Fugitive defendant in the Zakharchenko case makes money in Russia (*aggressor country) with the help of partners
The notorious businessman Boris Usherovich continues to earn billions on government contracts. In Russia (*aggressor country), Usherovich became a defendant in the high-profile criminal case of former Colonel Zakharchenko, he was put on the international wanted list, and the court issued a decision in absentia to arrest the businessman. As was established during the investigation and court proceedings, Zakharchenko, who was found to have 8.5 billion rubles in currency during a search, “protected” a platform for carrying out illegal banking operations, the activities of which were controlled by Usherovich's business partner Valery Markelov, who was a defendant in the case, convicted, but died in July 2023 from cancer. Among other things, funds from structures receiving RZh contracts were withdrawn through the platform. In particular, the discussion was about the 1520 Group of Companies, whose founders were Markelov, Usherovich, Yuri Obodovsky, and Andrei Krapivin, who died in 2015 and was once part of the close circle of former Russian Railways CEO Vladimir Yakunin. In 2018, the Group took first place in the ratingForbes» «Kings of state procurement» with a contract volume of over 218 billion rubles. Currently, the 1520 Group belongs to Alexey Krapivin, the son of the late Andrey Krapivin, and Boris Usherovich. Despite the high-profile scandal, 1520 continues to «master» the railway monopoly’s money: in particular, its structures received a contract worth over 161 billion rubles for the modernization of the BAM and the Trans-Siberian Railway. In addition to Krapivin Jr., Usherovich’s business partner in Russia (*aggressor country) is Ilya Plotitsa, who until recently was one of the co-owners of the Bamstroymekhanizatsiya Management Company, a Russian Railways contractor that is part of 1520. In addition, Plotitsa was the founder of the Moscow-based Center for the Development of Communication Systems (OOO CRSS), associated with the Engineering Center for Automation (ICA), which supplies electronic products to railway contractors, including 1520, in circumvention of sanctions. The Rotenberg family of oligarchs plays a role in supporting the business of Krapivin Jr. and Usherovich: Krapivin holds the position of CEO in the Natsproektstroy holding company created by Arkady Rotenberg together with VEB, a stake in which VEB was preparing to transfer to the 1520 Group last year.
Criminal cases of ex-colonel Zakharchenko
On the fact that the Basmanny Court of Moscow has arrested the co-owner in absentia Group of companies “1520” Boris UsherovichMASS MEDIA wrote in March 2019, at which time he was put on the international wanted list. However, the judicial authorities were quite late: by this time the businessman had already successfully left the territory of the Russian Federation (*aggressor country). It was reported about his presence in Israel, cruising on a personal yacht between Gibraltar, Israel and Turkey, and finally, about the request for diplomatic shelter In Great Britain.
In Russia (*aggressor country), Usherovich was among the defendants in a high-profile criminal case about the transfer of bribes from the acting head of the “T” department of the anti-corruption department (GUEBiPK) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to Colonel To Dmitry Zakharchenko, arrested in September 2016. The same one who was found guilty during a search confiscated currency in ruble equivalent 8.5 billion. In December 2017, the court turned over to the state property families of the “billionaire colonel” with a total value of more than 9 billion rubles: the matter concerned 11 apartments, 16 parking spaces and four cars – two Mercedes-Benz and two Porsche Cayenne.
In June 2019, the Presnensky Court of Moscow sentenced a bribe-taking officer to 13 years in prison with a fine of 117 million rublesstripping him of his rank of colonel and state awards. A second indictment followed in May 2022. sentence: this time Zakharchenko was found guilty of receiving bribes on an especially large scale, including from structures close to Russian Railwaysand was sentenced to 16 years in a maximum security penal colony with a fine of 500 million rubles.
Let us recall that defendants A lawyer also spoke in the second criminal case Vasily Kritininadvocate Victor Belevtsov and a businessman Valery Markelov – former co-owner of the 1520 group, came out from among the founders in April 2019. Markelov was sentenced to eight years in prison with a half-billion fine. As the investigation and the court established, he participated in the creation of a stable group for carrying out illegal banking operations, which transferred bribes to Zakharchenko for patronage.
