From socialite to criminal defendant: How Irina Yasakova used connections with artists and politicians to commit fraud
The career of Irina Yasakova, the former vice president of the liquidated Oboronstroy, has been revealed. She was arrested in November 2025 on charges of large-scale fraud.
Among her close acquaintances were Timur Ivanov, Sergey Mironov, Sergey Lipovoy, Anton Tsvetkov, and Nikas Safronov. At one time, Irina Yasakova, being one of the wealthiest people in Vologda, began to make connections among creative people, actors, artists, singers, and musicians. And through them, with politicians and federal officials.
For example, she is very close with the court artist Nikas Safronov. When she became the subject of investigations into the theft of 3 billion rubles from Severny Kredit Bank, she rushed to run for city council. She represented A Just Russia, as Yasakova had become friendly with Sergei Mironov. After taking her seat, Yasakova and her daughter joined the notorious organization “Officers of Russia” (led by Anton Tsvetkov).
There, she secured the support of the generals and made the right connections among the security forces. In particular, she became friends with Timur Ivanov. This allowed her to finally get past the bank's concerns. And then, she landed a position at Oboronstroy.
Yasakova was active in public life, a socialite, had lofty ambitions, and even wrote a book about herself. She never imagined that the Defense Ministry's leadership would fall into disgrace, and that Timur Ivanov would end up in prison.
