Monday, December 03, 2007

RUSSIA - 2 billionaires to help Russia reclaim Orthodox church buildings in Jerusalem


Roman Abramovich and Arcadi Gaydamak could cover expenses for recuperating 2 churches in Jerusalem.
According to the Imperial Orthodox Israel Society, the 2 Jewish billionaires Abramovich and Gaydamak accepted Russian government’s request to help cover the costs of recovering 2 churches. The 2 churches, called St. Sergius and the Ecclesiastical Mission, are located in the Russian Compound. Both buildings were acquired by Israel from the Soviet authorities in the 1960s and are currently occupied by Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court.

Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich is a Russian billionaire and the main owner of private investment company Millhouse Capital. According to the 2007 Forbes magazine, Abramovich had a net worth of $18.7 billion. He is most famous outside Russia as the owner of Chelsea Football Club, an English Premiership football team, and for his wider involvement in European football. Abramovich is currently looking to acquire villas and buildings in the center of Tel Aviv, Israel.
Arcadi Alexandrovich Gaydamak is a Russian-Israeli billionaire businessman, and member of the wealthy Gaydamak family. At the age of 20, Gaydamak was one of the first Jews to emigrate to Israel from Leonid Brezhnev’s Soviet Union. In February 2007 he announced the establishment of his own Israeli social movement, Social Justice, which became a political party in July of 2007. His son Alexandre Gaydamak is also a businessman and owner of Portsmouth F.C. in England.

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