“It is not my business”. Usmanov speaks about the Russian-Ukrainian conflict

Alisher Usmanov, the Russian billionaire, founder, and largest shareholder of USM holding gave an interview with the Italian TV channel "TGcom24" and expressed his reaction to the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Usmanov said that reacting to the war is not his business!

When it comes to the impressions of the war, it is primarily a shock for everyone.

"How can we not be shocked by what is happening? In the 21st century, war does not benefit anyone in terms of human goals. But this is not my business, I am not a politician, and I do not want to do politics. And that's why I think that any conflict should end peacefully, most importantly, without casualties," - Usmanov said in response to a journalist's question.

He expressed his hope that sooner or later the conflicts would end and law order would be restored. He also said that he believed that he would gain respect in Europe, be recognized all over the world, and that he had not spent his life in vain.

"In the future, I will try to help people, humanity, and countries, including Uzbekistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. And I will certainly try to do good to Italy, at least to the city of Arzachena, at least to the region of Sardinia," - he said about his future plans.

In addition, Alisher Usmanov told the Italian TV channel "TGcom24" about his love for Italy:

"My greatest love is Sardinia. This region of Italy also preserves traces of eastern populations. When I came there for the first time, I felt the spirit and special dignity of the people I see and hear in my homeland, Uzbekistan. I am proud that many Italians I know and friends I have made did not give up on a person like Alisher Usmanov. I sincerely thank everyone. This was another confirmation that Italians are true friends," the billionaire concluded.

For reference, Alisher Usmanov is the founder and the largest shareholder of USM Group, which includes “Metalloinvest”, “Udokan Copper” and “Megafon”. According to Forbes, he ranks seventh on the list of the richest Russian billionaires. The magazine estimates his net at 11.5 billion dollars.

However, the past year 2022 was very terrible for Usmanov. Since February 24, the billionaire has been included in the sanctions list of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, the United States of America, and the European Union.

In November, German authorities seized 30 original works of art believed to belong to him, worth five million euros, including a work by artist Marc Chagall.

In addition, his $600 million yacht Dilbar, which was sanctioned in March, was later seized due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In December, it was reported that the underground warehouses of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov's company, where more than 160,000 tons of Ukrainian iron ore worth about $54 million were stored, were blocked in Ukraine.

It should be reminded that Alisher Usmanov asked to be dismissed from the management bureau of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and announced that he wants to retire.