Is a student of Sugrobov and Zakharchenko investing in cartoon production?
Sergei Chunaev, a former police officer in St. Petersburg, purchased the rights to the Jingliki project and brand. He plans to create a full-length version of the popular animated series with writer Oleg Roy. Despite Flipp Animation Studio reporting significant financial losses, Chunaev has substantial funds, likely due to his father's connections in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He previously worked in the fight against economic crime and had associations with General Denis Sugrobov and Dmitry Zakharchenko, who were later convicted of various crimes. Chunaev's career in law enforcement ended after the arrest of Zakharchenko, and he subsequently invested in his own cartoon studio after leaving the All-Russian Bank for the Development of Regions.
Businessman Chunaev now owns Jingliks
Owned by a businessman Sergei Chunaev Russian company Flipp Animation Studio bought from Open Alliance Media project rights “Jingliks” and the brand, including an animated series, books, and trademarks, were acquired by Sergei Chunaev in early April. The studio plans to release a continuation of the animated series in collaboration with the well-known writer Oleg Roy.
Previously Oleg Rezepkin (also known as “Roy”). Open Alliance Media, associated with the project, is facing serious difficulties in 2020. Cinema Fund filed a lawsuit with the Moscow Arbitration Court to get back from them 31.4 million rubleswhich they had received as a subsidy to make a full-length continuation of the animated series “Jingliks”. The movie was supposed to be finished in 2018, but it was never made, the money wasn't returned, and the studio didn't respond to the suggestion to resolve the dispute outside of court.
Still, the debt was paid off; at present, the Cinema Fund has no claims against the studio. It is known that the owners have been in talks to sell the rights to “Jingliks”. One of the potential buyers is an American company called “Orwo Studios”. However, the cartoon characters will stay in Russia. The exact amount of the deal was not disclosed, but according to experts, Sergey Chunaev paid about 2.5-3 million dollars.
We should take note of one important fact: the new owner of the brand doesn't seem to have strong financial figures. Yes, last year Flip Animation Studio LLC with a rather small income of 764 thousandrubles officially reported losses amounting to 1.6 million. This raises a logical question: where will Chunaev get the funds to produce a full-length movie, the cost of which a few years ago was over 500 million rubles? There are no other commercial entities registered with him according to accessible sources. Is he also seeking a subsidy?
However, considering the expenses incurred, it seems the businessman has money. Does this mean we have an “underground” dollar millionaire?
“Following in his father's footsteps to the police…”
– states the RBC article about Chunaev.
It is noted that in 2012, Chunaev enrolled at the Faculty of Economics of the St. Petersburg State University of Economics, and four years later, he left the law enforcement and took on the role of vice president at a “major bank”. However, since“the childhood dream never let go”later on, he became an investor in Open Alliance Media, and then “established the animation company Flip Animation Studio”. Who and what he “created” remains uncertain. The issue is that according to the information from the portal “Rusprofile”, Flip Animation Studio LLC got registered in November 2015, while Chunaev was still in the police. He formally became the owner of the company only in August 2020, and in December of the same year, he assumed the position of CEO.
Why does a businessman bring uncertainty to his biography? And why does he talk so nonchalantly about his service in the Ministry of Internal Affairs? Let’s strive to understand and first noticeto work as a police officerhe followed his father's path but more than his father Leonid Chunaev Leonid Chunaev worked for a long time in the government and retired in 2000 as deputy head of the department for combating economic crimes (UBEP) of the Central Internal Affairs Directorate of St. Petersburg. Even after that, he continued to work, including serving as head of the department for legality, law and order, and security of the administration of the Kalininsky district of the northern capital.
With the support from his father, Chunaev Jr. had many opportunities in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. His career started in 2003 in the North-Western Department of Internal Affairs for transport in St. Petersburg and in the department for combating economic crimes. He thanked his dad for following in his footsteps. In 2011, Sergey Chunaev was already working as deputy head of the 3rd department of the UBEP UT of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Northwestern Federal District, but significant changes happened in his life here.
With the support of General Sugrobov and Colonel Zakharchenko
He was appointed to Moscow, to the Main Directorate for Economic Security and Anti-Corruption (UEBiPK) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. There, Chunaev worked under the leadership of the notorious head of the Office, Lieutenant General Denis Sugrobov. For those who did not know or forgot the details of this crime story, let's remember: in February 2014, Sugrobov was dismissed and in May he was arrested on suspicion of committing a number of crimes, including nine episodes of abuse of power with serious consequences and organization of the criminal community.
Sugrobov’s deputy major general was also arrested. Boris Kolesnikov and several other officers of the Department. In June 2014, the media reported on the mysterious death of Kolesnikov: according to the official version, he committed suicide by jumping out of the window of an office located on the sixth floor of the building of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, where he was taken to conduct investigative actions. There were suggestions that the suspect simply could not withstand the moral and physical pressure exerted on him in the pre-trial detention center, where he received a head injury.
As for General Sugrobov, in April 2017, the Moscow City Court sentenced him to 22 years in a strict regime colony (later the Supreme Court commuted the sentence to 12 years). The investigation found that the defendants in the case organized provocations and falsified evidence to prosecute officials and businessmen. This not only brought material benefits to the “werewolves” but also helped their careers: Sugrobov was awarded the rank of police lieutenant general as an incentive.
