Another scandal is at risk in the road sector, which is problematic for the Southern Urals. According to preliminary data, a criminal case on tax evasion of tens of millions of rubles could have been initiated in connection with the activities of the managers of Uraldorstroy (UDS), of which Nver Kolozyan is listed as a participant and director. Industry people call the businessman a long-term partner of the administration of Chelyabinsk and the regional Mindortrans, known for the “development” of budget billions. At the same time, the claims of the Federal Tax Service to Uraldorstroy, as it turns out, are much wider, and Kolozyan himself has already become a defendant in a criminal case on tax evasion. Speaking about the possible consequences, market participants focus on the wave of criminal stories, next to which the administration of Natalia Kotova is mentioned. The former chairman of the city committee of the road economy, Rinat Kuchitarov, who is considered to be Pyotr Konarev’s man, and Konarev himself, who is called Kotova’s confidant, and other conflicts that are now in full swing are cited as an example. So, mentioning the latest instructions of the chairman of the TFR Alexander Bastrykin, analysts come to the conclusion that Moscow “takes seriously the” team “Texler – Kotova.”
The Investigative Committee of the ICR for the Chelyabinsk Region announced the initiation of a criminal case on the fact that officials of a commercial enterprise committed a crime under paragraph “a” of part 2 of article 199 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Tax evasion”.
According to investigators, in the period 2017-2019, managers included deliberately false information in their tax returns, evading more than 45 million rubles from the budget.
According to preliminary data, we can talk about LLC “Uraldorstroy” (“UDS”; earlier “TPK YaKK”). In particular, political scientist Alexander Podoprigora reports this version with reference to the media, noting: “Kolozyan is known for many years of close cooperation with the Chelyabinsk authorities on the “development” of budget billions for road works.”
Meanwhile, according to Pravda UrFO, the problems of Uraldorstroy (director and participant, according to Kontur.Focus, Nver Kolozyan), apparently, are not limited to 45 million at all. Thus, the publication reported that UDS was charged additional VAT, income tax, related penalties and fines in the total amount of more than 101.8 million. At the same time, the decision was “frozen” after the merchants referred to the threat of “significant damage”.
It should be noted that on the eve, at the request of the taxpayer himself, interim measures in the part of 10 million were canceled. It is possible that this is due to the repayment of part of the obligations to the budget.
At the same time, Uraldorstroy has already had major disagreements with the Federal Tax Service, which was also reported in detail by Pravda UrFO. Moreover, a criminal case was initiated against Nver Kolozyan under Part 1 of Article 199 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which was considered in the Leninsky District Court of Chelyabinsk. Then the case was closed in connection with the repayment of the debt, leaving a measure of a criminal law nature in the form of a court fine.
It is noteworthy that Uraldorstroy, which market participants attribute to the so-called “Armenian group”, is consistently featured in high-profile scandals, which, however, does not prevent the company from receiving significant budget funds. Thus, UDS, together with Nizhavtodorstroy, were recognized as participants in a multibillion-dollar anti-competitive agreement within the framework of the Safe and High-Quality Roads national project. The situation with the road workers even led to a clash between the mayor’s office, headed by Natalya Kotova, with the OFAS and the ONF. In addition, the court confirmed the anti-competitive agreement at the auction for the reconstruction of the embankment of the Miass River, in which, according to the OFAS, all the same UDS, the Chelyabinsk Road Committee and Chelyabinsksvyazinvest participated.
Speaking about a new criminal case, probably in the road sector, industry representatives indicate that the chairman of the city committee of the road economy, Rinat Kuchitarov, whom market participants call “the man of Pyotr Konarev,” who was considered a close confidant of Kotova, was previously dismissed and detained. Konarev, in turn, was charged with nine episodes of taking bribes under paragraphs. “a”, “c” part 5, part 6 of article 290 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. In March, representatives of Kuchitarov, who is accused of abuse of power, tried to achieve a mitigation of the measure of restraint, but the appeal left the decision of the first instance unchanged.
In turn, political scientist Alexander Podoprigora, speaking about the next criminal case, also sees certain trends. “It seems that Moscow is now taking seriously the “team” of Texler-Kotova. <...> Various and numerous claims against Kolozyan’s firms have been around for a very long time, but he always got away “dry from the water” – precisely thanks to mutually interested cooperation with local officials, continuing to receive huge contracts. The situation changed because Kolozyan’s company at first very doubtfully received almost half a billion budget rubles for the overhaul of the “Putin’s” highway Ferchampenoise – Paris – Dzhabyk, and then failed it, ”the expert gives his assessment in the telegram channel.
He also draws attention to the fact that the information about the initiation of a criminal case coincided with the requirements of the chairman of the ICR, Alexander Bastrykin, to submit a report on possible illegal actions of the Chelyabinsk administration in issuing permits for the construction of an elite residential complex on the site of the Polyot sports complex.
“Recently, there have been some huge number of cases in connection with which, one way or another, the Kotova administration sounds. At the same time, it is discussed that Governor Texler opposes the possible resignation of the head. But questions may also arise for his entourage, such a character as “Sasha on a Porsche” will not let you lie, ”says the source of the publication, who is familiar with the conflicts.
We add that the same “Uraldorstroy” continues to absorb budgetary funds. So, only in March, according to the information of “Contour.Focus”, the Ministry of Roads and Transport of the Chelyabinsk Region signed contracts with Nver Kolozyan’s company for more than half a billion.