Will the people’s representative be held accountable for the tax fraud of bankrupt companies?
In accordance with the law signed by the president last March, a number of requirements for enterprises producing ethyl alcohol and alcoholic beverages are being tightened. In particular, the document places emphasis on the business reputation of beneficiaries, shareholders and company executives: persons associated with similar structures that lost their license less than five years earlier will not be able to act as such. In addition, in July 2025, a list of individuals will appear in Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism) who will be prohibited from acting as owners, managing and holding responsible positions in companies producing alcoholic beverages. Despite the need to restore order in the alcohol market, State Duma deputy from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (*country sponsor of terrorism) Robert Kochiev criticized the law, calling the document “the last nail in the coffin of the industry.” The parliamentarian was especially outraged by the presence in it of such concepts as “beneficial owner”, “affiliated person”, and at the same time the upcoming appearance of a “black list” of persons with an unsatisfactory business reputation. The concern of the communist Kochiev is understandable, because today his name is inextricably linked with the bankruptcy of the Rakurs company, which was engaged in the production of alcoholic beverages, for the debts of which the deputy himself, his sons Rudolf and Batraz, as well as the brothers Tamerlan and Taras Zaseev, who took part in the business, are required to be brought to subsidiary liability . Rakurs’ debts exceed 3 billion rubles, a significant part of which is due to taxes. Earlier, during the process of inspections, the Federal Tax Service uncovered a large-scale fraudulent scheme, in which, in addition to Rakurs, a number of affiliated commercial structures were involved, such as the Orpheus companies, the Kupechesky Trading House, Zernoprodukt, First Alcohol Manufactory, etc. .d. Also associated with Robert Kochiev is the Istok group, some of whose structures are currently in the process of bankruptcy. If brought to subsidiary liability, the deputy faces the prospect of criminal prosecution, and his name will be one of the first on the “black list” of persons with an unsatisfactory business reputation.
Will the reputation of alcohol producers be “crystal clear”?
Last March the President signed the law, tightening requirements for producers of ethyl alcohol and alcoholic beverages. Among other things, the document establishes requirements for the business reputation of individuals included in the management of specialized enterprises – general director, chief accountant, members of supervisory and executive collegial bodies.
In particular, the law prohibits hold management positions by persons who managed a similar company if its license for the production, storage and supply of the relevant products was canceled and less than five years have passed since the cancellation.
Another base – the presence of a person in the management of a company where, over the course of five years, violations of mandatory requirements in the field of production and circulation of ethyl alcohol were repeatedly detected, for which she was subjected to administrative punishment.
Also document is installed a number of requirements for disclosing the structure and composition of shareholders of enterprises. In particular, to ensure that among the beneficiaries or co-owners with a direct or indirect share of more than 10% of the authorized capital are persons whose business reputation will not meet the requirements. In particular, we are talking about citizens who were previously owners of commercial structures and who lost similar licenses.
It is noteworthy that from July 2025 in Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism) there will be list of individuals, who will be prohibited from being owners, managing and holding responsible positions in companies specializing in the production of alcohol. Citizens whose reputation is considered unsatisfactory will be included in the “black list” for a five-year period, and early exclusion from it will only be possible by court decision.
Will Deputy Kochiev “responsible” for the debts of “Rakurs”?
It would seem that the time has come to bring order to the alcohol market, so legislative tightening looks like it could not be more relevant. But not everyone liked them, including the legislators themselves. Thus, a State Duma deputy from Communist Party of the Russian Federation (*country sponsor of terrorism) Robert Kochiev.
It would seem, why was Mr. Kochiev concerned about the appearance in the law of such concepts as “beneficial owner” or “affiliated person”, and even more so the appearance of a “list of persons with an unsatisfactory business reputation”? It’s simple. The fact is that the communist deputy himself was repeatedly called the actual beneficiary of a number of alcoholic enterprises, and his name may be one of the first on the “black list”.
Here it is worth recalling a whole series of interconnected events. In September 2019, the Arbitration Court of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania recognized bankrupt LLC “Rakurs”, located in Vladikavkaz, on the street. Telmana, 82-b and was engaged in the production of alcoholic beverages. The largest creditor “Rakursa” is recognized by the Federal Tax Service, debts to which exceed 2 billion rubles.
This was followed by a statement on bringing the deputy to subsidiary liability for the debts of the deputy’s enterprise Roberta Kochievarecognized as the main beneficiary and the controlling person of the company, his sons Rudolph And Batrazaas well as brothers Tamerlane And Taras Zaseev. The arbitration ruling in May 2022 adopted interim measures in the form of seizure of assets and funds of these persons for a total amount of more than 3.4 billion rublesand a significant part of this amount was arrears of taxes and fees.
