Vladimir Stolyarenko bought Valery Kogan's Plaza home
Vladimir Stolyarenko who once chaired one of Russia's largest commercial banks, Evrofinance Mosnarbank, paid $21 million for two units — 1007 and 1009 — at the famed Central Park-facing edifice. The over-the-top lair — with trimmings including 24-karat gold and Venetian plaster — first asked $50 million following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Listing broker Charlie Attias, of Compass, declined to comment.
Stolyarenko's new dwelling spans 5,302 square feet and features Central Park views. Its foyer spills into a great room with high ceilings and paneled walls — while the main bedroom suite has a bathroom clad in floor-to-ceiling onyx.
12 Valery Kogan.
12 Vladimir Stolyarenko.
12 A view of the expansive layout.
Rich Caplan
At the same time, Stolyaranko and his wife, Alfiya, have listed another unit in the Plaza for $10.49 million. What's more: Their brokers, Jessica and Burt Savitsky, of Brown Harris Stevens, are offering a $7,500 American Express gift card to any broker who brings in a buyer to unit 1503, according to the listing.
The Savitskys also declined to comment.
That unit, as of press time, has been on and off the market for more than 2,000 days. The couple purchased it for $10.37 million back in 2007. They first listed it for $12.8 million in 2008, according to StreetEasy.
Come 2019, Vladimir sold a Plaza unit, No. 1903, to Alfiya for $10 million, according to property records.
12 Touches include 24-karat gold and ornate medallions gracing the ceilings.
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12 The aesthetic extends into the dining room.
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12 There's a separate nook to fit a smaller sitting area.
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12 A hidden bar.
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The Stolyarenkos are also the owners of a now-dilapidated Palm Beach property that they bought from fashion titan Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Ocleppo for $35 million in 2018 — when Christian Angle, of Christian Angle Real Estate, had the listing.
At that time, the mansion, at 100 Casa Bendita, looked good but needed a renovation, sources told Gimme.
Last summer, the Palm Beach Daily News published shocking photos showing the mansion in extreme disrepair, with construction workers finally on the property to fix water and termite damage, rusted storm shutters, rotted doors and more. The paper has also chronicled neighbors' frustration with the owners of the run-down oceanfront estate, and the flooding on the charming cul-de-sac, allegedly caused by the home's 'backed-up drainage system.'
'There was a bit of a ruckus about it, because they let it deteriorate, and the town forced them to continue with the renovation,' an inside source told Gimme. 'It's been years and it eventually became an eyesore.'
The source added: 'It's been a mystery. The buyer has been unreachable.'
Added another inside source: 'It became horrendous.'
When reached by phone, the Stolyarenkos' lawyer, Glenn S. Krutoff, declined to comment at press time.
12 Elsewhere, a library comes sheathed in wood paneling.
Rich Caplan
12 The space has its own ornate flair.
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12 The master bedroom.
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12 A secondary bedroom.
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12 A powder room also has the regal design scheme.
Rich Caplan
(Hilfiger and Ocleppo also once owned the Plaza's penthouse. They bought it for $22.5 million in 2008, and then tried to flip it for $50 million a few months later. It was on and off the market for the next 11 years — including in 2013, when it asked a staggering $80 million. It ultimately sold for $31.24 million in 2019.)
While many ultra-rich Russians fled New York following Russia's war on Ukraine in 2022, some are itching — and beginning — to return, several sources told Gimme.
'The ones who are returning have lived outside Russia for decades and were often educated in the United States,' a source said.
The Plaza itself has its own unique history. Built in 1907, the French Renaissance-inspired chateau-style building was designed by Henry J. Hardenbergh — the legendary hand behind the Dakota.
In 1986, it was listed as a National Historic Landmark. Two years later, in 1988, now-President Donald Trump bought it for $390 million and put his then-wife, the late Ivanna Trump, in charge — saying he paid her in dresses and $1 a year. He lost the hotel four years later.
It's now owned by the government of Qatar, via Katara Hospitality, which was formerly known as Qatar National Hotels Co.
