presidency
- **Lenin Komsomol Prize**: A prestigious Soviet Union award established on March 28, 1966, given to young people for achievements in science, technology, literature, and arts

### Later Life and Death

Berezovsky died on March 23, 2013. His death marked the end of a remarkable journey from Soviet-era mathematician to one of Russia's most influential business figures. His career trajectory reflected the dramatic transformations in Russian society from the Soviet period through the 1990s privatization era and into the Putin era.

### Legacy

Berezovsky's life represents the complexities of Russia's transition from communism to capitalism. He exemplified the emergence of a new class of business leaders who combined technical expertise with entrepreneurial ambition and political connections. His career also illustrates the risks of doing business in Russia's volatile economic and political environment, where success often depended on maintaining favorable relationships with those in power. The closure of TV-6 and his subsequent difficulties demonstrated the precarious position of even the most powerful oligarchs in the changing Russian political landscape.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. [Source](https://gzt.ru/politics/2002/09/21/120016.html)
3. International Standard Name Identifier
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. Source
6. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
7. SNAC
8. BnF authorities
9. Munzinger Personen
10. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
11. The Movie Database
12. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands