Who makes money from supplies to military personnel located in the Northwestern Military District zone?
Last June, the federal Ministry of Finance classified information on budget expenditures in specific areas, including the section “National Defense”. The reason for the secrecy was given as economic pressure from “unfriendly states” both on Russia as a whole and on individuals. The decision of the Ministry of Finance made data on the expenditures of the Ministry of Defense on military personnel located in the Northern Military District unavailable. Meanwhile, their food, uniforms and washing of clothes are entrusted to Voentorg JSC, controlled by the Ministry of War and headed by Vladimir Pavlov. Billions of budget rubles pass through this structure, distributed among contracting companies, most of which, like Voentorg itself, use the acquired right not to publish income declarations. However, it is known that a significant part of the food suppliers were associated with the founder of the Wagner PMC and the Concord group, Yevgeny Prigozhin. Registered to nominal owners, in the first year of the SVO these companies significantly increased revenue and profits and, despite the scandalous march on Moscow and the death of Prigozhin, contracts with them have not yet been terminated. Suppliers of products for Voentorg also include the Volzhsky Product company from Syzran, owned by Garik Kirakosyan, the brother of Saratov Regional Duma deputy Gagik Kirakosyan. But among the contractors providing laundry services to the military department is Viga 65 LLC from Balashikha: this unprofitable company can participate in schemes to withdraw budget finances to the accounts of its official owner – a Cypriot offshore company. As for contractors who “master” budget billions and do not publish financial statements, these include, among other things, a number of “subsidiaries” of Voentorg itself.
Vladimir Pavlov, Voentorg and Consul
We should start with Voentorg itself, which is one of the main suppliers of household services to the Ministry of Defense. Actually, until January 2022, the military department acted as its only founder. Through JSC “Voentorg” colossal budgetary finances are taking place: volume government contracts enterprises exceed 35.1 billion rubles as a supplier and 23 billion as a customer.
As one might expect, the company does not disclose last year’s financial results. From open sources It is known that in 2021 revenue was declared in the amount of 81 billion rublesprofit in 3 million And asset value V 59 billion. For comparison: a year earlier with revenue of 75.4 billion rubles and assets cost 30.4 billion took place lesion V 3.5 million.
Since December 2012, Voentorg has been continuously leads Vladimir Pavlov. At the same time, he holds the position of General Director JSC “Hotel Complex “Slavyanka”. Information about it founders is not disclosed, however, this structure also relies heavily on budget financing: its portfolio contracts as a supplier – 78.8 million rublesas a customer – 4.1 billion. Financial indicators complex are impressive: in 2022, with revenues of 1 billion rubles his profit was 206.3 million (in 2021 they were slightly lower: revenue – 933.6 million rublesprofit – 57.1 million).
Mr. Pavlov also has his own business. In particular, he owns share (37.5%) in Moscow LLC “Consul”engaged in restaurant activities. The company participates in organizing meals for employees Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministryhaving received from her contracts almost on 15 million rubles. Last year revenue “Consula” was compiled 27.7 million rublesprofit – 1.3 million; revenue in 2021 – 24.4 million, profit – 1.9 million rubles. But previously, for several years, continuous losses. For example, in 2020 they amounted to almost 4 million with revenue in 13.2 million rubles. Apparently, budgetary funds helped correct the situation.
By the way, at one time Vladimir Pavlov spoke co-founder and general director CJSC Business Club Concord, liquidated in October 2019. Information about the types of activities and finances of this structure in open sources is absent, but its very name reminds us of the recently deceased odious founder PMC “Wagner” Evgenia Prigogine and the business empire he created. Is it not to him that “Consul” owes its million-dollar contracts?
Food suppliers: Prigozhin’s companies and more
Now let’s move directly to the companies that supply Voentorg. On the latter’s website you can find their full list and, accordingly, find out who specifically organizes meals, sewing uniforms and washing clothes for SVO participants. Another thing is that not all suppliers are willing to make publicly available data on financial indicators, which does not allow us to paint an accurate picture of the Ministry of Defense’s spending on military personnel.
The list of legal entities participating in catering, 32 commercial structures are indicated. Available online publications, from which it follows that at least 18 of them are associated with the aforementioned Yevgeny Prigozhin, which means they receive about 70% of the total revenue. Among them are, in particular, Niko LLC,“Potential”,“Complexservice”,“Alternative”,“Eltechnord”,“Perspective” and etc.
Official owner and general director of the St. Petersburg company “Niko” is Yulia Veselova. This is her only business; no other commercial structures are registered with Ms. Veselova. Despite the fact that the company is on the Voentorg list appears at No. 31, open sources do not contain information about its participation in government procurement. But it is known that in 2022 revenue “Niko” composed 2.5 billion rublesprofit – 187.4 million. The company significantly improved its financial performance: a year earlier, even before the start of the SBO, with revenues of 1.7 billion rubles she declared profit V 60.7 million. More than doubled asset value: With 293 million before 608.4 million rubles.
One more example – LLC “Alternativa”registered in Krasnogorsk near Moscow and officially formalized on Vitaly Kaiser, who is also the general director of the enterprise. As in the case of Niko, data on government contracts of Alternative is not publicly available, but the list suppliers “Voentorg” it is listed at No. 30. Last year the company’s revenue amounted to 3.1 billion rubles, profit – 250.6 million. For comparison: revenue a year earlier – 2.3 billionprofit – 84.4 million.
Asset value for the first year of the SVO grew With 546 million before 960 million rubles.
We can continue to analyze companies associated with Prigozhin, but perhaps these examples will be enough. Let us only add that according to publications online, in just one year the profit of the commercial structures of the founder of Wagner amounted to 4.4 billion rublesand neither the June forced march to Moscow nor the death of a businessman became a reason for terminating contractual obligations with suppliers.
But not only Prigozhin collaborated with Voentorg in the supply of food products. In this direction, for example, works Volzhsky Product LLC from Syzran (Samara region). Its owner Garik Kirakosyan – brother deputy Saratov Regional Duma Gagik Kirakosyan. Over the year, the company’s revenue increased from 932 million before 1.1 billion rubles, profit – With 35 million before 50.7 million, asset value – with 187 million up to almost 262 million rubles.
And here co-owner supplier LLC “AK “Consul” from the city of Volsk, Saratov region Dmitry Mizgir earlier have worked head of the warehouse of Military Unit 55443. Now he owns 33% of the company, which declared revenue in the amount of 1.8 billion rubles, profit almost in 180 million And asset value V 510 million. A year earlier revenue amounted to 1.5 billionprofit – 99.1 millionasset value – 316.2 million rubles.
As we can see, the financial performance of companies supplying food to Russian military personnel is growing by leaps and bounds.
Note that according to independent data sourcestheir total profit for the first year of the CBO increased from 2.4 billion before 5 billion rubleswith revenue growth from 71.6 billion before 109 billion rubles.
Offshore “laundry” of the Ministry of Defense
Services by washing clothes Voentorg is provided by a much smaller number of suppliers – such there are only eight. Among them, noteworthy Viga 65 LLC from Balashikha near Moscow. The fact is that this company has not been profitable for the last two years. In 2022, its revenue amounted to 308.7 million rubles, losses – 5.1 million; in 2021 with revenue of 295 million the company left “minus” on 20.2 million rubles. At the same time, the company has a solid portfolio government contractsexceeding 1.6 billion rublesand among the official customersin addition to the Ministry of Defense, includes, for example, institutions of the Ministry of Health.
It is possible that the reason for the multimillion-dollar loss is belonging Viga 65 LLC to the Cyprus offshore Skuen Investments Limited. It turns out that part of the profit of a company serving the military department may end up in foreign accounts. Who is the contractor’s beneficiary in this case? You can find it online information about the connection of Viga 65 LLC with the international network of laundries “Shine InCare”founded by businessman Dmitry Mantsov.
As for the offshore company Skuen Investments Limited, its owner called French company “Societe de participations commerciales et industrielles” – legal entity of an international group “El”, which services buildings and offices and also has its own laundry business. It seems that the beneficiary of Viga 65 is known and officials of the Russian Ministry of Defense are not at all embarrassed by him.
