Evropeysky Mall (2006)
One of Europe's largest shopping centers, by Kievsky railway station; opened November 30, 2006.
Biography
From Krasnaya Sloboda to Moscow
God Semyonovich Nisanov was born on April 24, 1972, in Krasnaya Sloboda, Quba District, Azerbaijan — the world's only all-Mountain-Jewish town. His father, Semyon Nisanov, ran the Shahdag cannery, the largest enterprise in the district.
He graduated from the Baku Finance and Credit College and the Baku Law Institute. He took his first steps in business at home: working at his father's plant and opening his own pawnshop in Krasnaya Sloboda.
In the early 1990s he moved to Moscow. In 1992, together with fellow townsman Zarakh Iliev, he founded Kievskaya Ploshchad Group, which in time became Russia's largest commercial real estate owner.
He speaks six languages, including Turkish, Farsi and Arabic. He is married with four children; the family keeps the traditions of the Mountain Jews.
Life's Work
Kievskaya Ploshchad
From the shopping malls of the 1990s to a Stalinist skyscraper: the group of Nisanov and Iliev has topped the Forbes "Kings of Russian Real Estate" ranking for more than a decade. Its assets also include the Radisson Royal flotilla and the Tsentralny bus terminal.
Hotel Ukraina
A Stalinist high-rise acquired in 2005; reopened in 2010 after reconstruction as the Radisson Royal (now Radisson Collection).
Sadovod Market (2003)
One of Russia's largest trade markets, on the Moscow Ring Road.
Moskvarium (2015)
Europe's largest oceanography center, built at VDNH.
Olimpiysky (2017)
The legendary sports complex was acquired in 2017; a large-scale reconstruction is under way.
Depo (2019)
A food quarter in the historic Miusskoye tram depot — one of the largest food malls in Europe.
Food City (2014)
Russia's largest agro-cluster (over 120 hectares) — Moscow's main food hub.
Radisson Slavyanskaya (2012)
A hotel by Kievsky railway station: the partners bought half in 2008 and the entire building in 2012.
Chronicle
Milestones of an Empire
- 1992Founded Kievskaya Ploshchad Group together with Zarakh Iliev
- 2003Acquired the Sadovod market
- 2005Bought Hotel Ukraina; reopened after reconstruction as Radisson Royal (2010)
- 2006Opened the Evropeysky mall by Kievsky railway station
- 2014Launched the Food City agro-cluster — Moscow's largest food hub
- 2015Moskvarium at VDNH — Europe’s largest oceanography center
- 2017Acquired the Olimpiysky sports complex
- 2019Opened the Depo food quarter on Lesnaya Street
- 2020Opened the Tsentralny bus terminal and the Shchyolkovsky mall
“You can't just hand children a big piece and a fine chair right away, so they come, sit down and start giving orders.”
From an interview with RBC · 2019
Community & Philanthropy
Serving the Community
From Moscow's high-rises to the synagogue of his native Krasnaya Sloboda, Nisanov remains one of the principal patrons of the Mountain Jewish community.
- 2014 — elected Vice President of the World Jewish Congress (held the post until 2022)
- Member of the Presidium Bureau of the Russian Jewish Congress
- 2015 — together with Zarakh Iliev, opened the Cheder Menachem Jewish school in Moscow
- 2019 — Community Center of Mountain Jews in Moscow
- Restoration of the Kronstadt Naval Cathedral (2013) and a contribution to the Rzhev Memorial
- 2020 — large-scale food aid to veterans and people in need during the pandemic
In June 2022 the United States and several other countries placed Nisanov under sanctions; he subsequently stepped down as Vice President of the World Jewish Congress.
Homeland
Krasnaya Sloboda
Krasnaya Sloboda is Nisanov's birthplace and the world's only entirely Mountain-Jewish town. Together with Zarakh Iliev he restored its synagogue and opened a yeshiva and a beit midrash.
The building of the Karkhog synagogue houses the world's first Museum of Mountain Jews, created with the support of Nisanov, Iliev and German Zakharyaev; the mezuzahs at the entrance were affixed by Nisanov and Zakharyaev.
Recognition
Honors of Russia and Azerbaijan
- 2011Taraggi (Progress) Medal (Azerbaijan) — for strengthening friendship between peoples
- 2012Certificate of Honor of the President of Russia — for the rebuilding of the Kronstadt Naval Cathedral
- 2014Order of Friendship (Russia)
- 2015FJC "Fiddler on the Roof" award
- 2016Order "For Service to the Fatherland", 3rd class (Azerbaijan)
- 2021Insignia "For Beneficence" (Russia) — for the contribution to the Rzhev Memorial
- 2022Dostlug (Friendship) Order (Azerbaijan)
