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Ozero (, lake) (full name: дачный потребительский кооператив «Озеро», Dacha consumer cooperative "Ozero") is a dacha cooperative in northwest Russia associated with Vladimir Putin's inner circle.
Vladimir Putin returned from his KGB posting in Dresden in early 1990, prior to the formal establishment of the Ozero cooperative, and acquired property on the banks of Lake Komsomolskoye. His dacha burned down in 1996 but was rebuilt later that year. Others bought more land around this area and built a number of villas close to each other to form a gated community. A bank account linked to this cooperative association was opened, allowing money to be deposited and used by all account holders in accordance with the Russian law on cooperatives.
By 2012, members of the Ozero cooperative had assumed top positions in Russian government and business and become very successful financially.
The Ozero cooperative society holds a bank account at the Leningrad Oblast Bank. The financial transactions of the Ozero cooperative are unknown. By law any of the members would be able to deposit and withdraw funds for his own use. Karen Dawisha, director of the Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies at Miami University, concluded that "in Russia a cooperative arrangement is another way for Putin to avoid being given money directly, while enjoying the wealth shared among co-owners".
Putin. Corruption, an independent report published by the opposition People's Freedom Party, is about the alleged corruption in Vladimir Putin's inner circle and has a chapter about Ozero.
Ozero members
The table includes alleged net worth or annual compensation
Andrei Fursenko Center for Strategic Research Northwest, Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (2004–2012), Aide to the President of the Russian Federation (2012–present), Honorary Consul to Bangladesh in St Petersburg Unknown Sergey Fursenko Lentransgaz subsidiary of Gazprom, Gasprom Gas-Motor Fuel, president of National Media Group, president of the Russian Football Union (2010–2012) Unknown Yury Kovalchuk Bank Rossiya and its subsidiaries (e.g. co-owner of National Media Group), Center for Strategic Research Northwest, Honorary Consul to Thailand in St Petersburg $1.4b net worth Viktor Myachin former Director-General of Bank Rossiya (1995–1998, 1999–2004), CEO of the investment company "Abros", a subsidiary of Rossiya Bank (2004–present): This investment company owns 51% of the Согаз, a big insurance company in Russia Unknown Vladimir Putin President of Russia see Personal wealth Nikolai Shamalov Vyborg Shipyard, Bank Rossiya, Gazprombank $500m net worth Vladimir Smirnov Techsnabexport (2002–2007) Unknown Vladimir Yakunin deputy minister of transport (2000–present), president of Russian Railways (2005–2015) $15m annual salary
Security
Purportedly the firm Rif-Security provides security for the Ozero Dacha Community. Rif-Security is controlled by the alleged boss of the Tambov Gang Vladimir Kumarin and Vladimir Smirnov.
Political effect
Some observers hint that the roots of Putin's power may lie in Ozero camaraderie.
See also
Notes
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