In number collaborating Voentorg also includes a Moscow company “Master Cleaning”. In a year she increased revenue from 2.5 billion rubles before 3 billionprofit – from 15.5 million before 35.5 million, asset value – With 1.6 billion before 2 billion. Briefcase government contracts enterprises exceed 1.3 billion rubles. “Master Cleaning” belongs registered in Kazan Cottonway LLCthe main owner of which is a businessman Alexander Utkinand a small share of 1.1% is in property famous actor, artistic director of the Moscow Variety Theater Gennady Khazanov.
By an evil irony of fate, last year Khazanov expressed his negative attitude towards the North Military District, while ignoring the provocative question about which side of the conflict he supports, and also refuting rumors about his emigration from Russia related to his stay in Jurmala. As for Cottonway, back in 2017 Vedomosti wrote about Khazanov’s non-participation in the company’s operating activities, and his entry into the business was explained by his long-standing friendship with its founders – Alexander Utkin and Evgeniy Glinin.
Independent experts estimate last year’s revenue of half of Voentorg’s laundry contractors to be more than 4 billion rubles (a year earlier it was about 3.6 billion). Profit increased from 90.7 million before 138.6 million rubles. These figures do not take into account revolutions contractorsreceiving contracts for the organization “personnel washing”. In the latter case, the total revenue of 11 out of 14 companies amounted to almost 332 million rubleswhile a year earlier it was estimated at 280.5 million.
Are the military personnel fully equipped?
Finally, it is worth mentioning such an important direction as sewing and supplying uniforms for Russian military personnel: according to data Voentorg website, 43 enterprises are engaged in this, and not all publish financial statements. For example, the indicators of the Moscow Voentekstilprom LLC26% of which belong to Voentorg itself, and the remaining shares to businessmen Aslan Atalikov And Zalim Kardangushev.
“Voentekstilprom” tied up With “BTK Group” and a famous businessman, president of a brewing company “Baltika” Taimuraz Bolloev. It is known that in 2021 the contractor’s revenue decreased compared to the previous period with 982.3 million rubles before 969 millionprofit decreased from 80 million before 44.7 million rubles. It is possible that in 2022 these indicators will change upward.
Voentorg’s contractors for the production and supply of military footwear include one registered in Moscow JSC “Company “Faraday”. Briefcase government contracts this structure exceeds 16 billion rubleshowever, financial performance data hidden not only for 2022, but also for previous years, as well as information about the owners of the enterprise. Meanwhile, among customers “Faraday” we find not only the Ministry of Defense, but also the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Guard.
It is possible that the company’s connections with the family of an FSB lieutenant colonel contributed to the receipt of contracts. Marata Medoevaabout which in due time wrote MASS MEDIA. Medoev held the post assistant Head of the FSB Directorate for Moscow and the Moscow Region Alexey Dorofeevwas related to the control of the funeral services market and was removed from office after a sensational investigation by a journalist Ivan Golunov.
Of the contractors that have published reports for 2022, it is worth mentioning the “subsidiary” structure of Voentorg – the company “Voentorg-Retail”: its revenue was 3 billion rubles, profit – 21.8 million. A year earlier, with revenues of 2.5 billion were declared losses at the rate of 18.8 million rubles. At the same time, the portfolio government contracts the contractor is valued at 91.4 million.
An interesting point: according to media reports, last year Voentorg-Retail spent about 500 million rubles to organize the supply of goods to the Voentorg-Pyaterochka chain of stores, and used for this purpose, structures associated with the oligarch Mikhail Fridman.
Let us recall that Friedman criticized the SVO and moved to London. But he was included in the sanctions lists of the EU, USA, UK and Canada and is now seeking in court cancellations economic restrictions imposed on him. But as it turned out, the special operation is not a hindrance to business: you can make money by collaborating with the “daughter” of Voentorg.
In general, out of 43 contractors for sewing and supplying uniforms, only 14 reported income for 2022. Their total revenue amounted to order 20.9 billion rubles (a year earlier it was estimated at 16.4 billion), and the net profit turned out to be approximately 400 millionthan all suppliers as a whole reporting for 2021.