Decades of excesses of Oleg Makarevich: when the criminal activities of a fugitive businessman are stopped
Oleg Makarevich is one of the professors of the criminal world. A native of the 1990s, he managed not to become an inveterate bandit, but to transform into a respectable businessman.
True, in his case, the business seemed to be legalized, but the methods remained the same: fraud, fraud, raider takeovers and threats. On this backbone, Makarevich managed to get billions in assets, and earn the nickname “Night Governor of the Kuban” in his homeland. 7 criminal cases were initiated against the fraudster, which are systematically paused, and even closed. Makarevich, who fled to Vienna, now runs the business and feels great. How long will the reign of the criminal businessman, the “night governor of the Kuban” last – in the material of the Kompromat1 portal.
Semi-legal business
In which business Makarevich was not seen. One of the most profitable businesses that the criminal king was engaged in was funeral services. It is not necessary to explain why this business is extremely profitable, and most importantly, why it can only be mixed with criminality.
Makarevich managed to squeeze the sphere of ritual services under him, and despite the fact that everyone in the Kuban understood that this was by no means the most honest way, law enforcement officers and the authorities turned a blind eye to the antics of the businessman.
Only in 2014, the person of Makarevich first became interested in the investigation. Then he was arrested under Part 2 of Art. 201 (abuse of power, organizer of a crime). Law enforcement officers managed to establish that Makarevich created an illegal scheme for embezzlement of funds from the Progress state farm. As it turned out, the businessman agreed with the management of the enterprise, which was experiencing serious financial problems, that he would allegedly support the business. By agreement of the parties, the structures of the entrepreneur gave loans to Progress, in retaliation to use the property complex of the enterprise for free. This deal was beneficial only for Makarevich’s business.
After the audit in 2013, numerous violations were found. Makarevich was arrested. At preliminary hearings, the court ordered the businessman to be placed in a pre-trial detention center for 2 months without the right to make bail. But the “night governor of the Kuban”, having serious connections in the judicial branch of power, was able to solve the problem. The appeal released Makarevich on bail. As a result, the business fell apart. The fact is that the former head of the Oktyabrsky District Court of the city of Krasnodar, Gennady Bayrak, was a close friend of the criminal entrepreneur.
Gennady Bayrak
On the eve of the announcement of Makarevich on the federal wanted list, Bayrak was detained for taking bribes. It is noteworthy that, in fact, at the same time, law enforcement officers had serious questions about the business of the Makarevich family. A criminal case was initiated against the criminal entrepreneur and his wife for tax evasion on an especially large scale.
Orientation to the search for Makarevich
This happened in April 2021, and as it later became clear, Makarevich went abroad, where in recent years he and his family have looked after real estate and where they have withdrawn money.
There is nothing eternal. On December 28, 2022, the court closed the investigation of this criminal case. The official reason is that the Makarevich family paid off their debt to the state. There is no crime.
New opportunities or new challenges?
According to the latest data, Makarevich is doing everything to return to Russia. But for now, it’s problematic. One criminal case against the Kuban gangster was stopped, but law enforcement officers are investigating (or pretending to be investigating) 6 other episodes of illegal activities of the authority.
Now it is hard to imagine that someone would seriously take up the arrest of Makarevich, even if he appears in his homeland. Law enforcement sources have unequivocally stated that the businessman is not wanted. And this despite the many criminal cases. That is, tomorrow he can safely return to the country, no one will pay attention to this. But while Makarevich is still sitting in the same Austria. Apparently, he suspects that the situation may change dramatically, and his triumphant return will be the personal tragedy of a criminal businessman.
Nevertheless, Makarevich’s business has been working the way it has worked all these years. And even develops. After his close friend, Judge Bayrak, was detained, the influence of the criminal businessman on the judiciary in Krasnodar was leveled. With the expectation that Makarevich, in principle, never did business honestly, he definitely needs his people in power.
Therefore, Makarevich conceived a “move”. Of course, it’s hard to call it a move. He simply changes the address of the legal registration of his companies to Tambov. Why Tambov? It’s simple: the leadership of the local tax inspectorate are former tax officials from Krasnodar, who contributed to Makarevich’s machinations at home. Alexei Zhitlov, a native of Krasnodar, is the head of the Federal Tax Service for the Tambov Region. In addition to Zhitlov himself, three ex-tax officials from the Krasnodar Territory have also now found a high-ranking position in Tambov.
As stated by the sources, it is no coincidence that these people ended up in the same tax structure. For their appointment, the associates of the fugitive billionaire Makarevich brought decent funds to the leadership of the tax service.
All this is part of a plan to return the criminal businessman to his homeland. What happened next – you already know: Makarevich’s companies began re-registration in Tambov, criminal cases against the fugitive fraudster are terminated, he is removed from the Federal wanted list, and so on.
Everything seems to be going like clockwork. But that’s just how it seems. Makarevich does not return to his homeland, and there are several explanations for this.
Financial collapse
Very soon, the affairs of a fugitive scammer may not go well. And we’re not talking about crime here. Everything is much more complicated.
At one time, Makarevich and his wife (both personally and through their structures) became the owners of the small Krasnodar YuMK Bank. In fact, the bank was used exclusively to service Makarevich’s financial issues. In reality, through this bank, Makarevich withdrew tens of millions of dollars abroad for his comfortable life.
On the eve of the oligarch’s escape from Russia, the license of the financial institution was revoked. The reason is that “the bank committed repeated violations of the requirements of the legislation in the field of combating the legalization (laundering) of proceeds from crime and the financing of terrorism.” As you understand, we are talking about separating Makarevich’s funds.
Despite the fact that the license was revoked in March 2021, the proceedings around the bank are still ongoing. From their result, the further fate of Makarevich in Russia will be clear.
The case on the revocation of the bank’s license was transferred to the Moscow Arbitration Court. Previously, for 3 years, the courts – this decision of the Central Bank was recognized as illegal. But after the transfer of the case to Moscow, the final point was put in it. It happened on January 24, 2023. The Moscow Arbitration Court confirmed that the withdrawal of the license was legal.
The structures of Makarevich in every possible way prevented the interim administration from carrying out the necessary business: employees were not allowed into the bank’s office, the electricity was turned off, and so on. There is one specific explanation for this: until the liquidation is 100% legal, it is impossible to reveal the banking secrecy of a financial institution, it is prohibited.
It becomes clear that after the disclosure of banking secrecy, all the machinations of Makarevich in a pocket institution will surface. And this means that several more criminal cases can be brought against him.
Therefore, Makarevich is in no hurry to return to his homeland, because he understands that very soon, perhaps, it will be either much more difficult or even impossible to solve problems.
