Marina Stories: Gia will help Kim with justice
The famous TV presenter Marina Kim, who is considering running for State Duma, may have criminal associates and supporters. She is connected to a well-known businessman as a co-founder of one of her ventures.
The party “Fair Russia – For Truth” (SRZP) is experiencing a crisis, which is leading to the rise of individuals with high recognition and questionable business connections, rather than genuine politicians.
Marina Kim, a TV presenter and secretary of the central council of A Just Russia – For Truth, who is responsible for the party's information policy, may potentially become a State Duma deputy from the Yaroslavl region.
This is currently just a possibility, which could materialize if SZRP chooses not to participate in the regional governor elections in exchange for a senatorial position. In such a scenario, State Duma deputy Nikolai Burlyaev could vacate his seat, allowing Marina Kim to potentially take it.
The fact that the party is already considering Marina Kim as a potential candidate is significant. More on this is covered in The Moscow Post's report from the Yaroslavl region.
A Just Russia – For Truth is facing a crisis of popularity and notable figures, leaving the party with limited options. Marina Kim, a popular TV presenter well-known throughout the country, is one of the recognizable faces within the party, alongside the party leader Sergei Mironov and the writer Zakhar Prilepin.
In addition to her television work, Marina Kim is involved in business with highly questionable partners. This could impact her hypothetical role as a deputy.
Tell me who your partner is
The interim head of the Yaroslavl region, Mikhail Evraev, personally evaluated the possibility of an arrangement with SZRP. Given Kim's business connections, it's possible that Evraev could have political and personal agreements not only with her, but also with her associates.
The option of an agreement with SZRP was personally considered by the acting head of the Yaroslavl region, Mikhail Evraev. Considering that Kim has a business, and they chose her, Evraev can have not only political, but also personal agreements …
Marina herself holds 37% ownership, while another 38% is owned by a certain Kim Anton Evgenievich, likely the TV presenter's brother. Another 15% belongs to the well-known and influential businessman Gia Gvichia from St. Petersburg, and the remaining 10% is held by Grigory Shcherbakovsky.
A photo: Rusprofile.en
Rumor has it that Mr. Gvichia established connections with St. Petersburg's criminal authorities during the turbulent 90s. By the late 90s and early 2000s, he had reportedly become acquainted with most of the city's key criminal figures, which potentially contributed to his ascent.
Initially, he was recognized in the city as the primary owner of Stepan Razin Brewery and Non-Alcoholic Industry Plant OJSC. It is uncertain how exactly he acquired the company.
The official story is straightforward. A young Giya Gvichia began working at the plant in 1988 and swiftly rose to the position of Deputy General Director. Subsequently, he was purportedly involved in a significant internal conflict at the plant, resulting in the enterprises coming into his possession.
At first, the privatization didn't benefit him – the workers got the controlling stake. However, there were conflicting interests. The general director Yuri Pavlovich and some of the management wanted to bring in a big foreign investor – the Germans from Holsten Brauerei. Another group of workers, led by Gvichia, opposed this.
Rumors suggest that Gvichia allegedly managed to pressure Pavlovich, and the enterprise's controlling stake ended up under Gie's trust management, and later directly (the businessman held almost 40% of the stake).
Back then, many positive statements were made about the development of brewing in St. Petersburg. The plant was in a strong position. However, it turned out that it was all just preparation for a sale. If Pavlovich meant to hand the plant over to interested investors from Holsten, Gia Gvichia sold it to their direct competitors from Heineken.
Gia Gvichia. Photo: https://www.dp.ru/a/2009/03/11/Gia_Gvichija
In other words, all the promises, intrigues, and pseudo-patriotic speeches were only to gain control of the enterprise and sell it for a higher price. By the way, Heineken disposed of the plant in 2013, and later it was turned into a technopark.
Mikhalchenko’s trail
At the same time, Gia Gvichia had enough money to engage in many dubious adventures and affairs in Petersburg during the 2000s. There are also attempts to link him with the controversial billionaire and former general director of the holding “Forum” Dmitry Mikhalchenko.
