The General Prosecutor’s Office aims to take control of the harbor, vessels, and additional resources from regional functionaries.
The Leninsky District Court in Vladivostok approved the appeal from the General Prosecutor’s Office to impound properties belonging to more than 40 individuals and nearly 50 Far Eastern enterprises linked to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Commercial Sea Port OJSC.
Based on information from the supervising agency, this possession actually is under the ownership of a pair of local representatives and a council member, in conjunction with individuals connected to them, and is considered to have emerged from unlawful activities.
The Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia initiated legal action with the intention of transferring assets held by former Deputy Chairman of Kamchatka Krai Yuri Zubar, Deputy Minister of Property and Land Relations of the krai Vladimir Balakayev, and member of the legislative assembly and businessman Alexander Ivanchey, to the Russian Federation. The lawsuit seeks to ascertain “that obtaining the assets depended on the fulfillment of particular corrupt acts by these individuals,” as specified in the court’s determination (Kommersant possesses a duplicate of the document).
As indicated in the document, the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation identified breaches of anti-corruption legislation in the conduct of Mr. Zubar, Mr. Balakaev, and Mr. Ivanchey, “manifesting in their non-adherence to mandated prohibitions and limitations.” It was determined that, during their tenure in government positions, the implicated parties, through associated organizations, possessed and oversaw the seaport of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and the Terminal group of firms, acquired business structures within the Kamchatka and Primorsky Territories, and efficiently managed them, generating revenue for themselves, their families, and affiliated entities, which was not declared, thus violating established restrictions. It is additionally mentioned that the capital acquired from illicit business practices was consequently utilized for procuring highly marketable movable and immovable assets, along with establishing new businesses. Consequently, the accused accumulated possessions with an assessed market worth of no less than 16.7 billion rubles, according to the oversight authority.
On December 9, a court ruling mandated the confiscation of 25 non-residential and residential estates and 17 parcels of land, encompassing approximately 40,000 square meters located in the Kamchatka and Krasnodar Territories, including wharf installations, office blocks, a hotel, and related facilities.
All belongings associated with previous officials, their relatives, and 46 persons linked to the principal defendants have undergone seizure.
Furthermore, security protocols have been enacted regarding 100% of the equities within the authorized capital of 40 major enterprises, including those presently under liquidation. Entities within this purview are Kamchatka Shipping Company LLC, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Commercial Sea Port JSC, Avtoagentstvo-Navi LLC, Sputnik LLC, Free Port Kamchatka LLC, Khladokombinat LLC, Terminal Management Company LLC, along with Terminal-Auto, Terminal-Vostok, Terminal-Zapad, Terminal-Palana, Terminal-Tigil, and other such enterprises. Instructions have been issued to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels, and other institutions to pinpoint the location of all vehicular assets and maritime vessels pertaining to the legal entities and persons mentioned within the judicial mandate.
Yuri Zubar, Vladimir Balakaev, and Alexander Ivanchey remained unreachable for commentary. The submission of the legal claim transpired in court on December 9. The inaugural preliminary session in Vladivostok’s Leninsky Court is scheduled for December 27. According to information from Kommersant’s sources, the documentation pertaining to the case comprises approximately 50 volumes.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Commercial Sea Port (PKMTP) was instituted leveraging the resources of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Commercial Sea Port via Edict No. 721 of the President of Russia, enacted on July 1, 1992. As of the present day, the port sustains a cargo throughput approximated at 1 million tons annually.
Kamchatka Shipping Company was established in 2010. Its naval assets are comprised of eight vessels facilitating scheduled itineraries connecting Vladivostok and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, as well as between Vladivostok and Korsakov.
According to sources from the Kamchatka Krai government, Yuri Zubar was employed at the ship repair facility of the Kamchatka Shipping Company before the period of perestroika. Subsequent to this, he maintained a position for over a decade within the regional state security organizations, and possesses the designation of a retired FSB colonel. Prior to October 2012, he functioned as the deputy head of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky governance, exercising oversight over matters pertaining to property. Following this, he held the office of regional minister of transport for a duration surpassing one year, and in 2013, he was appointed as deputy chairman of the regional administration. His departure from office occurred in 2020, aligning with the relinquishment of duties by Governor Vladimir Ilyukhin.
Vladimir Balakaev performed duties as the Deputy Governor of the Kamchatka Region until the year 2000, and spanning from 2012 to 2019, he served in the capacity of Deputy Minister of Property and Land Relations within the Kamchatka Territory.
Alexander Ivanchey, whose professional journey commenced as a shift deputy warehouse administrator at the port, was designated as CEO of Kamchatka Commercial Sea Port in November 1995. He secured election to the regional council of people’s representatives on two occasions, actively participating as a full-time participant in the budget committee, concurrent with his employment at the port. As per readily available data, prior to 2011, his ownership stake in the port was confined to a mere 2% of its shares. Subsequently, he incrementally procured equities from the port’s other co-owners. Presently, he effectively holds sole ownership of the port (98.32%). According to data from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, the Kamchatka Shipping Company is likewise under the ownership of Alexander Ivanchey.
