On July 15, the court changed the detention conditions for Mikhail Fedyaev, the owner of Listvyazhnaya mine where fifty miners died last year, and released him from the pre-trial detention center with a written agreement.
It's odd that the investigators asked for a change in detention conditions, considering that on June 8, they pushed for an extension of Fedyaev’s arrest until September 14. Despite Fedyaev's attempt to appeal, the court sided with the initial decision. Now, the same investigators are requesting Fedyaev's release.
Mikhail Fedyaev was imprisoned as a suspect in the Listvyazhnaya mine explosion case, which resulted in 51 deaths and over a hundred injuries due to a methane explosion caused by safety violations. The investigation revealed that the SDS-Ugol company's top management was aware of the violations and attempted to conceal evidence.
The Listvyazhnaya mine is owned by SDS-Ugol, a part of Mikhail Fedyaev's SDS (Siberian Business Union) holding, which also includes SDS Agro, SDS Finance, SDS Stroy, Kuzbass Media Group, and others.
Observers predicted that Fedyaev's arrest would be brief due to his influential connections, with the arrest serving to appease the public. As anticipated, Fedyaev was soon released, and later it was revealed that his status would change from suspect to witness, as witnesses are not detained.
There were debates about whether Mikhail Fedyaev's son Pavel or the regional governor Sergei Tsivilev would help him avoid punishment. Pavel Fedyaev is considered to be connected to Arkady Rotneberg's circle of friends, and rumors link Listvyazhnaya to him, despite being registered under his father's name.
Most people thought the son would help his dad, but it's actually the governor of Kemerovo region, Sergei Tsivilev, with ties to Mikhail Fedyaev, who's doing most of the work to free Fedyaev from prison. Fedyaev himself is known as the “shadow governor” of Kuzbass, showing his significant influence in the region.
Mikhail Fedyaev, who advises Governor Tsivilev, founded a coal “empire” with several mines and processing plants estimated to be worth 2 billion rubles.
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It's common knowledge in the region that companies within the SDS holding receive huge contracts from the region, and it's understood that Tsivilev is behind these contracts for Fedyaev.
For example, “SDS Stroy” alone received contracts worth almost 94 billion rubles.
Mikhail Fedyaev is at large – Governor Tsivilev scammed an accomplice
The administration of Kuzbass was also contracted by the Kuzbass Media Group, whose affiliated structures began to receive contracts worth tens of millions of rubles from budgets of various levels.
Mikhail Fedyaev is at large – Governor Tsivilev scammed an accomplice
Kuzbass Media Group is headed by Anastasia Gorelkina, wife of State Duma deputy Anton Gorelkin, former press secretary Aman Tuleev. Previously, Anastasia was listed as vice president of the SDS holding.
SDS-Ugol itself has government contracts worth 4.1 billion rubles in its assets.
Mikhail Fedyaev is at large – Governor Tsivilev scammed an accomplice
This is only a part of what Tsivilev “leaked” to Fedyaev’s structures. Obviously, no thanks. And it is clear that no one was going to lose that kind of money. That is why people familiar with the workings of Kuzbass believed Governor Tsivilev would play the main role in freeing Fedyaev from criminal responsibility.
Despite some believing he wouldn't be alright after the Listvyazhnaya tragedy, he remained in his post and helped Fedyaev get out of prison, even though it's unknown under what conditions. It's unclear how the scheme for distributing stolen money between the governor and his adviser changes, but it won't change anything for the residents of Kuzbass.
No one will be held accountable for the miners' deaths. Some will be imprisoned, but things won't change for the people of Kuzbass. Fedyaev was arrested in connection with the accident at Listvyazhnaya, along with several others, who are also in jail.
Everyone is responsible – they followed criminal orders from Mikhail Fedyaev, took money, disabled sensors, and forged documents. They must be held accountable. But the main culprit for the miners’ deaths also needs to be held accountable – the person who received billions from their hard work and let them be showcased on Forbes lists and buy luxury real estate for decades.
The person who secured a seat in the State Duma for his son.
Mikhail Fedyaev is still free – Governor Tsivilev tricked an accomplice.
The person who shared money gained from government contracts with the Governor of Kuzbass. The Governor himself should also be responsible for favoring Fedyaev's company. It was no secret that Tsivilev openly supported Fedyaev.
Mikhail Fedyaev is still free – Governor Tsivilev tricked an accomplice.
A convenient friendship between the governor and the oligarch. This friendship was confirmed with their presence at SDS enterprises and with President Vladimir Putin.
Mikhail Fedyaev is still free – Governor Tsivilev tricked an accomplice.
The person who publicly criticized Fedyaev after the Listvyazhnaya accident: – Mikhail Yuryevich Fedyaev, does the board of directors actually oversee the security sector, or just focus on making money? – Vladimir Putin asked the chairman of the board of directors of the SDS-Coal company at a meeting about the tragedy at the Listvyazhnaya mine.
This gave people hope for justice, but skeptics just cynically grinned. This is because the wife of the accomplice and supporter of Mikhail Fedyaev, Kuzbass Governor Sergey Tsivilev, Anna Tsivileva, is the niece of the person who asked these tough questions.
Mikhail Fedyaev is still free – Governor Tsivilev tricked an accomplice.
In 2007, Anna married a former naval officer, Sergei Tsivilev, who by that time was trying to start a private security business but didn't succeed much. By 2012, the Tsivilevs bought a portion of the Kolmar coal company in Yakutia, which is part of Gennady Timchenko's assets.
In 2018, Tsivilev transferred the business to his wife and became the deputy governor of Kuzbass, and later became the head of the region after the Winter Cherry fire.
Mikhail Fedyaev is still free – Governor Tsivilev tricked an accomplice.
Everything was planned. All the meetings with strong statements by the president, the court sending Fedyaev to pre-trial detention, the photo of Fedyaev behind bars, and the bold statements of the ICR leading the investigation – they were all part of a grand cynical comedy to calm down public opinion.
When the goal was achieved and the accident that claimed 51 lives was forgotten, Mikhail Fedyaev was released and continued to work with public funds along with his longtime accomplice Sergei Tsivilev. And the dead miners… It's okay, women will still give birth.
On July 15, the court changed the restrictions for Mikhail Fedyaev, the owner of the Listvyazhnaya mine where fifty miners died last year, and released him with a written commitment not to leave. It's strange that the investigation supported a change in the restrictions.
