Yury Chyzh
Yury Chyzh (Belarusian: Юрый Чыж, Russian: Юрий Чиж, Yury Chizh, born 1963) is a Belarusian businessman, believed to be one of the country's richest people. According to estimates, he is the second-wealthiest businessman in Belarus, the first being Vladimir Peftiev.[1] On March 23, 2012, Chyzh was included in EU's travel ban list because of his alleged ties to the regime of Alexander Lukashenko.[2]
Early life[edit]
Yury chyzh was born in the village Sabali, Biaroza Raion, Brest Province in south-western Belarus.
He graduated from the electronic technical faculty of the Belarusian Polytechnical Institute. After graduation he made a career at the Minsk Tractor Plant and became head of energy supply of one of the factory's facilities.[3]
As a businessman[edit]
In 1994 Yury Chyzh established his company, Triple, which is active in construction business and production of construction materials.[1]
In the following years his business expanded into production of non-alcoholic drinks (AquaTriple), production of aluminium constructions, transport and several other areas. Yury Chyzh owns the prominent restaurant and brewery Rakauski brovar in Minsk.[3]
In 1999 Chyzh became member of the Council on development of entrepreneurship under the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.
A BYPOL investigation has uncovered that Yury Chyzh had gifted a 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé worth half a million US dollars and a 1988 Panther Kallista to Lukashenko.[4]
In October 2022, the Belarusian Investigative Center declared that Yury Chyzh and his Lithuanian business partner Vitold Tomaševskij resold Russian oil under the guise of solvents in 2011–2012.[5]
Chyzh has apparently fallen out of favor with the Belarusian authorities.[5] He was under arrest in 2016 and from 2021 to 2022 on tax evasion charges;[6] in February 2023, Chyzh was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, but was released from serving the term due to an amnesty and the time he had spent in custody.[7]
Social activity[edit]
Yury Chyzh was president of the FC Dinamo Minsk. In 2008–2016, he was head of the Belarusian national wrestling federation.
Family[edit]
Yury Chyzh was married with two sons and a daughter.[8] In the spring of 2023, Yury Chyzh confirmed in an interview that he had divorced his wife and was in conflict with his family.[9]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Юры Чыж: Гісторыя поспеху".
- ^ ЕС обнародовал черный список из 12 человек и 29 компаний. TUT.BY
- ^ a b "Кто есть кто в Республике Беларусь : Who is who in Belarus". Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
- ^ "The $6 million car fleet. Top 10 Lukashenka's bribe givers". European Radio for Belarus. January 3, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ a b Šarūnas Černiauskas; Ales Yarashevich (November 22, 2022). "Belarusian Opposition Demands Action after OCCRP Uncovers Multi-billion Scheme". Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
- ^ Юрий Чиж вышел на свободу спустя полтора года после задержания
- ^ Марина Коктыш (February 13, 2023). "Юрию Чижу дали 3 года и 6 месяцев лишения свободы". Narodnaja Volya (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2023-02-13.
- ^ "Супруга Юрия Чижа попала на страницы журнала". Narodnaja Volya (in Russian). September 8, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11.
- ^ Марина Коктыш (May 12, 2023). "Как сегодня живет Юрий Чиж?". Narodnaja Volya (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2023-05-12.
External list[edit]
- Найбагацейшыя людзі Беларусі
- Triple Group official website