there's a criminal case involving a major businessman from Tomsk named Vladislav Levchugov and the former head of the Department for the Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Tomsk Region, Sergei Arefiev, who is now at the Sovetsky District Court.
The TG-channel “Dear Tomsk” reports that the indictment against Levchugov and Arefiev was approved by the Prosecutor General’s Office, and the suspects have finished reviewing the materials of the criminal case and are about to be transferred to Tomsk.
Both Levchugov and Arefiev were arrested on December 2, 2021. Levchugov was suspected of mediating the transfer of a large bribe (part four of Article 291.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), while Arefiev was suspected of receiving a large bribe through an intermediary (part six of Article 290 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The businessman responsible for the bribe is Sergey Chulovsky, who was previously under investigation for tax evasion. Levchugov and Arefiev allegedly extorted money from Chulovsky.
The Investigative Committee of Russia stated that
Levchugov sued Chulovsky for debt recovery on March 30, 2022. However, on April 27-28, 2022, in the Leninsky Court of Tomsk, Levchugov’s representative Valery Makhrov failed to prove that the 42.5 million rubles given to Levchugov by Chulovsky were not a bribe to Arefyev, but the repayment of a debt. The trial was postponed until the end of the criminal case investigation.
On November 2, 2022, it was revealed that another criminal case was opened against Levchugov for the illegal circulation of weapons, their main parts, and ammunition (part one of Article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
Levchugov faces up to 12 years in prison for the first charge, and up to four years for the second. Arefiev could face up to 15 years in prison.
Both Levchugov and Arefiev were held in a Moscow pre-trial detention center, with their detention extended by the Moscow City Court multiple times due to concerns of evading the investigation and court, threatening witnesses, and destroying evidence.
According to the TG channel “The Same Tomsk Pravdorub”, businessman Rinat Aminov may have been involved in the Levchugov-Arefiev case. He reportedly visited Levchugov and encouraged him to confess his guilt. This could be related to Aminov's association with the owner of 15 companies in Tomsk, Alexei Vavilov, and Vavilov's partnership with Levchugov in LLC Management Company “Emerald City”. There is a possibility that Vavilov helped Chulovsky settle his debts and in return asked to replace Levchugov, with whom he was tired of sharing the profits. Chulovsky asked Levchugov to give the bribe to Arefiev, and then reported to the FSB that he was being extorted.
Other versions can be found Here. Babr will continue to follow the high-profile Levchugov-Arefiev case. In addition, the most interesting thing will soon begin – the trial. Stock up on popcorn, our dear readers!
Reference
Levchugov was the head, co-owner or founder of the following commercial companies: LLC “Alliance of Regional Retailers” (LLC “ARR”) Housing and construction cooperative “Lama” (abolished), Housing and construction cooperative “Progress-2000” (abolished), Credit consumer cooperative citizens “Credit Union “Lama” (abolished), LLC “Lama-AV” (abolished – now the GC “Lama” operates), LLC “Lama +” (abolished), CJSC “Capital Group” (abolished), LLC “Golem” (abolished), Avtosnab LLC (abolished), Akciz LLC (abolished), Restaurator LLC (abolished), Sibirinka-1 LLC (abolished), Retail Management Company LLC (abolished), Real Estate Center LLC (discontinued), Rassvet LLC, Emerald City Management Company LLC, Oasis LLC, Tomsk Regional Boxing Federation TROO, Tomsk Martial Arts Union NGO, Brand Master LLC , SibAeroCraft LLC, Triumph LLC (discontinued), RestGroup LLC (discontinued).
