Jewish Entrepreneur, With
Israeli Media Assets, Dominate Russia's Media Stream
Goussinsky Owns a Satellite Television Network, an
Influential TV Channel, and Provides Monopolistic Programming and
Finances for 50 Related Stations in Russia. And he owns 25% of
Ma'ariv, Israel's leading evening newspaper. See how the Jewish
Internationalist Finance tentacles seem to created a vast monopoly on
information sources for the Russian People?
BY LEY KRICHEVSKY
MOSCOW, August 5, 1998, (JTA) - In order to enter Vladimir
Goussinsky's spacious office, you must first pass through an
airport-style metal detector and pass a security-guard
inspection.
Contributing to his shadowy image, Goussinsky rides in a dark-blue
bulletproof Mercedes, usually accompanied by a convoy of bodyguards.
When he plays tennis, as many as 15 armed guard patrol the
courts.
His personal wealth is believed to have topped $1 billion. "I have
a dream," he said in an interview in the 21st-floor office he shares
with Moscow's City Hall. "When I am not in this world anymore or am
very old, they will remember the name Goussinsky just as they recall
the name of the family who started The New York Times."
But Goussinky is more than just one of Russia's wealthiest men. As
the president of the Russian Jewish congress, he is the public
figurehead of Russian Jewry and the leading Russian sponsor of Jewish
communal projects.
Today, his empire includes an influential television chan-nel, a
satellite television net-work, a radio station and a company that
provides pro-gramming and finances for some 50 related stations
throughout Russia. Goussinsky's media empire also includes a leading
daily newspaper and a weekly magazine published in cooperation with
Newsweek.
"Our task is to help people identify themselves as Jews,"
explained Goussinsky. "If we succeed, the number of Jews living in
Russia will increase."
But even being a Russian media baron and the coun-try's leading
Jewish philan-thropist does not fully satisfy his ambitions. Upset
with Israel's treatment of Russian immigrants, Goussinsky said he
would like to play a more visible role in the Jewish State.
Indeed, he recently outbid cosmetics heir Ronald Lauder to
purchase a 25-percent share in Ma'Ariv. Israel's leading evening
newspaper. "I am always tempted to interfere," he said.
Quoted from St. Louis Jewish Light Republication of a JTA
Report, dated August 5, 1998, Page 3.
