Shabattai Kalmanovich
Encyclopedia
Shabtai Kalmanovich alternatively spelled Shabtai Kalmanovic, was a KGB
spy, who later became known in Russia as a successful businessman, concert promoter and basketball sponsor.
, Soviet Lithuania in 1947, he emigrated to Israel
in 1971 and in 1988 was sentenced to seven years in jail for spying for the KGB. He had been active in the Israeli Labor Party, had worked in the government's press office and as a parliamentary aide in the Knesset
. According to his indictment, Kalmanovich had handed over information to the Soviets over a period of 17 years. He was released after five years due to medical problems. Before his arrest, he lived and worked for a time in Sierra Leone
, where he made a fortune in the diamond trade and worked as a representative for Israel. Before that, he had already become wealthy, through exploiting cheap labour in the South African bantustan
of Bophuthatswana
, in conjunction with other Israeli, South African and Taiwanese businessmen. In 1987, he was arrested by British Police for allegedly passing over $2 million in forged checks in the United States, and was extradited to the U.S only to be released on bail and allowed to go to Israel. Only after returning to Israel was he charged with espionage on behalf of the USSR. One theory goes, that he was only made a scapegoat for information from Jonathan Pollard
that had been willingly shared by Israel with the Soviets in order to secure the release of certain Jewish scientists in the USSR.
After his return to Russia, he promoted concerts for stars such as Michael Jackson
, José Carreras
and Liza Minnelli
. Since 1994, Kalmanovich was director general of the large Tishinsky shopping center in Moscow. Kalmanovich was a passionate antique art collector. He also sponsored three basketball clubs (Žalgiris Kaunas
of Lithuania, Spartak Moscow and UGMK Yekaterinburg
of Russia) and became general manager of the Russian women's basketball
team in 2008.
Kalmanovich had close connections with all sorts of Russian businessmen, one of whom, Vyacheslav Ivankov
, was killed in Moscow on October 9, 2009.
vehicle as he was sitting in his car, a Mercedes S500, in Moscow. Moscow police confirmed that he had been the victim of a professional hit. His assassin had waited for his car to stop at a traffic light before shooting. Kalmanovich was hit 10 times and died immediately. Vladimir Markin, of the investigative committee of Russia's procurator
, argued that the event was the result of a "contract-style crime" and that the murder was probably "linked to his business activities".
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
spy, who later became known in Russia as a successful businessman, concert promoter and basketball sponsor.
Biography
Born in KaunasKaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
, Soviet Lithuania in 1947, he emigrated to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 1971 and in 1988 was sentenced to seven years in jail for spying for the KGB. He had been active in the Israeli Labor Party, had worked in the government's press office and as a parliamentary aide in the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
. According to his indictment, Kalmanovich had handed over information to the Soviets over a period of 17 years. He was released after five years due to medical problems. Before his arrest, he lived and worked for a time in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, where he made a fortune in the diamond trade and worked as a representative for Israel. Before that, he had already become wealthy, through exploiting cheap labour in the South African bantustan
Bantustan
A bantustan was a territory set aside for black inhabitants of South Africa and South West Africa , as part of the policy of apartheid...
of Bophuthatswana
Bophuthatswana
Bophuthatswana , officially the Republic of Bophuthatswana was a Bantustan – an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity – and nominal parliamentary democracy in the northwestern region of South Africa...
, in conjunction with other Israeli, South African and Taiwanese businessmen. In 1987, he was arrested by British Police for allegedly passing over $2 million in forged checks in the United States, and was extradited to the U.S only to be released on bail and allowed to go to Israel. Only after returning to Israel was he charged with espionage on behalf of the USSR. One theory goes, that he was only made a scapegoat for information from Jonathan Pollard
Jonathan Pollard
Jonathan Jay Pollard worked as a civilian intelligence analyst before being convicted of spying for Israel. He received a life sentence in 1987....
that had been willingly shared by Israel with the Soviets in order to secure the release of certain Jewish scientists in the USSR.
After his return to Russia, he promoted concerts for stars such as Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, José Carreras
José Carreras
Josep Maria Carreras i Coll , better known as José Carreras , is a Spanish Catalan tenor particularly known for his performances in the operas of Verdi and Puccini...
and Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
. Since 1994, Kalmanovich was director general of the large Tishinsky shopping center in Moscow. Kalmanovich was a passionate antique art collector. He also sponsored three basketball clubs (Žalgiris Kaunas
BC Žalgiris
BC Žalgiris is a professional basketball team that is based in Kaunas, Lithuania. It is one of the oldest teams in the Euroleague and plays domestically in the Lietuvos krepšinio lyga , and regionally in the VTB United League...
of Lithuania, Spartak Moscow and UGMK Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg is a major city in the central part of Russia, the administrative center of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Situated on the eastern side of the Ural mountain range, it is the main industrial and cultural center of the Urals Federal District with a population of 1,350,136 , making it Russia's...
of Russia) and became general manager of the Russian women's basketball
Women's basketball
Women's basketball is one of the few women's sports that developed in tandem with its men's counterpart. It became popular, spreading from the east coast of the United States to the west coast , in large part via women's colleges...
team in 2008.
Kalmanovich had close connections with all sorts of Russian businessmen, one of whom, Vyacheslav Ivankov
Vyacheslav Ivankov
Vyacheslav Kirillovich Ivankov was a notorious member of the Russian Mafia who was believed to have connections with Russian state intelligence organizations and their organized crime partners. He has operated in both the Soviet Union and the United States...
, was killed in Moscow on October 9, 2009.
2009 assassination
On November 2, 2009, Kalmanovich was assassinated by unknown gunmen in a passing Lada PrioraLada Priora
Lada Priora is an economy car produced by the Russian automaker AvtoVAZ since March, 2007. It is largely a restyled Lada 110.-Body styles:* VAZ-2170: base sedan ;...
vehicle as he was sitting in his car, a Mercedes S500, in Moscow. Moscow police confirmed that he had been the victim of a professional hit. His assassin had waited for his car to stop at a traffic light before shooting. Kalmanovich was hit 10 times and died immediately. Vladimir Markin, of the investigative committee of Russia's procurator
Public procurator
A public procurator is an officer of a state charged with both the investigation and prosecution of crime. The office is a feature of a civil law inquisitorial rather than common law adversarial system of law and is usually found in current or former communist states...
, argued that the event was the result of a "contract-style crime" and that the murder was probably "linked to his business activities".