Putin's Security Chief's Friend Was a Participant and Sponsor of Trump's Son's Wedding
Umar Kremlev, head of the International Boxing Association (IBA), was among the guests at the private wedding of Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson in the Bahamas. According to a ProPublica investigation , he also paid for part of the celebration's expenses, writes The Moscow Times.
The wedding took place in May and lasted three days. About 50 people attended, including Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and another son of the American leader, Eric Trump. According to the investigation, Kremlev paid for the rental of one of the private islands, fireworks, and other major expenses, which together amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars. His team also participated in organizing the celebration.
Payments, it is alleged, were made through the Dubai-based company IB Challenger, associated with IBA. Former high-ranking FBI employee Frank Montoya stated that such financial relationships can create dependency between parties: if one person pays for another's wedding, the latter may at some point feel obligated.
The presence of Kremlev and other Russians at the wedding surprised some of the guests, including by their behavior. According to the investigators' interlocutors, the Russian group kept to themselves and spoke Russian among themselves.
A representative for Donald Trump Jr. called Kremlev his personal friend and did not deny that he paid for part of the wedding expenses. According to him, they met through a mutual acquaintance and bonded over a shared interest in boxing and recreation. Kremlev's representatives also confirmed their friendship and stated that they met several years ago. It is asserted that they never discussed political issues with each other.
In September 2025, Trump Jr. and Kremlev jointly participated in an IBA boxing conference in Istanbul. There, the son of the US president criticized the participation of transgender women in women's sports. IBA later stated that their cooperation would continue and lead to new initiatives.
According to ProPublica, Kremlev was wary of falling under American sanctions or becoming the subject of an investigation in the US.
Kremlev has close ties with Russian authorities. He was associated with the pro-Kremlin biker club "Night Wolves." According to a "Project" investigation, through this club, he became close to Alexey Rubezhny, who later headed the Security Service of the President of Russia. In 2017, Rubezhny helped Kremlev become the head of the Russian Boxing Federation.
In 2020, Kremlev became president of IBA. The association received funding from "Gazprom." In 2023, the International Olympic Committee stripped IBA of the right to organize Olympic competitions, stating that the organization failed to transparently explain its funding sources and its dependence on a state-owned company.
Kremlev also controls significant assets in Russia. In 2024, he became the owner of Russia's largest car dealer "Rolf," which had previously been nationalized by Russian authorities.
Additionally, Kremlev is linked to major betting companies "Liga Stavok," "Pari," and "Fonbet." He also controls the Unified Gambling Regulator, through which betting stakes are accounted for in Russia.
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