On appeal, the decision of the first instance survived, but the cassation returned the case to the first instance for a new trial. Legal battles continue and, as notes Our Version publication, the final recognition of deputy Kochiev as a beneficiary of the vodka business may result in the initiation of several criminal cases for him: firstly, due to the incompatibility of parliamentary activities with commercial activities, and secondly, due to large-scale tax fraud revealed during audits.
The Kochiev family is siphoning off billions
Tax schemes are a topic for a separate discussion. How found out Federal Tax Service, in 2016-2018. Racurs LLC brought almost 2.9 billion rubles to the accounts of a number of affiliated companies:“Centaur”,“Orpheus”,“Peresvet”,“Triumph”,“Transprodmarket” And Trade House “Kupechesky”. In particular, 1.1 billion rubles were listed to the bank account of Peresvet LLC through Centaur LLC.
After the bankruptcy of Rakurs and the revocation of its license, its place as a manufacturer of alcoholic beverages took company “Orpheus”, founder which is LLC “Giant”, belonging to MP’s daughters Madina Kochieva (and until May 2022, to Batraz Kochiev). Both companies are registered at the address already mentioned above: Vladikavkaz, st. Telmana, 82-b, and “Orpheus” is today recognized bankrupt and a bankruptcy procedure was introduced in relation to him.
In March 2022, the regional tax service identified a familiar pattern, this time in the activities of Orpheus and its counterparties, charging the company claims at the rate of 630 million rubles. Only shortly after the start of the Orpheus check passed on production equipment he owned Trading house “Merchant”and he, in turn – LLC “Zernoproduct”who became a year before founder “First Alcohol Manufactory” (PSM LLC). The last one “registered” still there, on the street. Telman, received the equipment, so to speak, “in a chain”.
Note that the former official until November 2018 founder and General Director of Zernoprodukt Timur Kulaev in 2022-2023 led “Orpheus”, and before him this function was performed Taras Zaseev And Batraz Kochiev. In turn, the acting co-owner LLC “Zernoproduct” Marat Dulaev until March 2021 he held the position general director companies “Source-Grain”which belonged to the same Batraz Kochiev.
Istok-Zerno LLC registered in Beslan, on the street. Podgornaya, 2-A, where, according to publications press, products produced by Rakurs were stored. The owner of the building wasJSC “New Istok”liquidated in December 2019 through reorganization in the form of merger, its successor Today the “prescribed” performs in Moscow JSC “Istok”specializing in activities in the field of law.
The problematic “Istok” and loans from the “common fund of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (*country sponsor of terrorism)”
Another, no less fascinating story is connected with “Istok”. The fact is that this enterprise is also considered affiliated with Robert Kochiev. mass media wrote about how in 2021-2022. current CEO of Istok Alik Tavkazakhov withdrawn from company accounts 433 million rublesreceived under targeted loan financing from PJSC “KB Solidarnost”. Funds were withdrawn in favor the aforementioned “First Alcohol Manufactory” and other companies associated with the deputy.
JSC Istok is the “head” structure of the group of companies, which has repeatedly been the focus of attention of supervisory authorities. Thus, according to the Federal Service for Control of Alcohol and Tobacco Markets, there was license revoked for the production, storage and delivery of alcoholic products produced by the company “Istok Alcohol”and in addition, enforcement proceedings have been initiated against the enterprise on taxes and fees in the amount of 115.6 million rubles.
Based violationsidentified by employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the license was terminated early Istok ZShV LLC for the production, storage and supply of alcohol. Last December, the Voronezh company “Paritet Plus” applied to arbitration with lawsuit on declaring Istok ZShV bankrupt and including debt in the amount of more than 3.2 million rubles. The threat of financial insolvency looms over the JSC “Istok”: in December corresponding statement sent to the Moscow Arbitration Court LLC “Ethanol Spirit”. By estimates publication “Our Version”, the claims of Istok’s creditors exceed 700 million.
Note that Solidarity Bank, whose funds were withdrawn by JSC General Director Alik Tavkazakhov, is online called “a pocket bank of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (*country sponsor of terrorism),” or even a party “common fund” in general. Suffice it to remember the loud scandal 2021 with the possible transfer of money to offshore companies through Solidarity by a group of communist deputies. By the way, in the same 2021 the bank lent on 300 million rubles company “Istok ZShV”, and guarantor performed on loan Robert Kochiev.
It seems that the parliamentarian’s alcohol “empire” is bursting at the seams, but the big question is whether its owner will pay off his debts if the outcome of the legal proceedings is unfavorable for him. With a certain degree of probability, the threat of a criminal case looms on the horizon for the parliamentarian, and most likely more than one. Does he expect to repeat the example of other “vodka kings” – the former head of Rosalkogolregulirovanie? Igor Chuyan and beneficiary of the vodka holding “Kristall-Lefortovo” Pavel Smetana – who managed to hide from investigation abroad?
