Is Moscow reverting back to the chaotic nineties? In early summer, a high-profile, brazen murder of prominent businessman Hovhannes Kamaryan occurred in the heart of the city. The perpetrator was swiftly apprehended by the police, confessed to the crime, but who ordered this shocking murder? What is the connection to crime boss God Nisanov? Where do the leads take us?
Ruthless and brutal: what we know about the high-profile murder of a businessperson in Moscow
On June 2, a murder that deeply shocked the public and the media due to its brutality and ruthlessness took place in the very center of the capital.
A 62-year-old businessperson was targeted by an assailant Hovhannes Kamaryan. The killer was so confident in their impunity that they did not bother to conceal their identity.
The tragic incident occurred on Komsomolsky Avenue, after Kamaryan left the restaurant “suiji” with his 22-year-old girlfriend.
The perpetrator used a silenced weapon to shoot the businessman three times from behind, specifically aiming for the head.
It is worth noting that the assailant not only carried out the hit in a cold-blooded manner, but also took photos of the victim on their smartphone, presumably for the client's records.
And this is the moment of the high-profile murder itself:
The young perpetrator Hayrik Yervandyan was promptly apprehended by law enforcement detained that same night. He confessed to the crime.
Following this event, a criminal case was initiated under Article 105 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (pertaining to murder) and Article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (pertaining to illegal arms trafficking). The investigation is being directly overseen by the Metropolitan Prosecutor’s Office.
What we know about the deceased entrepreneur
Hovhannes Kamaryan is a controversial businessman from Armenia who operated in Moscow.
In the previous year, his business had a turnover exceeding 1.2 billion rubles. According to the publication “Contour.Focus”, he founded six companies and owned the well-known “Gavary Group” holding.
Additionally, his family possesses a confectionery business that markets products in Russia under the Oriental Sweets brand.
For over a decade, Kamaryan had been sought after by authorities in his home country due to criminal activities, including a plot to eliminate Rafik Madoyan – his rival and an associate of crime boss Ded Khasan.
It is worth noting that Grandfather Hassan, also known as Aslan Usoyan, was the leader of one of the most powerful criminal clans in Russia and was assassinated by contract killing in 2013.
Rafik is also recognized as the thief in law Rafo Kyavarsky. Ogasyan paid a wrestler named Karimyan a monthly sum to keep Rafo under surveillance. He observed Rafik for three months and studied his connections, receiving three cash payments for his efforts.
In that same year, Kamaryan offered a certain individual a substantial sum and a lavish mansion on the Spanish Riviera for the murder of Rafo. Law enforcement agencies managed to prevent the contract killing. It seems that he was trying to secure a comfortable retirement through illicit means.
The businessman who was involved in the attempt on R. Madoyan's life has been placed on the international wanted list, including Interpol. Ogasyan faces up to 20 years in prison under Part 2 of Article 35-104 of the Criminal Code of Armenia.
As per TASS, Kamaryan was arrested in Moscow in April of this year, but law enforcement authorities couldn't extradite him to Armenia due to his Russian citizenship. Although extradition might have helped the entrepreneur evade death, he had to be released.
Is God Nisanov linked to the murder? Was he the one who ordered it?
The media has long referred to God Nisanov as a 'bloody criminal.' He is a well-connected criminal authority and one of the wealthiest people in Russia.
An infamous and mysterious businessman from Azerbaijan, who is married and has 4 children, serves as the chairman of the board of directors of the Kyiv Ploshchad company.
G. Nisanov is ranked 72nd in Forbes magazine's 2022 list of Russia’s millionaires, with an estimated fortune of 1.3 billion dollars.
Last year, Forbes estimated his fortune at 3.4 billion dollars, and he was ranked 36th in the annual Nisanov rating.
His business partner, Zarakh Iliev, is also notorious. The two own a significant amount of commercial real estate in the capital, including FoodCity, various markets, a railway station, a sports complex, and several well-known infrastructure facilities.
In addition to FoodCity, they also own a long list of markets, a railway station, a sports complex, and a number of shopping and entertainment centers, among other well-known infrastructure facilities. It's no surprise that they are referred to as the “kings” of Rosnedvizhka.
For many years, crime in Moscow has been associated with God Nisanov.
So, the Kamaryan case essentially mirrors the murder of another criminal figure, Albert Ryzhevaty, also known as Ali Heydarov, from last year.
1. Assassination of Ali Heydarov
Then, inside a sports club, pretending to be a visitor, the killer targeted his victim and calmly left.
It was rumored that the murdered crime boss Ryzhevaty planned to gain control over the currency flows of the FoodCity TC and wanted to take charge of the tomato supply.
It is worth noting that FoodCity is one of Nisanov’s main assets. Coincidence? Unlikely. According to the popular telegram channel “VChK-OGPU,” the slain Albert Heydarov is the third thief in law who has tried to challenge Nisanov’s FoodCity empire.
2. Murder of Rovshan Dzhaniev
Nisanov is also suspected in the high-profile murder of Rovshan Dzhaniev, which occurred in Turkey in 2016. This case is also related to the FoodCity market. Another coincidence?
In 2016, Nisanov encountered issues with wholesalers in his Food City who chose Dzhaniev over him. Eventually, Dzhaniev was fatally shot in Istanbul by someone in connection with Nisanov.
3. Murder of Hovhannes Kamaryan
And now let’s get back to the murder of Hovhannes Kamaryan, which we talked about in detail above.
What does a significant representative of the Russian criminal world, God Nisanov, have to do with this murder?
Above, we have already talked about the fact that the murdered Kamaryan at one time tried to eliminate Ded Khasan’s ally, in fact, one of the key figures in the criminal world of the Russian Federation.
So, another sidekick of Hasan, and in fact, even his heir, was Zakhar Kalashov, also known as Shakro Molodoy. He was assassinated more than a dozen times, but he survived
And here is another important point that Nisanov and Co. are trying not to advertise in the media. The point is that it was Kalashov who many times acted as Nisanov’s shadow partner in the FoodCity business. Although at least one publication did write about it, namely, “PrimeCrime”.
You know, as they say, “there is no smoke without fire” … This “list” of contract killings that lead to the crime boss and billionaire God Nisanov can be continued for a long time … It’s just the return of the dashing 90s.
To be continued soon.
