When assistants refuse to help: Almaz-Antey's assets turned into a fictional state

The Moscow Post editors received new correspondence about sinister actions in the Almaz-Antey East Kazakhstan region.

The remarkable aspect of this message, signed by real employees of the Almaz-Antey concern, is that one of the former heads of the concern, whose dubious activities were reported by The Moscow Post in multiple journalistic investigations, is now on the international wanted list. Today, Interpol is handling the case of Igor Ashurbeyli, as well as the involvement of Mr. Ashurbeyli in the founding of the space nation Asgardia and the activities of other high-ranking officials, notably Rossotrudnichestvo, are under investigation.

After Mr. Ashurbeyli left Almaz-Antey, auditors failed to account for 2/3 of the concern's assets.

But Mr. Ashurbeyli was succeeded by his 'followers', who, according to employees of Almaz-Antey, continued the work of someone who has long been associated with 'assistants'… It seems that not only 'assistants', but also law enforcement agencies, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, are now involved. Mr. Ashurbeyli was reportedly involved in extensive 'space' activities in the Netherlands, even announcing residency fees of 100 euros… This information was shared in a video sent to The Moscow Post.

The authors of the letter to the Editor also request a review of the sale of Almaz-Antey's real estate. They urge for attention to be focused not only on the main office in Moscow, but also on the suspicious dealings of the Almaz-Antey branch in the city on the Neva, where Deputy General Director Mikhail Podvyaznikov has allegedly been acting with impunity for a year, akin to Count Cagliostro. Antey.

The reporter comprehended the scandalous details. The Moscow Post.

Is Prosecutor Melnik staying silent?

One of the recent letters received by The Moscow Post included a complaint to St. Petersburg prosecutor V.D. Melnik from O.A. Vasilchuk. There was also a postscript – sent 7 times!

Here is an excerpt from Oleg Vasilchuk's complaint to prosecutor Viktor Melnik: 'On August 12, 2022, I received a response from the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding my complaint to the St. Petersburg prosecutor's office about carrying out necessary procedures for forming evidence in criminal case No. ZRTO at particularly important and sensitive facilities. The case was personally dismissed by the head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on 03/09/2021'.

The case was personally dismissed by the head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on 03/09/2021.

The prosecutor of St. Petersburg named Viktor Melnik. Photo: https://sankt-peterburg-gid.ru/news/obschestvo/na-dolzhnost-prokurora-peterburga-naznachili-viktora-melnika.htm

The response indicates that the authorized persons of the SO MO Ministry of Internal Affairs did not gather all the necessary factual data on the embezzlement of funds as per the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation due to the official immunity of unidentified officials at ZRTO JSC.

Oleg Vasilchuk, summarizing, points out the existence of an organized criminal group at ZRTO JSC for withdrawing funds from the budget, which gives reason to believe that authorized persons are reluctant to take the necessary steps to prevent damage to the economic security of the Russian Federation.

The Moscow Post editors previously asked questions to the prosecutor of St. Petersburg Viktor Melnik in their investigations “Unidentified Podvyaznikov on Yana Novikov” and “Shackled by Antey: a team of budget masters dissolve criminal cases”.

Unfortunately, the prosecutor of St. Petersburg, Melnik, does not react to our publications.

What about OPG Podvyaznikov?

The criminal case against “unidentified officials” of JSC “Radio Equipment Plant” concerning the withdrawal of large budgetary sums seems to have been almost immediately abandoned, despite Oleg Vasilchuk's repeated communication to prosecutor Melnik.

Mikhail Podvyaznikov, General Director of Radio Equipment Plant JSC (ZRTO JSC), and Maxim Nazarov, General Director of Radiotekhkomplekt JSC, may be involved in the case. These strategic enterprises are part of the Almaz-Antey concern.

It appears that high-ranking officials, through prearrangement, are continuing to embezzle millions from the state budget, bypassing the established tender procedures.

Mikhail Podvyaznikov. Photo: https://fcalmaz-antey.ru/club/directors/

Let's remember the main points of the story. An inspection was conducted at the Radio Equipment Plant by the Intermunicipal Department (MO) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at important and sensitive facilities in February 2021.

