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Russian oligarch and International Boxing Association (IBA) President Umar Kremlev, who is considered close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, secretly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars toward Donald Trump Jr.’s lavish wedding in the Bahamas, according to an investigation by ProPublica.
The three-day private wedding of Trump’s eldest son and Bettina Anderson was held in May on a private island in the Bahamas. The event featured dancers, helicopter flights, an elaborate wedding cake and a large fireworks display.
According to journalists and documents reviewed by ProPublica, Kremlev covered most of the major expenses. He reportedly paid for the island accommodation for guests and the fireworks, while members of his team were directly involved in organizing the event.
Payments were made through IB Challenger, a Dubai-based entity used by the IBA for operations after the organization moved its activities out of Switzerland. ProPublica reported that the structure has been used to circumvent sanctions.
The reason for Kremlev’s financial involvement remains unclear. The investigation said Trump Jr. and Kremlev appear to have met relatively recently, while Trump Jr. could reportedly have afforded to finance the wedding himself.
Russian guests and responses
A group of Russian-speaking guests also attended the wedding, although they appeared only rarely in official photographs.
Among those identified was businessman Alexander Lagutin, who previously held senior positions in Russia’s defense and energy sectors. Shortly before the wedding, Lagutin and Kremlev traveled to China as part of a delegation accompanying Putin. A month earlier, Putin had awarded Kremlev the Order of Friendship.
A spokesperson for Trump Jr. did not dispute that Kremlev helped finance the wedding and said that “Umar is a personal friend of Don,” with the two reportedly bonding over boxing and hunting.
A representative for Trump Jr.’s brother Eric Trump, however, said Eric had never heard of Kremlev.
Kremlev’s press service confirmed that he had “friendly relations” with Trump Jr. and said he had never discussed political matters with his American friends.
Kremlev’s background
According to media reports, Kremlev, whose real surname is Lutfulloev, was convicted in 2009 of extortion and assault.
His rise to prominence was reportedly aided by Alexei Rubizhny, who headed Putin’s personal security detail.
Kremlev later gained control of parts of Russia’s sports-betting market, a nationalized car dealership business and lotteries. The IBA was previously financed by Gazprom, while experts continue to regard the organization’s current funding as linked to Russia.
Kremlev is also involved with the organization Healthy Family, which has been accused of participating in the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children from occupied territories under the guise of “rehabilitation.”
U.S. counterintelligence concerns
American counterintelligence experts expressed concern over the acceptance of expensive gifts and financial support from a Russian figure with close ties to the Kremlin.
“If I’m paying for your wedding, at some point you’re going to owe me something,” former FBI agent Frank Montoya Jr. said.
Golden Triplett, a former counterintelligence official on the U.S. National Security Council, said Russian intelligence services routinely seek access to government officials and their families, adding that money is a proven way to establish such access.
