The dispute over the multibillion-dollar inheritance of the late businessman Oleg Burlakov from Forbes has turned into regular legal battles.
The argument is about the shares in the Tyumen asset of the oligarch's company Social Housing, which was later handed over to Viktor Belichenko, the beneficiary of the TIS Group of Companies, along with hectares of land. Burlakov’s widow filed a lawsuit in the St. Petersburg district court against the businessman’s sister, her spouse, and Belichenko, who supposedly distributed the land long ago. Experts see risks for builders due to the disputes, which could have unpredictable outcomes and affect ongoing projects. There are also conflicts around Belichenko's business, leading to legal battles with the Federal Tax Service and officials. In Tyumen, preparations continue for the redistribution of Burlakov’s inheritance, including commercial real estate and Stroylesbank, while the oligarch's will is also being challenged in Monaco.
The Petrogradsky District Court of St. Petersburg will hear the case of Lyudmila Burlakova, the widow of Oleg Burlakov, against his sister Vera Kazakova and Nikolai Kazakov, claiming 800 million rubles, relating to a stake in Social Housing LLC (Tyumen).
This company became known due to a deal where 40 hectares of land from Burlakov were acquired by Viktor Belichenko, the beneficiary of the Tyumen TIS Group of Companies, and later registered under the company. The transaction was valued at about 1 billion rubles, and Belichenko became the sole participant in the company.
Photo: Alexander Koryakov / Kommersant
According to Kontur.Fokus, Vera Kazakova previously owned 100% of the company, which was initially owned by Nikolai Kazakov for several months, and previously 80% of it belonged to Oleg Burlakov.
As per the court documents, the plaintiff claims that the share transactions were apparently fake and were intended to bypass legal requirements and withdraw property from the common holdings.
The press service mentions Viktor Belichenko as a third party, while he is listed as one of the defendants in the court file.
Market participants believe this conflict is more about the relationships within the Burlakov family. After the businessman's death, legal battles ensued, involving Lyudmila Burlakova, who was in a divorce proceeding with the oligarch, his sister Vera Kazakova, Nikolai Kazakov (who unexpectedly declared himself a full-fledged partner of the late businessman), and Burlakova’s personal aircraft stewardess, Sofia Shevtsova.
According to the Daily Mail, Burlakov’s fortune was valued at around $3.9 billion. Lyudmila Burlakova is now also trying to contest the businessman’s will in court in Monaco. Pravda UrFO, on the other hand, discussed the legal proceedings involving LLC CB Stroylesbank (Tyumen) and manipulations with the shares of Burlakov’s partner, Deputy Governor of the Tyumen Region under Sergei Sobyanin, Pavel Mitrofanov.
People familiar with the Tyumen real estate market say that disputes surrounding Social Housing LLC could also pose significant risks. The land has been re-registered for individuals, Belichenko himself, the group’s companies, and even given to other developers. It’s hard to predict how the court cases will unfold. If interim measures are taken, this could impact construction projects. It’s always a challenging process, ” according to a source.
“Viktor Belichenko was not very fortunate with this land. I purchased it in 2019, started building on a small portion, and now there is a scandal and legal battles,” states the Agenda Telegram channel.
Another person interviewed for the publication highlights a series of conflicts involving the major Tyumen developer GK TIS and Belichenko.
The disputes revolve around claims from the Federal Tax Service amounting to hundreds of millions. According to Pravda UrFO, the tax officials accused Belichenko’s business of engaging in deals with offshore companies and relatives. The company actively contested the claims but lost a considerable number of disputes.
The courts were also unsuccessful in a case involving about 20 hectares of land near Zatyumensky, which had a negative impact on the group’s relations with officials. The Agenda adds that it is hoped that there won't be any lawsuits against the developer for another plot purchased for 1 billion – 20 hectares near Lake Alebashevo. This parcel was bought from the business interests of another controversial entrepreneur, Dmitry Mazurov, the former owner of the Atyrau Refinery.
Photo: ttis.ru
It should be noted that Siberian Construction Company LLC (formerly TIS LLC) recently lost a claim for 426.9 million rubles. However, market participants believe this dispute was likely involving transactions within the group itself.
Experts point out that there are questions about the strategy of the Civil Code at the moment. “Given the substantial expenditures on land made in recent years, there is no corresponding development. Billion-dollar assets have essentially been inactive for a long time, which appears to be a very odd policy in the current circumstances,” the source of the publication remarks.