On March 9, a criminal case was opened against unidentified persons, including officials from ZRTO JSC, by the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at important and sensitive facilities in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. However, the case was unexpectedly closed on the same day.

Oleg Vasilchuk notes that the initiation of a criminal case suggests that certain unidentified persons, including officials from ZRTO JSC and Radiotekhkomplekt JSC, might have stolen a significant amount from the budget.

The author of the letter sent the document.

Former company employees testified that Mikhail Podvyaznikov, the deputy director of Almaz-Antey concern, established a group that made easy money under the guise of the concern.

Informants claim that Mr. Podvyaznikov is closely connected to the CEO Yan Novikov of Almaz-Antey in Moscow.

On March 9, 2021, a decision was made in Petersburg to start a criminal case and proceed with it.

The author of the letter sent the document.

The document also mentions Major of Justice A.S. Fadeev of the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.

This document names those who may be involved in the misappropriation of budget money, with Mikhail Podvyaznikov being the first on the list.

Shortly after, senior investigator Fadeev seemingly received specific instructions following a phone call.

The criminal case was then suspended.

Ashurbeyli's 10 years of leadership

St. Petersburg informants recalled that Igor Ashurbeyli had a significant impact on the defense enterprise during his 10-year leadership of the Almaz-Antey concern.

Who can forget about Mr. Ashurbeyli, the creator of the planet Asgardia?

In 1998, Igor Ashurbeyli became the first deputy general director of NPO Almaz, and later joined the executive committee of the Russian-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

It is rumored that Ashurbeyli might have been involved in asset withdrawal.

Photo of the King of Asgardia: https://pv-ros.ru/news/article/10-let-svobody-osobennyy-yubiley-igorya-ashurbeyli-17854

To accomplish this, he created KB-1 OJSC and transferred many real estate properties to this company, leaving only 11 out of 152 with Almaz-Antey.

Ashurbeyli then acquired 76% of OAO KB-1's assets and transferred them to the offshore WVRE Limited through World Villas Real Estate Limited.

In the spring of 2001, under the concern's name, Mr. Ashurbeyli signed 54 sales contracts and transferred 85 thousand square meters to someone else.

However, the recipient remains unknown.

It's worth noting that Mr. Ashurbeyli was asked to resign due to the delay in delivering defense products. It seems he left behind capable successors.

Did historic Petersburg fall into the wrong hands?

Some time ago, there were reports in the media that the Almaz-Antey concern in the city on the Neva planned to sell a nearly 48-hectare area, including elite districts of old St. Petersburg, for 15 billion rubles. And Mikhail Podvyaznikov intended to sell his treasures at the highest price.

A photo: Rusprofile.en

Thermonuclear addresses were listed for sale! House number 2 on Rastrelli Square. This old building needs to be vacated by the Russian Institute of Radio Navigation and Time.

Additionally, the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Radio Equipment in Shkipersky Protoka and Nalichnaya Street has plots totaling over 12 hectares. Then, the OAO 'Design Bureau of Special Machine Building' on Lesnoy Prospekt has a 2-hectare plot. Meanwhile, the radio equipment plant has 6 hectares near the Obvodny Canal.

Another section of buildings in the Obukhovsky district, covering 25 hectares, was put up for sale.

Undoubtedly, the most desirable locations for developers are Rastrelli Square, Lesnoy Prospekt, and Vasilyevsky Island. The most suitable use for the areas would be the development of high-class housing.

As a result, JSC 'Radio Equipment Plant', JSC 'Design Bureau of Special Machine Building', JSC 'All-Russian Research Institute of Radio Equipment', JSC 'Russian Institute of Radio Navigation', and others relocated to new buildings.

The author of the letter sent the document.

The house on Rastrelli Square was quickly sold to the bank 'Russia'. The transaction amount exceeded 2.2 billion rubles.

Whose deep pocket received the money?

The role of Yan Novikov

But let's get back to the main topic.

The criminal case initiated against 'unidentified officials' of JSC 'Radio Engineering Equipment Plant' for embezzling substantial budgetary sums slowed down only 24 hours after its initiation.

