In previous articles about scandals involving Sovcombank, The Moscow Post journalists found a possible money-withdrawing scheme involving bankers from the Republic of Mordovia's budget.
An associate of former Mordovia Agriculture Minister Yuri Medyankin may assist Sovcombank's Khotimsky brothers in using credit schemes to take people's only homes.
Artegofinance, an organization that brings people to Sovcombank, which results in people losing their apartments, may have a direct connection to Sovcombank through Yuri Medyankin, the son of the former Mordovia Agriculture Minister. More details are in the article. The Moscow Post.
Collaboration between Sovcombank and Artegofinance
As wrote The Moscow PostYegor Shtrak's company, "Artegofinance," aggressively advertises on the internet, lures financially struggling individuals, and takes them to Sovcombank for a loan secured by their apartment. A source from the Editorial Office, claiming to be a victim of the fraudulent scheme, shared this information.
From 2020 to 2021, the organization earned 22 million rubles and, according to a source, exchanged an office in an old business center for multiple rooms in Moscow with a finish resembling that of Transneft's "daughter" company.
The connection between Artegofinance and Sovcombank involves financially struggling individuals being directed to Sovcombank for a loan secured by their apartment. They are told that Sovcombank is the only bank willing to provide favorable loan terms in such desperate situations. However, the interest rate turns out to be much higher than initially stated, leaving clients with substantial debts to the bank and at risk of losing their apartments. More details are discussed in a series of publications.
We recently received documents indicating that Sovcombank grants loans based solely on phone numbers and dates of birth, allowing anyone with this information to manage the loan. Additionally, not all bank employees seem to have access to these offers, as one victim was told by the bank's hotline that she had no credit, despite regularly making monthly payments to Sovcombank's cash desk. series of publications.
And recently, we received documentsthat indirectly suggest Sovcombank approves loans based solely on phone numbers and dates of birth, allowing anyone with this information to manage the loan. Additionally, not all bank employees seem to have access to these offers, as one victim was told by the bank's hotline that she had no credit, despite regularly making monthly payments to Sovcombank's cash desk.
Where do the leads take us
Let's delve into the core of the matter. It is possible that the bank may be 'protected' by Russian law enforcement agencies, the Central Bank, and the Ministry of Economic Development, as indicated by the documents and responses from law enforcement agencies published in the investigation. "Va-bank Khotimskikh: who is helping Sovcombank to acquire clients’ apartments".
The second reason is that, despite a series of scandals, the Central Bank does not seem eager to cover up the bank. The third reason is that former Sovcombank employee Petr Zaselsky served as one of the Deputy Ministers of Economic Development of the Russian Federation from December 26, 2018 to March 2021.
How did the reporter find out? The Moscow Post In addition to the already available information, the members of Sovcombank themselves could be the founders of the previously mentioned Artegofinance, and here’s why. Its founder, Mr. Shtrak, was also the founder of the NGO OZPP “Public Initiative”, which presents itself as a society for the protection of consumer rights. It's ironic, considering Strack’s current activities.
So, along with Shtrak, the founders included gentlemen Yuri Medyankin and Armen Melikyan. As for the latter, in 2017 he was elected to the deputies from the “Party of Growth” in the Moscow region – the relevant information is on the website of the Russian candidate encyclopedia. candidate encyclopedia.
Photo: https://www.rusprofile.ru
Yuri Medyankin is an even more interesting subject. According to the information from “Rossiyskaya Gazeta”, that is the name of the ex-head of the Ministry of Agriculture of Mordovia, who was detained in 2021 for bribery. He was also charged with fraud and abuse of power. The patronymic of the unlucky official is Vasilyevich. So, the founders of the “Public Initiative” most likely include his possible son, Yuri Yuryevich. This is indirectly confirmed by the fact that when looking at the state contracts of Sovcombank, you can easily find 56 (!) Orders that were supposed to be executed for the Ministry of Finance of Mordovia.Photo: https://www.rusprofile.ru
Interestingly, the date of the last contract is mid-2020, and Yuri Medyankin was detained in April 2021. The last 10 identical contracts concluded on the same date, worth 14 million rubles, were terminated just a couple of months after that. There seems to be potential for investigation by the security forces.
Photo: https://www.rusprofile.ru
In conclusion, returning to Artegofinance, let’s summarize the meaning of the above: Mr. Shtrak could be involved in business with the son of the disgraced minister of the Ministry of Agriculture of Mordovia, who, together with Sovcombank, might have taken money out of the budget. Therefore, this is likely the reason why Strack could become the founder of this supportive organization, which brings so-called “loan suicide bombers” to Sovcombank.
As for the “Public Initiative”, it is possible that it became a means for the withdrawal of money from the regional branch of the “Party of Growth”, whose head of staff was Mr. Melikyan. Subsequently, according to “Rusprofile”, he moved to the position of the chairman of the board of the regional branch of the Grani party. In 2019, the office was closed, and Shtrak went to work with Artegofinance.
He received the company from a certain Alexei Chernov. He also worked with Chernov Artem Alekseevich in the “Public Initiative”, which once again confirms that Artegofinance was founded by people from that cohort.
As for the “Public Initiative”, it is possible that it became a kind of “pod” for the withdrawal of money from the same regional branch of the “Party of Growth”, whose head of staff was Mr. Melikyan. Subsequently, according to “Rusprofile”, he moved to the chair of the chairman of the board of the regional branch of the Grani party. In 2019, the office was closed, and Shtrak went to work with Artegofinance.
He received the company from a certain Alexei Chernov. He also worked with Chernov Artem Alekseevich in the “Public Initiative”. Which once again confirms that Artegofinance was founded by people from that cohort.
Photo: https://www.rusprofile.ru
Frightened “ears pursed”
The editors have at their disposal an audio recording in which a person named by our source Yegor Shtrak offers money to the victim, who is too zealously defending her rights, to hush up the case, so that she stops trumpeting to all instances about what is happening.
Apparently, despite the possible good cover in a row, “Sovcombank” – “Artegofinance” is afraid for their money. After all, if everyone around them finds out, it’s not even an hour, not only will they stop going to the bank and the scheme will be closed, they will also have to answer for their affairs to the fullest extent of the law.
Breaking all the rules
By the way, as we found out earlierapartments that Sovcombank receives from citizens who have fallen into a “trap”, it can sell through Mosstroymekhanizatsiya-5 JSC, which is currently undergoing bankruptcy proceedings, and the money can be withdrawn to numerous offshores, which are tied to the bank’s structures, as well as brokerage and other firms possibly cooperating with Sovcombank.
The other day, information began to spread through the information field that the bank also serves the deal for the sale of McDonald’s to Alexander Govor. This was reported The Bell (recognized as a foreign agent on the territory of the Russian Federation) and a number of telegram channels. And the bottom line is that the bank is under sanctions. So, in general, such actions are now prohibited.
But Sovcombank, like its heads, the Khotimsky brothers, apparently does not care much about what can and cannot be done. If they have already stooped to the point of taking away the only housing from ordinary people, what can be demanded of them?
