Konstantin Malofeev
Konstantin Malofeev | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 3, 1974 Pushchino, Moscow Oblast, Russia |
| Occupation(s) | Media entrepreneur, businessman |
| Known for | Chairman of Tsargrad TV; chairman of Society for the Development of Russian Historical Education "Double-Headed Eagle"; co-founder of Marshall Capital Partners |
Konstantin Valeryevich Malofeev (, born July 3, 1974) is a prominent Russian media entrepreneur and the chairman of the monarchist advocacy group Society for the Development of Russian Historical Education "Double-Headed Eagle". He heads Tsargrad TV, a media organization that promotes Russian Orthodox values and expresses strong support for president Vladimir Putin. Malofeev co-established the international investment fund Marshall Capital Partners, holds a position on the board of trustees of the non-profit Safe Internet League, and serves as chairman of the .
Early life and education
Malofeev was born in Pushchino, Moscow Oblast and completed his legal studies at Moscow State University in 1996. His father, Valery Mikhailovich, works as an astrophysicist at the Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory, while his mother, Raisa Zinurovna, is both a programmer and director of the St. Basil Charitable Foundation.
During the early 1990s, Malofeev developed close associations with Alexander Provotorov and Dmitry Skuratov while attending Moscow State University. After completing their degrees, Malofeev and Provotorov collaborated at Renaissance Capital until its collapse in 1998. In June 2013, Dmitry Skuratov was appointed managing director of Malofeev’s Marshall Capital Partners.
Career
Starting his professional journey in 1996 at investment bank Renaissance Capital, Malofeev subsequently held senior positions at Interros, MDM Bank, and other financial institutions. Between 2002 and 2004, he led Corporate Finance at MDM Bank, where he played a key role in establishing the bank’s mergers and acquisitions division.
In 2005, Malofeev launched Marshall Capital, an investment company specializing in equity and direct investments across sectors such as telecommunications, media, technology, real estate, and agriculture. By late 2014, Marshall Capital entered a partnership with French fund CFG Capital to form CFG Marshall, targeting investments exceeding €2 billion.
On February 10, 2009, Malofeev was appointed to the Board of Directors at Svyazinvest OJSC, an entity connected to Igor Shchyogolev during his tenure at the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Media (2008–2012). This timeframe culminated in Svyazinvest’s merger with Rostelecom, with Marshall Capital holding substantial shares. Reports indicate Malofeev may have financially supported Shchyogolev’s interests through Marshall Capital.
Malofeev chairs the board of directors of Tsargrad, a media outlet known for its conservative and far-right orientation. Additionally, he serves as president and member of the supervisory board for Tsargrad's affiliated think tank Katehon. Founded in 2016, Katehon advances pro-Kremlin narratives and has been implicated in spreading political propaganda. That same year, Malofeev backed establishing the Eurasian Dialogue foundation in Moscow alongside political figures including Andrey Klimov.
He maintains ties with segments of the American religious right and recruited former Fox News staffer Jack Hanick to assist with launching Tsargrad TV. Through this connection, Steve Bannon reportedly regards Aleksandr Dugin as an ideological partner opposing liberalism.
In collaboration with French eurosceptic entrepreneur Philippe de Villiers, Malofeev intends to develop two parks themed around Russian history located in Moscow and Yalta.
Malofeev founded Russia’s largest private charitable entity, the St. Basil the Great Charitable Foundation. He also sits on the board of trustees for the Safe Internet League—a Russian NGO dedicated to restricting "dangerous Internet content"—and leads the supervisory board of College St. Basil the Great, established in 2007.
He has been subject to several legal proceedings and sanctions for purported breaches of U.S. and EU restrictions. In April 2022, U.S. authorities indicted him on charges related to conspiring to circumvent sanctions by funding pro-Russian media outlets; his assets were seized during enforcement operations. The European Union also imposed sanctions on him for actions perceived as undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Politics
On 17 October 2012, Malofeev declared his intention to run and was subsequently elected on 18 November to the Council of Deputies of the Znamenskoye Rural Settlement in Smolensk Oblast, winning 74.85% of the votes cast. This election took place despite the Vyazem regional court invalidating his candidacy due to allegations of electoral fraud, specifically accusations that he offered voters 500 roubles each.
Legal issues
In 2007, VTB Capital plc, a subsidiary of VTB Bank, initiated litigation against Marshall Capital and Malofeev concerning a $225 million loan provided through "Russagroprom" Ltd. for acquiring six dairy production facilities and three enterprises from "Nutritek". VTB Capital contested the asset valuations and the relationships between involved parties, pursuing a global asset freeze on Malofeev’s holdings. Nevertheless, questions were also raised about the thoroughness of VTB’s own due diligence process.
On 6 February 2013, the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court fully exonerated both Marshall Capital and Malofeev from all charges. The court criticized VTB Capital for insufficient due diligence and for maintaining the asset freeze unjustifiably over an extended period.