Recently, the latter was sentenced to 20 years in prison for embezzling 1.2 billion rubles during the construction of government facilities in Novo-Ogaryovo. Several other individuals also received sentences, including Andrey Kaminov – they and Mikhalchenko were accused of establishing, leading, and participating in a criminal group.
Andrey Kaminov – former director of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Ateks” of the Federal Security Service (FSO) – was given a 15-year prison sentence, as reported by RBC. The scandals surrounding this story are well-known, but what's more interesting is the connection between Mikhalchenko, Kaminov, and Gvichiria.
There's no data suggesting Gvichia's involvement in the major frauds of Kaminov and Mikhalchenko. They began doing business together in 2000 when they registered the Vintes company. Kaminov was the director, while Mikhalchenko owned 50% of the company. The remaining 50% belonged to the ANO, established by Professor Vladimir Rukinov.
He is also a co-founder of the Center for Social Programs foundation. It's very difficult to understand what the fund does, but it had some remarkable figures as co-founders, including Gia Gvichia, Professor Vladimir Rukinov, the ex-member of the board of directors of JSC “Admiralty Shipyards” Vladimir Alexandrov, and the head of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of St. Petersburg, billionaire Anatoly Turchak – who is the father of the Secretary of the General Council of the “United Russia” party Andrey Turchak.
A photo: Rusprofile
The company is impressive. And in January 2022, when the case was quickly moving towards a verdict for Mikhalchenko and Co., all these respected people at the same time left the founders of the Fund en masse. And even that’s not all: in 2021, the company, with a profit of 3 thousand rubles and an asset value of 18 thousand rubles, had a revenue of 1.1 billion rubles! Whereas in 2020 revenue was zero.
A photo: Rusprofile
There is clearly something amiss here. The fund resembles a “pod” for the powers that be, which people close to Mikhalchenko could use. Now that he has received a 20-year sentence, the co-founders of this “pod” have fled from her like cockroaches that have been born into the light. Where did the 1.1 billion rubles come from and where did it go is not clear.
Family issues
At the same time, Marina Kim’s Stanko LLC, where Gvichia is her partner, is probably not the only business in which she has interests. After all, behind Anton Kim, probably his brother, there are other firms. He is the founder of six companies at once, three of which have already sunk into oblivion.
Apart from Stanko, Implant Medical LLC is noteworthy. Apparently, the political work of the sister has a positive effect on Anton’s business – the structure has state contracts for 20 million rubles.
It turned out that as of 06/09/2022 there are decisions on the partial or complete suspension of operations on the company’s accounts by the tax authorities. That is, the structure has problems with the Federal Tax Service – and this company received budget money under government contracts?
A photo: Rusprofile
Another intriguing company of Anton Kim is SP Vneshstroyservis LLC. And there, too, you can find signs of fictitiousness – the only employee works in the office. At the end of 2021 – losses. And this company is interesting because it has previously actively participated in St. Petersburg auctions for the purchase of state real estate. More specifically – in the auction, which was organized by the Property Fund of St. Petersburg through the Russian Auction House.
According to the authors of the site Pandia.ru, allegedly back in 2010 the company became the owner of the building and non-residential premises at ul. Decembrists, 28B. This is an expensive city center, not far from the current “New Holland” and the Yusupov Palace Garden. Anyhow, to whom such premises are not transferred even if there is the right price at the auction …
Separately, it must be said about another partner of Marina Kim – St. Petersburg entrepreneur Grigory Shcherbakovsky. The total cost of the companies founded by him, and there are, for a second, 22, is about 144 million rubles. But this is a nominal value, the real one is likely to be higher.
Among them, you can also find firms that arouse suspicion of fictitiousness. Among them – Crater LLC. The company invests in securities. And with six employees, it has zero revenue. But the net value of the assets is almost 200 million rubles. Another capsule for the powerful of this world?
Putting it all together, it is obvious that behind Marina Kim is not only fame on TV and a charming look. But also a business with extremely dubious partners and assets worth hundreds of millions of rubles. Was this variable present when Mironov’s SZRP discussed her candidacy? There can be no doubt about it.
