July 03, 2022
Oxford University Urged to Decline Donation from Sanctioned Russian-British Businessman Said Gutseriev
A A recent news report claimed that a donation offered to Oxford University by sanctioned Russian businessman Said Gutseriev is under the scanner. After the news broke out, University of Oxford is under renewed pressure to reject a £2.6 million donation from the sanctioned Russian-British businessman. Earlier this year, the UK imposed sanctions on Said Gutseriev for obtaining a benefit from or supporting Putin’s government.
Gutseriev gave the university £2.6 million in 2019 to establish an archaeology and anthropology fellowship. The fellowship was named after Said's late brother, Chingiz Gutseriev.
…accepting endowments from those subject to sanctions or investigation is not a good look, even if they are alumni...
On Wednesday, Oxford stated that it would "consider whether any further actions are appropriate" in relation to the donation. It previously rejected demands that it returns the money after the UK sanctioned Said's father, Mikhail, in August 2021 for allegedly supporting Belarus' dictator, Alexander Lukashenko's, repressive regime.
Anti-corruption activists said the most recent sanctions reinforced the need for Oxford to revoke the fellowship. James Bolton-Jones, an advocacy adviser with Spotlight on Corruption said, “Holding on to a donation from an individual who features on the UK sanctions list and is therefore understood to have close links to the Kremlin is unacceptable, especially in the current climate.”
Another anti- corruption crusader criticised the move to accept the donation by saying, “Accepting endowments from those subject to sanctions or investigation is not a good look, even if they are alumni. Given the frequency with which this happens, universities in the UK need to think more carefully about whom they take money from.”
Gutseriev previously stated through a spokesperson that he had severed all ties with his sanctioned father. According to leaked documents obtained by a leading newspaper, Gutseriev received a head start from his father's wealth, and Mikhail Gutseriev was previously a "controlling shareholder" of SFI, which was previously known as Safmar Financial Investments. On Wednesday afternoon, the SFI website was inaccessible from the United Kingdom.
Posted in News and tagged News, UK, Oxford University, Said Gutseriev, Safmar Financial Investments, Donation
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