In July 2014, Ukrainian authorities initiated a criminal investigation accusing Malofeev of funding illegal armed groups amid the 2014 Donbass conflict.
On 12 February 2015, Russian law enforcement conducted searches at the residences of Malofeev and his associate Dmitry Skuratov as part of inquiries related to the VTB case.
International sanctions
From 2014 onwards, Malofeev and his affiliated companies have appeared on sanctions lists imposed by the European Union, United States, and Canada in connection with the pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine.
In September 2019, Bulgaria imposed a ten-year entry ban on him following allegations of espionage aimed at shifting Bulgaria’s geopolitical alignment away from Western influence toward Russia.
In April 2022, Malofeev was indicted by the United States Department of Justice for violating sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
John "Jack" Hannick
John "Jack" Hannick, formerly a producer at Fox News who assisted Malofeev in launching Tsargrad TV, is alleged to have played a role in facilitating sanction evasion to support Malofeev’s objectives.
Involvement in the war in Donbass
Malofeev has been accused by the European Union, United States, and Ukraine of providing financial backing to separatist movements and contributing to instability within Ukraine. Under EU Regulation No 826/2014, he is identified as closely connected to Russian-backed separatists operating in Eastern Ukraine and Crimea. Among his former employees are Alexander Borodai, who served as Prime Minister of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic, and Igor Girkin, an ex-FSB colonel who provided security during Malofeev’s visits to Kyiv and Crimea prior to Russia’s annexation.
Girkin later commanded separatist forces in Slovyansk and held the title of Defense Minister within the Donetsk People's Republic. In May 2014, Ukrainian intelligence intercepted a phone call allegedly involving Malofeev providing tactical military information to Girkin while commending an ambush against Ukrainian forces.
In February 2015, Novaya Gazeta published a document purportedly created by Malofeev’s team that detailed plans to incite unrest and facilitate annexation of Crimea along with parts of southeastern Ukraine. Additionally, emails leaked by hacker group Shaltay Boltay disclosed substantial financial contributions from Malofeev’s conservative foundations to radical nationalist organizations across Europe. In May 2014, he orchestrated a conference in Vienna involving Austria's FPÖ, Bulgaria's Ataka party, and France's Front National; much of this funding was channeled through his Saint Basil the Great Charitable Fund.
Although Malofeev financed these operations privately, intercepted communications and leaked emails indicate close cooperation with Kremlin officials—sometimes mediated by Orthodox Bishop Tikhon, who serves as a spiritual advisor to both Malofeev and Vladimir Putin; at other times through Putin’s aides Vladislav Surkov and Sergey Glazyev. Moreover, Malofeev worked alongside the Kremlin-affiliated Russian Institute for Strategic Studies led by former KGB General Leonid Reshetnikov. Recent email leaks suggest that at least one employee connected to Malofeev participated in confidential sessions involving Russian government officials.
Personal life
Malofeev was previously married to Irina Mikhailovna Vilter, a legal professional affiliated with Monastyrsky, Zyuba, Stepanov & Partners. Together, they have three children: Kirill (born in 1995), Natalia (born in 1999), and Tatiana (born in 2011).
He acts as the Orthodox godfather to the offspring of Igor Shchyogolev, who served as Minister of Communications and later advised Vladimir Putin in his capacity as internet czar.
In 2024, reports emerged that Malofeev entered into a relationship with Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights. Lvova-Belova is subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant due to alleged involvement in the deportation of Ukrainian children amid the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. The couple formalized their union on September 8, 2024, at the upscale Villa Rotonda restaurant located in Deauville, Moscow Oblast. This marriage connects Malofeev to a politically contentious figure and could influence his standing within Russia’s elite circles.
Social activity
Through both personal contributions and Marshall Capital, Malofeev actively funds various initiatives.
In January 2007, he co-established St. Basil the Great Grammar School, which provides education rooted in traditional Russian values.
By July 2007, he had founded the Russian Society of Philanthropists for the Protection of Mothers and Children. This organization launched programs such as The Heart of the Child, dedicated to financing medical treatment for infants with congenital heart conditions within Russian healthcare facilities.
The organization was rebranded in June 2010 as the Charitable Foundation of St Basil the Great. Its mission centers on enhancing children's health and education while supporting the Russian Orthodox Church. Currently, the Foundation administers over 30 projects nationwide, including assistance for displaced children from Donbass and other Ukrainian territories impacted by the Russo-Ukrainian War.
Since 2011, Malofeev has led the board of directors at the Saint Basil the Great Charitable Foundation and holds a position on the board of trustees for the "Safe Internet League," which played a role in formulating Russia’s internet censorship legislation.
In May 2014, he organized a conference in Vienna that brought together European conservatives and activists opposing LGBTQ+ rights.