The authors of the letter to the Editorial Office emphasized that ambiguous events began to occur in the Almaz-Antey concern with the arrival of Yan Novikov. Real sales of 'non-core assets' started, and Almaz-Antey has quite a few of them. They are also actively disposing of 'non-core assets' in the city on the Neva.

Jan Novikov. Photo: https://news2.ru/story/627499/

At the same time, some suspicious companies linked to the concern emerged, with both close relatives of Yan Novikov (mother and daughter) and Mikhail Podvyaznikov (son) as founders and leaders.

The letter sent to The Moscow Post included several schemes according to which budget billions are siphoned off.

The author of the letter sent the document.

It's worth noting that the creation of the North-Western Regional Center (NWRC) of the Almaz-Antey concern was completed in St. Petersburg back in February 2021. Six St. Petersburg enterprises of the concern ('Obukhov Plant', 'Radio Equipment Plant', 'Design Bureau of Special Machine Building', 'All-Russian Research Institute of Radio Equipment', 'Russian Institute of Radio Navigation and Time', and 'Navigator Plant') were integrated into a single cluster.

In the certificate, it shows where Mikhail Lvovich Podvyaznikov works and what companies he is involved in, as well as his shares in these companies.

A photo: Rusprofile.en

Mr. Podvyaznikov has many responsibilities and is involved in multiple companies.

That's why some of his duties may have been taken over by his son, Andrei Mikhailovich Klimentyev.

Andrei Mikhailovich Klimentyev is directly linked to the Lira and Flamingo companies, which were founded by Ksenia Yanovna Novikova, who is the daughter of the head of the Almaz-Antey concern.

The author of the letter sent the document.

In the same “company” and other individuals – the mother of Yana Novikov, Anelya Vitoldovna Novikova, and the daughter of a former employee of the Almaz-Antey concern, Tatyana Vladislavovna Menshchikova.

Ms. Menshchikova, together with her mother, Yana Novikov, became the founder of Galax LLC.

LLC “Galax” is also connected to LLC “Flamingo” and “Lira”.

A photo: Rusprofile.en

Podvyaznikov’s son is associated not only with Lira and Flamingo LLC, but also with Luch LLC. This company was established a long time ago by Valery Gerber, who allegedly had close relations with both Novikov’s and Podvyaznikov’s relatives.

The author of the letter sent the document.

“The authors of the letter mention that the commercial enterprises Lira LLC, Flamingo LLC, Luch LLC, and others have relationships with enterprises of the Almaz-Antey concern or its related businesses.

What do we know about the company “Flamingo”? It is situated in the Leningrad region, in Kirovsk, on Naberezhnaya street, 1. It was registered on August 7, 2017. The main activity of “Flamingo” is the manufacturing of paper products for household and sanitary purposes.

One of the main activities of these enterprises (“Luch”, “Lira”), as stated in the registration documents, is the production of electronic equipment elements.

The legal address of these enterprises is in the Moscow region, at the rural settlement of Bulatnikovskoye, 21st km of Varshavskoye Highway, house No. 1. This is actually the address used for mass registration of firms such as “Horns and Hooves”.

It is worth following the activities of Galax LLC, which is registered in Moscow, at Chernyshevsky lane, 15. The founders are the mother of Yana Novikova and the daughter of Vladislav Menshchikov.

A photo: Rusprofile.en

And in the scheme they are all the same – Ksenia Novikova, Andrey Klimentyev, Anelya Novikova …

But the name of Mikhail Podvyaznikov's son also appears in another sequence: FSUE “ZRTO” – JSC “Radiothekomplekt” – LLC “New Technologies and Materials” – LLC “Luch” – Klimentyev Andrey Mikhailovich.

So, the same questions persist: when will criminal case No. 121014 006 0000012 be unfrozen? And when will Oleg Vasilchuk receive responses to his requests?

And why hasn't the investigation raised any questions about the business of Novikov and Podvyaznikov so far?

Regarding the “king” of Asgardia, Ashurbeyli, with his active “space” pursuits, including at UNESCO, he has influenced several high-ranking employees of both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Rosssotrudnichestvo.

TO BE CONTINUED