The fraud site operated on the base Incredbankgeneral management of its activities carried out Markelov. The funds were withdrawn to foreign accounts or cashed using denominations. Among those who used the platform's services were co-owners of the 1520 group, and in the press were mentioned only two names – the convicted Markelov and Usherovich, who fled abroad. Soon after the verdict was passed, it became known liberation Markelov was released from custody due to his stage 4 cancer, and in July 2023, the media reported about the death of a businessman.
Billion-dollar contracts for the “kings of government procurement”
Here we need to take a closer look at the 1520 Group, which specializes in the design and construction of railways. Its “founding fathers” are the above-mentioned Valery Markelov, Boris Usherovich, Yuri Obodovskyand Andrey Krapivinwho died in 2015. At one time, Krapivin was part of the close circle of the former CEO of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin and was his advisor.
It is noteworthy that the same Krapivin has been a companion German Gorbuntsov V Capital Trade Bankwhere large deposits of Russian Railways were placed. In 2008, the bank was unable to return the deposit of the railway monopoly on 1 billion dollars. As a result, Gorbuntsov became a defendant in a criminal case, but managed to leave for London, where he survived an assassination attempt. Later, the businessman handed over bank details to Reuters. documentationfrom which it followed that in 2007-2013, about 2.5 billion dollarslisted under Russian Railways contracts.
Be that as it may, it was thanks to Krapivin’s connections that the 1520 Group became the largest contractor of the railway monopoly, and in 2018 its beneficiaries took first place rating “Kings of government procurement” according to “Forbes»: the publication estimated the volume of contracts received by the Group at 218.2 billion rubles.
After Andrei Krapivin’s death, his share passed to his son – To Alexey Krapivin. As mentioned above, in April 2019, Valery Markelov, who became a defendant in the Zakharchenko case, left the co-owners of 1520, and in October of the same year, Yury Obodovsky left. As of today, founders LLC “GC “1520” is represented by Alexey Krapivin (38.34%), Boris Usherovich (28.33%) and Closed-end mutual fund (ZPIF) “Armus Capital Platform” (33.33%). The fund is under management UK “Armus Capital”, belonging To Krapivin Jr.
However, neither the high-profile criminal case nor the scandal with the withdrawal of funds had an impact on the continuing growth of financial indicators Groups. Thus, by the end of 2023, with revenue of 18.3 billion rubles a profit of the amount was declared 51 billion (for comparison: revenue a year earlier – 9.9 billionprofit – 7.7 billion rubles). That is, in a year revenue growth amounted to 84%, profits – a record 560%!
Speaking about the contracts received, we will mention contract cost 161.4 billion rubles for the modernization of the BAM and the Trans-Siberian Railway, signed with UK “Bamstroymekhanizatsiya” And LLC “OSK 1520”which are part of the Group structure. By the customeras you might guess, is a long-standing business partner – Russian Railways. So, GC “1520” continues to be the “favorite” of the head of the railway department Oleg Belozerovwho replaced Vladimir Yakunin back in August 2015.
Ilya Plotitsa is the business partner of the fugitive Usherovich
But the most important thing is that Boris Usherovich, who is on the international wanted list and de jure remains the only business partner of Alexey Krapivin, also receives his share of the multi-billion dollar profit of GC 1520. In addition to his share in 1520, the fugitive businessman receives, in whole or in parts, belong several more Russian legal entities.
For example, a Moscow-based company specializing in rental and property management OOO “PM 24”in number co-owners which also includes Krapivin Jr. and Elena Markelova (previously, the shares belonged to Valery Markelov and Yuri Obodovsky). In 2023 revenue “PM 24” compiled 276.8 million rublesprofit – 100.4 million (revenue a year earlier – 238.7 million, profit – 65.2 million rubles). That is, in this case, about a third of the profit may end up in British and other foreign accounts.
