Tony Blair earned more than $6 million per year for his consultations in Kazakhstan – mass-media

Almaty. April 25. Silkroadnews – The Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair earned $6.3 million a year advising in Kazakhstan, the British newspaper The Telegraph writes.

“T. Blair demanded more than 5 million pounds a year for advising to the President of Kazakhstan … Mr. Blair’s company has earned millions of pounds over the past six years, providing consultations to the country’s government and President,” the publication says.

It is claimed Mr. Blair first offered his services in 2009.
“Leaked documents show Mr. Blair first began negotiations to offer advice to Mr. Nazarbayev in 2009 and began formally working with the Kazakhstani government in 2011. By the time the contract was being renewed in late 2014, Mr. Blair’s team was offering a series of services at a total cost of $6.3 million - about £5.3 million,” the article says.

According to the newspaper, the fee charged was set out in an email from one of the most senior employees of Tony Blair Associates (TBA) company Andreas Baumgartner to the Ambassador of Kazakhstan in London in December 2014.

It is noted that the TBA has demanded $2.65 million for providing political advice, $2.55 million to help Nursultan Nazarbayev “to uphold the rule of law; and a further $1.1 million for running the civil service academy”.
It is also reported that TBA was hoping to secure a further, potentially lucrative contract with the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

“The email states that TBA was also hoping to secure a further, potentially lucrative contract with Kazakhstan’s national Bank and explains that Mr. Blair was due to hold a meeting with its Governor Kairat Kelimbetov the next day. Kelimbetov was sacked a year later in November 2015 after the Kazakh currency plunged by a third,” said the publication.

In addition, it is noted that TBA was also planning to sign another contract with the Kyzylorda region of Kazakhstan.

According to the publication, the offer by TBA took more than 8 pages. At the same time TBA made a series of demands including the provision of a dedicated driver and car, services by interpreters and translators, full travel arrangements for personal visits by Mr. Blair, including “first-class hotel accommodation, all transportation, appropriate catering and any other costs”.

The newspaper reminded in November 2007 Blair earned £200 thousand in China for speaking to businessmen and officials. In 2008 for providing political advice to the presidents and governments of Rwanda and Sierra Leone he earned £2 million and the same year concluded £500 thousand-a-year deal with one of the Swiss financial companies. In 2009 Tony Blair rendered political advice to the President of Libya Muammar Gaddafi. He has also advised presidents and governments of Guinea, Colombia, Albania, Vietnam, Malawi, UAE, Kenya and other countries.

The financial status by Tony Blair, including property he owns jointly with his wife and children is evaluated as £80 million.