Russian Oligarch Exits Board of Guggenheim After Twenty Years
Vladimir Potanin, the president of the world’s largest high-grade nickel producer and one in every of Russia’s richest oligarchs, tendered his resignation as a board member of New York’s Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum on March 2. Potanin joined the board in 2002 and has been a significant benefactor of the establishment by means of his basis funding quite a few exhibitions there, together with a survey of the work of Wassily Kandinsky, which is at present on show. No cause was cited for his departure, although the New York Occasions famous that Potanin was one in every of a bunch of oligarchs who final week met with Putin on the Kremlin as Russia continued its assault on Ukraine. In a press launch relating to Potanin’s departure, the museum was indirect relating to Potanin’s connection to Russian energy however agency in its help of Ukraine.
“Vladimir Potanin has suggested the Board of Trustees of his resolution to step down as Trustee efficient instantly,” the Guggenheim assertion learn. “The Guggenheim accepts this resolution and thanks Mr. Potanin for his service to the Museum and his help of exhibition, conservation and academic applications. The Guggenheim strongly condemns the Russian invasion and unprovoked struggle towards the federal government and folks of Ukraine.”
The Norilsk Nickel chief, who additionally holds a controlling stake in Russian drug firm Petrovax Pharm, has a internet price of $25.2 billion, in keeping with the Bloomberg Billionaire’s Index. The Washington Publish reported that he’s a benefactor of Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Heart, the place he funded the creation of the Russian Lounge in 2011, to the tune of $5 million. Potanin additionally donated artworks to the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and was subsequently awarded the French Legion of Honor. His departure from the Guggenheim board comes simply days after Russian billionare Petr Aven stepped down from the board of London’s Royal Academy after he was positioned on the EU’s sanction record in relation to Ukraine.