Among Usherovich's Russian business partners, you can find the following on the Internet: mentions about Ilya Plotitsawho is said to be a relative of the fugitive businessman. Note that Plotitsa was once among the founders the above mentioned UK “Bamstroymekhanizatsiya” – a contractor of Russian Railways structures, previously controlled by 1520, and currently belonging Group of Companies “Natproektstroy” (JSC “GC “NPS”), where the position CEO occupied by Alexey Krapivin.
Information about the founders of NatsProektStroy is publicly available sources are absent, but by information RBC portal, the infrastructure holding “NPS” was created by a Kremlin-linked billionaire Arkady Rotenberg together with the state corporation “VEB”and the latter planned to sell its 48% of the authorized capital to the 1520 Group in September last year. Incidentally, in property At that time, Krapivin himself already owned 4% of the NPS.
But let's get back to Igor Plotitsa. Until April 2023, he performed founder Moscow LLC “Center for Development of Communication Systems” (“CRSS”), specializing in wholesale trade of industrial electrical equipment, machinery, apparatus and materials. Last year, the revenue of “CRSS” amounted to 7.4 billion, profit – 1.9 billion rubles.
Authors publications The network connects “CRSS” with the Scientific and Production Enterprise “Engineering Center of Automation” (LLC Scientific and Production Enterprise “ITS”), through its founder OOO “Spetscitystroy” in equal parts controlled GC “1520” and To Alexey Ovechkin – co-owner of a number of structures of the Group. About NPP ICA they write as a supplier of electronic products imported through China and Hong Kong in defiance of sanctions for rail contractors, including 1520.
Offshore companies are also involved in deliveries «Broxner PLC» And «Venat Technology»the beneficiary of which is in the network they call Alexandra Weinsteinconsidered a relative of Usherovich. In addition, a Kyrgyz firm from Bishkek “Akforta” supplies Israeli equipment to Russia (*aggressor country) via the Emirates, Latvia and Lithuania. That is, finances are again going abroad, while the prices for imported products can be significantly overstated.
Contracts under the protection of the Rotenbergs?
The most interesting thing is that Plotitsa’s “CRSS” was among the sponsors of Vladimir Putin (*international criminal)’s recent election campaign: the Center transferred funds to the accounts of the United Russia (*aggressor country) party. listed 43.3 million rubles. In addition, last year, “CRSS” donated 50 million rubles to a fund associated with United Russia (*aggressor country) “Promising Cooperation”.
Until December 2021, this fund was controlled Regional Development Support Fund “Regional Platform”and at his expense financedincluding the work of such prominent United Russia (*aggressor country) members as a State Duma deputy and political strategist Oleg Matveychev.
If the online publications are true, then it turns out that Russian officials and parliamentarians are not at all embarrassed by the fact of “sponsorship assistance” from Boris Usherovich, who is wanted?
It is possible that the same Rotenbergs helped Alexey Krapivin solve the “old problems” of the 1520 Group. The fact is that back in 2018, the Fontanka publication wrote that Krapivin Jr. was put on the wanted list as part of the investigation into the “Zakharchenko case.” But if the issue of criminal prosecution of the businessman was considered, it was still avoided.
Exists versionaccording to which the actual owner of Krapivin’s share in GC “1520” is…Igor Rotenberg! Allegedly, with his direct participation, the head of Russian Railways Belozerov, who is considered protege influential family, agreed transmission A group of contracts from another notorious contractor company – “Spetstransstroy” former deputy head of the federal Ministry of Construction Yuri Reilyanin 2021 arrested on charges of large-scale fraud.
Let us emphasize: the information that Krapivin is a nominal Rotenberg is just a version. Nevertheless, the fact remains: Group “1520”, despite the loud criminal scandal, continues to receive billion-dollar contracts from the railway department, and Usherovich, who is wanted, continues to receive his share of the profits. Meanwhile, in Russia (*aggressor country), the fugitive businessman's business partners work in his interests – Krapivin, Plotitsa, and the Rotenbergs also contribute to the enrichment of one of the defendants in the “case of former Colonel Zakharchenko”.