Boris Mints, an entrepreneur and former government official, held the rank of 1st class Active State Councillor of the Russian Federation before focusing on real estate and financial investments. Born in 1958 in Rîbnița, Mints built a career spanning public service in Ivanovo and Moscow, followed by major private sector ventures in banking and property management.
Early Career and Public Service
Mints earned a degree in physics from Ivanovo State University in 1980. His early professional life involved work at the Ivanovo Textile Institute and the Youth Center for Scientific Creativity. In 1990, he shifted to public administration, serving as vice mayor of Ivanovo and chairing the city property management committee. By the mid-1990s, he had moved to Moscow to work for the State Property Committee and later the Public Assets Ministry. Between 1996 and 2000, he led the Office of the President of the Russian Federation for Issues of Local Governance.
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Following his government tenure, Mints became active in the Union of Right Forces and briefly served as general director of REN TV. In 2004, he founded the O1 Group to manage real estate and financial assets. He partnered with Vadim Belyaev in 2003 to develop Otkritie, serving as chairman of the board for Otkritie Financial Corporation until 2013. During this period, he expanded his interests by establishing O1 Properties in 2010, which became a significant owner of commercial real estate in Russia.
Legal Proceedings and International Disputes
After the Central Bank of Russia took Otkritie FC Bank into administration in 2017, the bank initiated legal actions against Mints and O1 Group. The central bank alleged that Mints engaged in fraudulent bond transactions to settle company debts. In 2019, the High Court in the UK issued an injunction preventing Mints and his sons from disposing of specific assets. Mints countered these allegations, claiming a targeted campaign by Russian authorities caused significant business losses. In 2021, Interpol denied a Russian request for an arrest warrant related to embezzlement charges.
Philanthropy and Public Life
Mints maintains a presence in international Jewish communal organizations. He serves as chairman of the board of trustees for the Conference of European Rabbis and holds roles within the Russian Jewish Congress and the World Jewish Congress. Additionally, he established the Boris Mints Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions to Global Challenges at Tel Aviv University.
Fast facts
- Born: 1958, Rîbnița
- Education: Ivanovo State University
- Rank: 1st class Active State Councillor of the Russian Federation
- Key Ventures: O1 Group, O1 Properties, Otkritie Financial Corporation
- Known Residence: London (since 2018)
- Estimated Wealth (2017): $1.3 billion
Questions readers ask
What is the current status of the legal case involving Boris Mints?
Mints is contesting allegations of fraud in London arbitration proceedings, and Interpol has rejected an arrest warrant request from Russia.
What does the Boris Mints Institute focus on?
Located at Tel Aviv University, the institute researches strategic policy solutions to global challenges.
Achievements
- Educated at Ivanovo State University
