Russia’s Land Barons: The Firms And Families Who Own Most Of Its Farmland

March 07, 2019 12:19 CET

The world’s largest country by territory, Russia ranks third in the world in terms of arable land with 123 million hectares. Here’s a look at the tycoons, offshore firms, and family of a former agriculture minister who own most of it.

Carl Schreck

Carl Schreck is an award-winning investigative journalist who has covered Russia and the former Soviet Union for more than 20 years, including a decade in Moscow. He has led investigations into corruption, cronyism, and disinformation campaigns in Russia and Central Asia, as well as on poisoning attacks against Kremlin opponents and assassinations of Iranian exiles in the West. He served as enterprise editor at RFE/RL before leaving the organization in 2025.
Sergei Dobrynin

Sergei Dobrynin is one of the leading investigative journalists in Russia. He has been instrumental in the production of dozens of in-depth reports, exposing corruption among Russia's political elite and revealing the murky operations behind Kremlin-led secret services. He joined RFE/RL in 2012.
Carlos Coelho

Carlos Coelho is a data and graphics editor for RFE/RL's Central Newsroom.