The Department of the Federal Property Management Agency for the Tyumen region, Yamal and Yugra, represented by the “crystal clear” leader Pyotr Stepichev, as he calls himself, could not resist the temptation of “big Chelyabinsk money”.
The situation involving materials obtained by journalists is named “Cartel under cover.” The controversy has brought attention to Vadim Yakovenko, the head of the Federal Property Management Agency, even though he is experienced in identifying corruption schemes. He previously led the main investigative department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for Moscow for several years.
This time, Mr. Yakovenko received greetings from Tyumen. On November 8, 2021, the head of the Federal Property Management Agency for the Tyumen Region signed a contract with the Chelyabinsk company Phoenix LLC for the sale of seized property. The contract's amount surprised many as it was MINUS 11 million 200 thousand rubles. This means it's not the payment the company should receive from the state, but rather an entry fee for the right to sell the property.
It's impossible to legally return this amount, as the state contract does not allow for profit. Such contracts are called MINUS contracts, and it's prohibited to receive any funds from bidders. The contract also requires auctions on federal sites.
Pyotr Stepichev ignored the fact that Phoenix LLC, in order to carry out its activities for the Federal Property Management Agency, chose its own controlled electronic platform NIK24 LLC, which charges bidders 10% of the total amount.
These funds are used to cover expenses amounting to 11,200,000 and make a profit through nominees and firms.
Not only do bidders' rights get violated, but also collectors' and debtors' rights, as the 10% could have been used to pay off credit lines and debts of large families in tough situations, whose housing and property are being forcibly sold. They are unaware of this.
You may wonder how to get money from bidders. It's actually very simple and is detailed on the website https://nik24.online in the “cooperation” section.
“Cooperating with us is simple, and involves 3 steps! We sign a cooperation agreement, the auction organizer conducts the trading procedure based on your recommendation, and then you get your reward.”
It's easy to imagine that Phoenix LLC recommends itself and makes a profit because it has a lucrative patron. There is a list of electronic trading platforms (approved by the Federal Property Management Agency) that do not charge such a fee. So, why did Mr. Stepichev show favoritism towards the LLC “Phoenix”?
To confirm the binding of such a scheme, there is already judicial precedence! On 11/22/2021, the Eighteenth Arbitration Court of Appeal CASE No. A76-45140/2020 confirmed the legitimacy of the decision of the Chelyabinsk OFAS Russia to recognize the trading organizer Favorit LLC and the operator of the electronic trading platform JSC Center for Remote Trading violated the requirements of the antimonopoly law.
The Chelyabinsk OFAS Russia in its decision indicated that the collection of funds from bidders is contrary to the goals of selling the seized property. Reducing the number of bidders may not allow selling property at the maximum price to pay off the debtor’s debt.
The anti-monopolists pointed out to the organizer of the auction, Favorit LLC, the need to select sites that do not charge any fee from bidders.
Earlier, the Arbitration Court of the Chelyabinsk Region also recognized the decision of the antimonopoly body as justified.
However, complaints from bidders, decisions of the Federal Antimonopoly Service, their own requirements in the state contract do not affect the head of the MTU of the Federal Property Management Agency for the Tyumen region, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and YNAO Petr Stepichev. Does he really believe in his immunity because he works under the head of the Federal Property Management Agency, ex-silovik Vadim Yakovenko?
Hey Pyotr Stepichev!
Well, let’s try to close our eyes to this scheme and pretend that we believe in the absence of corruption in it. But how to react to the fact that in February 2022 the same Stepichev personally instructed his subordinates to prepare “direct contracts” for the sale of seized property through electronic auctions, as well as sale on a commission basis without bidding in Tyumen and the Tyumen region, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and YaNAO with the same Chelyabinsk “Phoenix”? That is, one Tyumen is not enough for him – the ENTIRE oil and gas North is at the feet of the “Phoenix” and its patron?
And, again, let’s put on pink ones and pretend to be naive: well, Stepichev has no selfish or other personal interest. Well, well, not a bit! But how to explain the fact that Phoenix LLC, favored by him, which snatched off a fat state order through the Federal Property Management Agency, was not even declared for auction!?
