German Sterligov
German Lvovich Sterligov | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 18, 1966 Zagorsk (now Sergiyev Posad), Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, environmental advocate |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Known for | First official Russian millionaire, founder of Russian commodities exchange "Alisa", political activism, environmental advocacy |
German Lvovich Sterligov (; born 18 October 1966) is recognized as a Russian entrepreneur and environmental advocate.
Early life and education
Born in Zagorsk (present-day Sergiyev Posad), within the Russian SFSR of the Soviet Union, Sterligov pursued higher education but ultimately did not complete his studies.
Career
Amid the collapse of the USSR in 1990, Sterligov contributed to establishing the Russian commodities exchange, which he named after his dog, Alisa. Launching his enterprise at just 24 years old, he earned the distinction of becoming Russia’s inaugural official millionaire. His business expanded to employ more than 2,500 staff, maintaining offices in both New York City and London, with his net worth exceeding one billion dollars. By 1996, he adopted the Russian Orthodox faith; however, his religious perspectives attracted criticism from established orthodox theologians.
A proponent of nationalism, Sterligov engaged in multiple political endeavors, including unsuccessful campaigns for governor of Krasnoyarsk and mayor of Moscow. In 2004, he sought to participate in the Russian presidential election but was excluded by federal authorities.
In response to the 2008 economic downturn, he founded the Anti-Crisis Settlement and Accounting Center to facilitate barter trade. Additionally, he created a communal living arrangement for farmers and craftsmen that offered complimentary social and healthcare support. As a firm opponent of abortion, he initiated a nationwide media campaign against it in 2010. Later that year, he controversially suggested selling Siberia and the Russian Far East to foreign nations following the relocation of ethnic Russians to European Russia.
After his unsuccessful presidential run, Sterligov divested most of his holdings to adopt a modest lifestyle in a forest cabin without electricity, reachable solely by horse-drawn carriage, aiming to distance himself from Moscow’s commercial environment.
In 2015, following the sale of nearly all his Russian assets, Sterligov relocated with his family to the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. There, he intended to launch an agricultural enterprise while his wife planned to open a boutique. This move provoked anger from Azerbaijan due to ongoing territorial disputes. Sterligov advocated for international acknowledgment of Nagorno-Karabakh’s sovereignty. Subsequently, Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General accused him of illegal border crossing and anti-government statements; by August 2015, an Interpol notice requested by Azerbaijan prevented his return to Russia.
His legal representative confirmed that on 21 August 2015 Interpol suspended its search efforts, determining that the allegations were politically driven and violated Interpol’s regulations.
2004 presidential campaign
Sterligov made an attempt to participate in the 2004 Russian presidential election, but failed to secure official registration as a candidate.