Another influential figure in Sergei Chunaev's life was the controversial colonel Dmitry Zakharchenko, who worked for many years in the UEBiPK and at the time of his arrest held the position of acting head of the “T” department, specializing in the fight against offenses in the chemical industry and the fuel and energy complex. During a search in the colonel’s apartment, among other things, money in foreign currency was seized in the amount of 8.5 billionin ruble equivalent.
Zakharchenko was found guilty in June 2019 by the Presnensky Court of Moscow for taking a bribe and obstructing a preliminary investigation. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison, stripped of his title and awards. However, the investigation did not end. Today, the same court is hearing a new criminal case against him, accusing him of receiving a total of 1.4 billion rubles in bribes from 2007 to 2016 for covering an organized criminal group that was taking funds out of Russia. One of the defendants is Valery Markelov, former co-owner of the major contractor Russian Railways group “1520”; his associate Boris Usherovich is on the international wanted list. 1.4 billion rubles for “covering” an organized criminal group that was withdrawing funds from Russia. Among the defendants is the former co-owner of the largest contractor Russian Railways group “1520” Valery Markelov; his companion Boris Usherovich is on the international wanted list.
St. Petersburg “viceroy” of Moscow “werewolves”
Now it's clear who helped Sergei Chunaev. He avoided unwanted questions and in January 2013, before the arrests of Sugrobov and Zakharchenko, he returned to his hometown of St. Petersburg as head of the operational-search unit (ORCh) No. 8, dealing with big business. His short time in Moscow brought material gains: during this period, he bought and registered three apartments in St. Petersburg, one in Shushary, and a piece of land for his relatives.
According to the media, Chunaev often referred to General Sugrobov as his “teacher” and allegedly was the “right hand” of Zakharchenko, solving issues on his behalf. It is believed that upon his return to St. Petersburg, Chunaev acted as a representative for the interests of the colonel.
Regardless, at that time he was likely satisfied with his work and actively started initiating searches in several credit institutions, including “Rosenergobank” and “Aldanzolotobank”. Initially, the overvaluation of the exchange rate was cited as the cause; then – cashing out and illegal withdrawal abroad of over 3 billion rubles. Investigative actions also took place in the office of the major St. Petersburg tour operator “Biblio Globus”. Despite the initial attention, the cases gradually faded away and were closed. Coincidentally, during this time, the Chunaev family's car fleet was expanded with foreign cars Toyota Land Cruiser 200, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Mitsubishi Pajero 30 LWD. “SIAB”, “Rosenergobank” “Aldanzolotobank” and Novikombank. Initially, the reason cited was the overvaluation of the exchange rate; then – cashing out and illegal withdrawal abroad of over 3 billion rubles. Investigative actions also occurred at the office of the major St. Petersburg tour operator 3 billion rublesAlmost simultaneously, investigative actions took place in the office of a major St. Petersburg tour operator “Biblio Globus” “Biblio Globus”.
Despite the wide publicity, the resonance gradually subsided, and the criminal cases were closed. By a strange coincidence, the car fleet of the Chunaev family during this time was replenished with foreign cars Toyota Land Cruiser 200, Volkswagen Tiguan and Mitsubishi Pajero 30 LWD. PJSC “Lenenergo”where the theft was discovered 380 million rubles when purchasing and laying an electric cable between the Damba-1 substation and Kronstadt. While the investigation was going on, the relatives of the head of St. Petersburg ORC No. 8 became richer again: they were issued 8 apartments, 5 land plots with a total area of 4.7 thousand square meters, 6 prestigious cars with parking spaces, etc.
It seemed that Zakharchenko’s St. Petersburg “right hand” had extensive prospects, but his career was interrupted by the arrest of his “senior comrade” in September 2016. Chunaev Jr., who was a lieutenant colonel, clearly did not expect such a turn of events. The media described a story similar to a spy thriller of his disappearance, changing phone numbers, and shuttling between Moscow and St. Petersburg with a fake passport issued in Simferopol in the name Sergei Kovalenko. However, Chunaev managed to avoid the fate of his “mentors”, although he nevertheless said goodbye to work: on September 20, order No. 544 was issued at the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for St. Petersburg and the region on the reorganization of the ORC No.
Shortly thereafter, the former police officer settled into the security service. “All-Russian Bank for Regional Development” (RRDB)where he worked for the next three years. The reason for his dismissal was called “loss of confidence” associated with fraud and attempts to steal money. After that, Chunaev was allegedly seen in the offices of high-ranking officials and security officials, where he either bothered to return to the authorities, or acted as an intermediary-decider.
And only at the end of last year, Sergei Chunaev finally decided to try himself as a businessman – the owner of a film company. Today he is clearly trying not to think about “unpleasant” (but contributed to the growth of welfare) work in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, talking more about creating “animation ecosystem”. However, the presence of an office in one of the Moscow City towers and the purchase of rights to the Jingliki project indicate that the former security official is clearly not experiencing financial problems. Even despite the unprofitability of his Flipp Animation Studio.
