Switzerland
15 profiles with fame based in Switzerland
Switzerland — figures with Russian and Soviet roots
This page documents 15 notable figures based in Switzerland whose biographies connect to the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, or the states that succeeded them — through birth, parentage, or earlier ancestry. Each profile is sourced and records the specific origin and connection.
Alexander Popov
Sprint king who rewrote what speed means.
Alexandra Kosteniuk
The queen who conquered chess on two continents.
Andrei Baronov
Russian co-founder of Veeam Software — one of the world's leading data protection companies
Martha Argerich
Buenos Aires piano legend whose mother has Russian-Jewish roots — the greatest living pianist
Ratmir Timashev
Russian co-founder of Veeam Software — built one of the world's largest enterprise software companies
Serguei Beloussov
Leningrad-born co-founder of Acronis and Parallels — one of the most successful Russian tech entrepreneurs
Stanislav Smirnov
St. Petersburg-born mathematician who won the Fields Medal and teaches in Geneva
Viktor Korchnoi
Leningrad grandmaster who defected mid-match and fought Fischer and Karpov for the world crown
Xenia Tchoumitcheva
Zino Davidoff
Born in Geneva to parents from Novhorod-Siverskyi, Ukraine — built the world's greatest luxury tobacco brand
Andrei Melnichenko
Belarus-born fertilizer and coal magnate whose sailing superyacht is the world's largest
Gennady Timchenko
Putin's oldest business associate — co-founded Gunvor and became one of the world's top commodity traders
Viktor Vekselberg
Bought back the Fabergé eggs for Russia — Renova Group founder and Switzerland-based billionaire
Slava Bykov
Chelyabinsk-born world champion who became Switzerland's greatest ice hockey coach
Viktorija Golubic
Swiss WTA professional with Yugoslav-Russian roots — Zurich-born and Swiss national team stalwart