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American Military News
7 hours ago
- American Military News
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9 hours ago
Brazil hosts BRICS summit, eager to avoid provoking Trump's ire
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Hamilton Spectator
11 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Brazil hosts BRICS summit, eager to avoid provoking Trump's ire
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil will play host to a summit of the BRICS bloc of developing economies Sunday and Monday during which pressing topics like Israel's attack on Iran, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and trade tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to be handled with caution. Analysts and diplomats said the lack of cohesion in an enlarged BRICS, which doubled in size last year, may affect its ability to become another pole in world affairs. They also see the summit's moderate agenda as an attempt by member countries to stay off Trump's radar. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will have some of his priorities, such as debates on artificial intelligence and climate change, front and center for the talks with key leaders not in attendance. China's President Xi Jinping won't attend a BRICS summit for the first time since he became his country's leader in 2012. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who will make an appearance via videoconference, continues to mostly avoid traveling abroad due to an international arrest warrant issued after Russia invaded Ukraine. Debate over language on hot-button topics The restraint expected in Rio de Janeiro marks a departure from last year's summit hosted by Russia in Kazan, when the Kremlin sought to develop alternatives to U.S.-dominated payment systems which would allow it to dodge Western sanctions imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A source involved in the negotiations told journalists Friday that some members of the group want more aggressive language on the situation in Gaza and Israel's attack on Iran. The source spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the matter publicly. 'Brazil wants to keep the summit as technical as possible,' said Oliver Stuenkel, a professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation think tank and university. Consequently, observers expect a vague final declaration regarding Russia's war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East. As well as suiting Brazil, a watered-down and non-controversial statement may be made easier by the absences of Putin and Xi, Stuenkel said. Those two countries have pushed for a stronger anti-Western stance, as opposed to Brazil and India that prefer non-alignment. A Brazilian government official told The Associated Press Thursday that the group is expected to produce three joint statements and a final declaration, 'all of which less bounded by current geopolitical tensions.' The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the summit's preparations. João Alfredo Nyegray, an international business and geopolitics professor at the Pontifical Catholic University in Parana, said the summit could have played a role in showing an alternative to an unstable world, but won't do so. 'The withdrawal of Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the uncertainty about the level of representation for countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are confirming the difficulty for the BRICS to establish themselves as a cohesive pole of global leadership,' Nyegray said. 'This moment demands high level articulation, but we are actually seeing dispersion.' Brazil skittish in light of Trump tariffs Brazil, the country that chairs the bloc, has picked six strategic priorities for the summit: global cooperation in healthcare; trade, investment and finance; climate change; governance for artificial intelligence; peace-making and security; and institutional development. It has decided to focus on less controversial issues, such as promoting trade relations between members and global health, after Trump returned to the White House, said Ana Garcia, a professor at the Rio de Janeiro Federal Rural University. 'Brazil wants the least amount of damage possible and to avoid drawing the attention of the Trump administration to prevent any type of risk to the Brazilian economy,' Garcia said. While Brazil will continue to advocate for the reform of Western-led global institutions, a cornerstone policy of the group, the country wants to avoid becoming the target of tariffs — a predicament it has so far largely escaped. Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs against the bloc if they take any moves to undermine the dollar. Other leaders shun the summit Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Egypt's Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi will also be absent. Those two countries joined the BRICS in 2024, alongside Ethiopia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has been invited and is participating in member discussions, but it has yet to send its confirmation letter. As well as new members, the bloc has 10 strategic partner countries, a category created at last year's summit that includes Belarus, Cuba and Vietnam. That rapid expansion led Brazil to put housekeeping issues — officially termed institutional development — on the agenda to better integrate new members and boost internal cohesion. Despite notable absences, the summit is important for attendees, especially in the context of instability provoked by Trump's tariff wars, said Bruce Scheidl, a researcher at the University of Sao Paulo's BRICS study group. 'The summit offers the best opportunity for emerging countries to respond, in the sense of seeking alternatives and diversifying their economic partnerships,' Scheidl said. For Lula, the summit will be a welcome pause from a difficult domestic scenario, marked by a drop in popularity and conflict with Congress . The meeting also represents an opportunity to advance climate negotiations and commitments on protecting the environment before November's COP 30 climate talks in the Amazonian city of Belem . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
