Oleg Tinkov, a Russian entrepreneur and the founder of Tinkoff Bank, has published a new post on his Instagram where he told his followers that he had sold his share at the bank and now has “zero assets” in Russia.
“It’s a crying shame that my country has eventually fallen into barbarism, paternalism and servilism. <...> I have lost all my assets, but my Soul is still with me. I don’t see myself doing business in a country that attacked its neighbour, killing civilians and children. They are EVIL, and I wish to be on the GOOD side,” he wrote.
On 28 April , Russia’s Interros Holding owned by billionaire Vladimir Potanin, said that it had acquired 35% of shares in TCS Group Holding from Tinkov. In an interview with NYT, Tinkov mentioned that he is grateful to Potanin for “buying out his bank really quickly”.
Oleg Tinkov. Photo: Instagram
“You cowardly bastards, you only have one life, why not live it like a normal person,” said Tinkov addressing Russian oligarchs. “I’m keeping the TINKOFF and LA DATCHA trademarks, they belong to me and my family, and they will not be defiled by the bloodshed that Russia started in Ukraine. By the way, I believe Ukraine is going to win, because the good always prevails over the evil, this is what I learned from school,” he said. He also cited Alexander Griboyedov’s 1823 play Woe from Wit:
Away from Moscow! Catch me being here again!
I'll go around the world in search
Of a place with room for outraged feeling!
The coach! The coach!
According to Tinkov, the day after he published an anti-war message on social media, the Russian presidential administration threatened to nationalise Tinkoff Bank if the billionaire does not cut ties with it. The Kremlin also stressed that the bank must change its name. On 22 April, the Tinkoff Bank officials stated on Telegram that the bank would be rebranded in 2022. Shortly before that, Tinkov published a message on his Instagram, in which he condemned the Ukraine war: “I don’t see a single beneficiary of this crazy war! Innocent people and soldiers are dying.”
