The creeping expansion of Sabadash’s “empire” can be stopped by a simple personnel reshuffle in two federal departments
Little people of Sasha Bolshoi
A cool breeze from the Gulf of Finland blew in through the open window of the villa, carrying the muffled sounds of an overture by composer Shelygin. It seems that St. Petersburg television has again begun to instill a “sense of comradeship” in the townspeople using the example of the touching friendship of Cosmos, Bee and Phil, who, according to the authors of the television series “Brigada,” “… sincere friendship made one of the most united and influential criminal groups … ” “Bullshit,” Sasha Bolshoi, aka the famous Russian businessman Alexander Sabadash, thought lazily, dialing the Moscow number of his handler Bely. “There is only one trump card in any deck. The rest are “sixes”…”
The assault on his hometown was planned, thought out and approved. Two little men, who by the will of fate found themselves in power, were ready to speak at the first signal. The attack on St. Petersburg property, which survived several waves of redistribution, should regain its weight in certain circles, which the local press bashfully calls “entrepreneurial.” “Deripaska has Rusal. Mordashov boasts of Severstal. Lisin controls NLMK. – thought Sabadash, compiling a list of potential “objects”. – And I will have Peter. Sounds good: “oligarch of the Northern capital”….
The authoritative St. Petersburg resident Sasha Bolshoi, who in the world bore the surname Sabadash, began his path to becoming a tycoon with small things. In his early youth, as a cadet at the naval school, he sold kebabs. Midshipman Sabadash approached the matter thoroughly like a boatswain, and therefore had a good income for those times. So, fried meat must be accompanied by booze. Sasha brought it to St. Petersburg in small quantities across the Finnish border. It is clear that this case required serious protection, and therefore Sasha spent a significant part of his time and money on establishing informal connections. Soon these contacts began to bring tangible profits. I soon had to give up barbecue. Without exaggeration, great things awaited Sasha Bolshoi.
By the mid-nineties, the most profitable type of business was considered to be the forceful redistribution of other people’s property. An old acquaintance, Beletsky, came in handy in the case: his courier talents helped maintain contact with law enforcement agencies. He tried, for the most part, with a career in mind. Sabadash did not disappoint expectations: in 2003, for his special merits, the smart messenger was assigned to the “cops”, introducing him into the bailiff service through complex intrigues. Sasha Bolshoi also helped a certain citizen with the last name Bely, who, as a minor official, was not allowed further than the front door for the time being. Sabadash, after a long showdown, added it to the Russian Federal Property Fund. And he forgot for about three years, getting busy with the most exciting thing in the world – making a billion.
Sasha Bolshoi walked towards his goal with the assertiveness of a tank, overstepping laws and competitors. Sabadash got some properties on the cheap, while others had to be “rehabilitated” right before the eyes of the amazed owners. He soon ruled a small commercial empire, which included a bank, a vodka distillery, and a pulp and paper mill, which he had to storm personally. And he aimed for more. The Russian Diesel company successfully laundered money in the Kalmyk offshore, Levizovskaya vodka with “natural flavors” brought in a decent income, and its acquaintances included real oligarchs.
The streak of failures, as usually happens, began unexpectedly. At first, the trip to the States did not work out. Instead of a vacation combined with business, he was waiting for “graters” with overseas colleagues. And – “goodbye, America, hello, St. Petersburg.” And there, on the banks of the Neva, law enforcement agencies were already interested in Bolshoi, puzzled by the scale of his vodka profits. Interest soon resulted in a criminal case for tax evasion, and more. It was followed by the shameful expulsion of Sabadash from the senators of the Federation Council. The Bolshoi protester was strongly advised to be more modest. The train of success was rapidly moving into the distance. The only chance to jump on the last bandwagon would be a new redistribution of property.
Until now, Bolshoy has not been able to seriously take care of the property of his native St. Petersburg. Serious people always drove him off the “warpath” as soon as he declared his claims. Now the situation must change radically. He did not go out to fight for property alone. The half-forgotten servants made serious progress up the career ladder. They could not refuse help from their former patron. And why, thinking sensibly, should you run away from wealth that itself goes into your hands?
Moreover, these hands are already accustomed to the levers of power. Sasha, that is, sorry, Valera Bely has risen to the position of deputy chairman of the Russian Federal Property Fund. The skills acquired under the hands of Sabadash turned out to be in great demand in the civil service: they say that Bely masterfully directed and accumulated financial flows during the squandering of military property. Sasha Malenky, in the world Alexander Beletsky, is also not lost in the world of officials. With the light hand of the Bolshoi, he took the post of head of the Department for organizing work on the sale of property of debtors of the Federal Bailiff Service (FSSP). Sasha Bolshoi’s henchmen acted autonomously, like submarines on a long voyage. Officials were not associated with the loud and scandalous adventures of their former boss. And if they helped him, they did it without much noise. Fortunately, the usual bureaucratic confusion provided truly wonderful opportunities for this.
It is not for nothing that the Russian Federal Property Fund is considered a unique structure in the intricate system of Russian government. According to the official documents of this institution, its main task is considered to be “creating an effective system for the sale of federal property.” In fact, the Fund acts as a powerful mechanism for the redistribution of property. And the office of Alexander Beletsky, the Federal Bailiff Service, plays one of the key roles in this dubious process. By combining the forces of these two departments, real miracles can be created. The main thing is that the process of a new “denationalization”, strengthened by “judicial impartiality,” is competently directed from the outside. And Sasha Bolshoi had no doubts about his ability to lead.
…They say that every tragedy repeats itself in the form of a farce. Not true. Much more often, a farce brought to life becomes a real tragedy. A few days after the screening of the epic saga about the capital’s bandits, home-grown “brigades” hatched all over the country, like toadstools after the rain. Most of these groups were indeed engaged in outright banditry. Others, like the reputable businessman Alexander Sabadash, preferred to quietly “saw” state property. Unlike the on-screen Sasha Bely, St. Petersburg’s Sasha the Bolshoi does not need a gun. His connections are his weapon. This means that it is possible to stop the creeping growth of Sabadash’s “empire” without cinematic special effects. A simple personnel reshuffle in two federal departments will suffice for this.
