Ukraine oligarch Yeremeyev dies from sporting injury

Ihor Yeremeyev, a 47-year-old businessman and MP, died on Aug. 12 from injuries sustained on July 26 while horseback riding. Yeremeyev had been in a coma for three weeks and was transported to a Swiss hospital for medical treatment. He led the People’s Will group of 20 MPs, which is not part of the pro-Western coalition government. A partner in the Kontinium group of companies, Yeremeyev’s wealth was estimated at USD 95 mln by the focus.ua news site, whose survey of Ukraine’s wealthiest citizens was published in May. Kontinium’s assets include one of Ukraine’s largest network of gasoline stations, as well as among the biggest dairy producers. The company is among the leading fuel suppliers to the Ukrainian government.

Zenon Zawada: While Yeremeyev’s parliamentary group was small, it played a role in swinging several highly contested votes in one direction or another. In the grand scheme, Yeremeyev wielded modest influence in Ukrainian politics and business, but he was not among the top power brokers. So we don’t expect a large impact on politics and business with his passing. The biggest impact will be felt in his native Volyn region, where he dominated the political scene and will leave a large vacuum to be filled.