Elena Kotova

Kotova in 2011.

Elena Kotova (b. November 21, 1956 in Moscow) is a Russian banker. In 2014, she was given a suspended five year jail sentence in Moscow after being convicted of soliciting a US$1.4 million bribe at the EBRD.[1][2]

Biography

Kotova was born on November 21, 1956 in Moscow.[3] She is the daughter of Victor Kotov and Natalia Kotova.[3] She studied at Moscow State University.[3][4]

Before joining the EBRD, Kotova worked for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Kotova was the former executive director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development from 2005 to 2010, where was the "top Russian official."[5][6][7] In summer 2010, the bank placed her under internal investigation, "apparently for corruption."[5] In November 2010, the report was finished. In December 2010, the EBRD referred Kotova's case to the City of London Police and sent her file to Russian authorities.[5] Kotova's diplomatic immunity was lifted and criminal investigations were launched in Russia and the UK.[5] Her bank accounts were frozen while her passport was confiscated.[5]

In January 2013, Kotova was charged in Moscow[5] with attempting to solicit a US$1.4 million bribe.[1] Kotova denied any wrongdoing.[5]

In March 2013, Kotova was committed to a psychiatric hospital in Russia for testing.[5]

In 2014, Kotova was given a suspended five year jail sentence.[1][2]

Kotova lives in Moscow, Russia.[8] According to her website, she is currently a novelist, real estate developer, and interior architect.[8] She is married to Nick Zimin; they wedded in 1985.[3] She has a son.[8] Her personal interests include skiing, swimming, and dance.[3]

Kotova has written four novels.[5]

On March 23, 2016, Kotova agreed to settle the UK's National Crime Agency's civil recovery claim by handing over her UK£1.5 million apartment in Mayfair and approximately UK£230,000.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Henry Meyer (2013-01-15). "Russia Charges Former EBRD Banker With Soliciting Bribe". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  2. 1 2 Henry Meyer (2014-06-16). "Russia Hands Ex-EBRD Director Suspended Prison Sentence". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Sleeman, Elizabeth (2002). The International Who's Who of Women 2002. p. 306.
  4. ↑ "elena kotova | LinkedIn". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Mary Dejevsky (2013-04-29). "Elena Kotova: a corrupt Russian banker or an innocent pawn in a global power struggle? | Europe | News". The Independent. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  6. ↑ Jonathan Paige. "Russian bank staff under investigation in London | Business". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  7. ↑ Weaver, Courtney (2013-01-15). "Russia charges former EBRD director". Next.ft.com. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  8. 1 2 3 "Елена Котова - обо мне || Elena Kotova - about me". www.elenakotova.com. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  9. ↑ "National Crime Agency - Disgraced Russian banker hands over Mayfair property". www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-04-30.

External links

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