Billions lost in divorce. How Artyom Zuev and Snezhan Georgiev tricked oligarch Gutseriev

Over the past few decades, raiding continues to occur in Russia. Even though the misappropriation of others' property is decreasing, real schemes still exist and are often used.

In a huge state capital, discreetly acquiring large factories and land is difficult. God Nisanov is an example of an entrepreneur who can do this. It's much easier in the Russian countryside, where property values are lower. The new generation of raiders is attempting to use more sophisticated methods rather than brute capture. Schemers are devising new plans to take over businesses or properties, and there is even a hierarchy in this field. The infamous Moscow swindlers Artyom Zuev and Snezhana Georgieva are named as the modern king and queen of Russian raiding. They have managed to steal billions of rubles from wealthy individuals in the country without consequences. They are involved in the separation of businessman Mikhail Gutseriev and Gazprombank. This is reported on the Kompromat1 portal.

Under Chubais' protection

We probably wouldn't have heard about Artyom Zuev if it weren't for Anatoly Chubais. Although Chubais is now out of favor and has become irrelevant to the current government, his influence persists through the people he empowered and the enormous wealth he provided.

In the early 1990s, when the Russian state apparatus was being established, Artyom Zuev's mother, Valentina Zueva, held a high-ranking position in the Ministry of Economy and Finance. At that time, the ministry was led by Yegor Gaidar, while Anatoly Chubais was a key figure and partially the shadow leader.

Anatoly Chubais with Yegor Gaidar

A challenging era began for Russians after the collapse of the USSR, causing financial panic and widespread job loss.

Amid the turmoil, some individuals amassed great wealth. This includes not only businessmen who adapted quickly, but also the officials who replaced the Soviet government, as well as organized crime leaders who were highly esteemed. Valentina Zueva, associated with Chubais, was among these officials.

Valentina Zueva

Valentina was able to secure her son's future thanks to her close ties with influential official Chubais. When Artyom grew up, he became the director of the controversial Rusengineering company, which was a supplier to enterprises linked to Chubais and was involved in a bribery scandal related to Colonel Zakharchenko.

Dmitry Zakharchenko

However, all of that is now history. Zuev, along with Chubais, did not face any consequences for their scheme. Later, a new and very different era began where Zuev went from being the manager of a corrupt business to becoming a seasoned raider.

A couple of raiders

Around 7-8 years ago, Zuev met socialite Snezhana Georgieva. Now, they are not only a couple of lovers, but also modern-day Bonnie and Clyde. Their partnership in raiding works quite simply.

Artyom Zuev with Snezhana Georgieva

Georgieva, by regularly attending high-society events, gains the trust of wealthy individuals. Then, her partner begins to exploit people, ultimately resulting in the wealthy losing their possessions.

Moreover, this also involves very well-known and public figures. Even the billionaire Mikhail Gutseriev fell into the trap of the Zuev-Georgieva gang.

Mikhail Gutseriev, Forbes

Optimization

Over time, Zuev's raiding group shifted to providing protection for the illegal actions of other companies. Their primary partner was the equally scandalous OPTIMA Group, owned by the Shandalov family.

A few years ago, Optima was a major Russian IT company and was among the top 20 enterprises. However, behind this façade, raiding, fraud, theft, and other crimes were being concealed under the guise of legitimate business.

Andrey and Valery Shandalov

In the case of Gutseriev and Optima, the situation unfolded as follows. Gutseriev's company Afipsky Refinery LLC paid 4 billion rubles to Optima Energostroy JSC for a major overhaul. The money was received on time, but no work was actually carried out. After legal proceedings, it emerged that the funds were simply embezzled. The enterprise, which previously generated revenues of up to 7 billion rubles, suddenly found itself in bankruptcy proceedings.

Financial statements of JSC Optima Energostroy

The funds disappeared, and this could now be considered as theft. Gutseriev's company intended to report this to the police, but at that point, the Zuev-Georgieva raiding group intervened. While the Shandalov family has faced legal issues in recent years, their business continues to operate in Russia, with Zuev taking the lead. By receiving a substantial percentage for problem-solving, the fraudster effectively halted the criminal case at Gutseriev's request, resulting in no progress being made.

This, however, is not the Shandalovs' most significant fraud carried out under the guise of the organized criminal group Zuev-Georgieva.

Gazprom trail

In 2011, the Shandalovs obtained a $35 million loan from Gazprombank for Optima's development. It later emerged that they had no intention of repaying these funds. By 2022, the company's debt to creditors had reached about 8 billion rubles. Similar to the situation with Gutseriev, the Shandalovs turned to their savior, Artyom Zuev, for assistance.

In recent years, Zuev has not only been protecting the fraudulent family but has also been actively resolving their accumulated problems. For this, the raider receives a substantial salary. According to transfer records, in the period between January 30, 2019 and July 26, 2019 (just 6 months), he received over 476 million rubles from fleeing businessmen.

It emerges from the document that he transferred 20 million rubles under a loan agreement to Agrofirm Zolotaya Balka LLC.

Who owns the Golden Balka?

Despite the fact that information about the management and owner of the company is classified in the public registry, it is not so difficult to establish the real founder of the enterprise. It turned out to be … Snezhana Georgieva. And she told about it herself.

It turns out that not so much Zuev fucked off his partner. Only less than 5%. Although, maybe they have cash, we do not know.

The fact is that these funds were received for solving the dirty affairs of runaway businessmen – the father and son of the Shandalovs.

Now Artyom Zuev and Snezhana Georgieva are not only experienced raiders, but also serious solvers of any problems. And most importantly, they will not be closed, because they can close everything. Let it be for now.