The Pirate of Prague In Bed With Baba | 5
Nov 27, 2023
Viktor plans to control the state-owned oil company of Azerbaijan. He recruits high-flying guests from his Christmas party in Aspen. Viktor sweet-talks elite investors into putting up big bucks. He raises funds with AIG and Columbia University. Viktor's extravagant lifestyle and connections are revealed. George Mitchell, a respected politician, gets involved in the business deal.
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Voucher Scheme for Sokar Acquisition
- Viktor used a voucher privatization scheme to acquire the Azerbaijani oil company Sokar.
- This leveraged the population's vouchers as a form of currency to secure ownership stakes.
Sokar: Azerbaijan's Crown Jewel
- Sokar was Azerbaijan's crown jewel and oil was the nation's lifeblood.
- Despite its importance, the infrastructure was outdated and in urgent need of modernization.
Wall Street Investors Join Scheme
- Aaron Fleck, a Wall Street investor, was quickly persuaded by Viktor and invested millions despite limited expertise via his daughter Kathy's assessment trip.
- This led to a cascade of major investors joining, attracted by projected massive returns.