Rotenberg denies his friend Putin helps him run his business

(Interfax – MOSCOW, July 10, 2013) Russian oligarch Arkady Rotenberg has denied that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he has known for a long time, helps him solve his business problems.

“Vladimir Vladimirovich and I started training in sambo wrestling when I was a little over 13 and he a little over 12. Our acquaintance goes back to that time, and our friendship is based on sport. It always gives us a great deal of pleasure to reminisce about our sporting activities,” Rotenberg told Russia’s Rossiya 24 television.

“Sport is the only reason for our contact. There aren’t too many people who can boast about friends they’ve had since they were 12 or 13. If you mean do I ask him for help with my business, I don’t,” Rotenberg said.

Forbes first put Rotenberg on its 100 richest Russians list in 2010, giving him 99th place. In the magazine’s 2013 rankings he was 31st with his estimated net worth at $3.3 billion.

Rotenberg and his family own the Stroigazmontazh group, SMP Bank, and stakes in Mostotrest and other companies.

The Rotenberg brothers control Russia’s largest pipe trader, North European Pipe Project, which recorded revenues of 111 billion rubles and a net profit of 12 billion rubles for 2011.

Arkady Rotenberg is president of the Dynamo Moscow ice hockey club and first vice president of the Russian Judo Federation.