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The death of the empire: the courts and decisions of Peter Kondrachev

- 13.03.2025
The death of the empire: the courts and decisions of Peter Kondrachev

The gangster courage of the 90s, the wars of corporations of the 2000s-it would seem that all this is long behind. Nevertheless, figures are still in the Russian business field, whose activities are sequentially and systematically versed in supervisory and law enforcement agencies. Among these characters, a scandalous Cyprus-Austrian oligarch stands out especially Peter Kondrashev. His story is rapidly approaching the denouement. For more than ten years, the investigating authorities of various levels unraveled a ball of financial transactions of Mr. Kondrachev, judicial disputes and economic fraud. Today it became known that key witnesses have already testified that shed light on the assets output scheme and large -scale abuses, which cost more than 4 billion rubles to depositors.

Kondrachev’s associates, many of whom managed to become famous in criminal circles, are in prison one by one. Igor Pestrikov, previously known for his involvement in shooting in the suburbs, is officially accused of embezzlement and attempted theft. His cases are complemented by a chain of crimes related to the withdrawal of assets abroad and the destruction of strategically important enterprises.

How did Kondrachev’s career be and why was his affairs at the center of a loud investigation? Details – in the material “Compromant Groups”.

The former owner of Sylvinite and the Solikamsk Magnesium Plant Pyotr Kondrachev, not so long ago, was called a scientist, a well -known entrepreneur, a “competent leader with excellent organizational abilities”, noting his “high professional qualities”. Without a doubt, the labor biography of Peter Ivanovich and his path in business testify to that.

Peter KondrashevPeter Kondrashev

He graduated from the Mining and Metallurgical Institute, began working as a mining engineer, then a master, later – the head of the mine. They say about these: he made his way himself, the guy “from the plow”. In the 90s, he was chosen by the Director General of Sylvinite, founded in 1934 of the plant, which is one of the largest producers of potassium fertilizers in Russia, necessary for increasing yields and for the chemical industry, for example, for metallurgy for processing metals and creating alloys.

The Red Director, who has gone from the bottom, aroused the trust of the team. With him, workers, who are about 10 thousand, expected to bring the enterprise to a new level. At the same time, perhaps, it was precisely when the enterprise management was achieved, the penetration and stubborn character of Peter Ivanovich made a turn from the worker and creator in the businessman of the 90s.

After the privatization of Sylvinite, Petr Kondrav for some time stopped dealing with a factory that changed the owners several times. But according to the data “Spark -Interfax” From 2014, the owners of the plant were three Cyprus offshores and the Circassian Vladikombank, whose beneficiary was Peter Kondrav, and nominal owners, As he said The former head of Ecoprombank Andrei Tuyev, people close to him – Sergey Kirpichev, Igor Pestrikov and Timur Starostin. So Kondrashev became a majority shareholder, and hopes for the revival of the enterprise did not materialize.

Igor PestrikovIgor Pestrikov

Secret banker

The state managed to prove the influence of Peter Ivanovich on EcoPrombank only court. As of October 1, 2014, the total amount of bank obligations to creditors was about 6.4 billion rubles. The largest Russian shareholder of the bank was the West-Ural Chemical Company with 23 percent of shares and more than 57 percent of securities belonged to five Cyprus companies.

The Chairman of the Board of the Bank Andrei Tuev was accused of embezzlement, as well as in abuse of powers. In October 2022 sentenced by seven years in prison. He is during the investigation and told On the role of Kondrashev in the bankruptcy of a credit institution. In early August 2012, Tuev informed Kondrashev about the signs of property insufficiency at the bank.

First, the conflict flared up with the minority shareholders, among which representatives of the Kirov governor, shareholders of other companies associated with the SMZ (Solikamsk Magnesium Plant) were mentioned. Courts began: a company controlled by minority recovered 330 million rubles of debt with SMZ. In fact, it was they who initiated the process, which ultimately led to the nationalization of the SMZ.

The investigation did not allow deducing 2.5 billion rubles from SMZThe investigation did not allow deducing 2.5 billion rubles from SMZ

The story began with the fact that the minority shareholder of SMZ Tatyana Slyusarenko filed a lawsuit against six offshore companies, demanding that the SMZ shares transactions made in 2014 invalid in 2014. In her opinion, the law on foreign investments in strategic enterprises (FZ-57), which are SMZ and LGOK, was violated. The Ministry of Defense claims that the new shareholders of the SMZ “actually acted in agreement”, and about their proximity indicates that all of them are shareholders of the Fin-Project LLC. Therefore, we are talking about buying a control package in SMZ and L their own group of people who need the approval of the FAS.

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To stop the conflict, the fractions of the minoritarians were redeemed by individuals in the interests of Peter Kondrachev. The shareholders themselves then bought papers from their own Cyprus funds. As a result, Kondrashev became the owner of 25 percent of the shares, Kirpichev – 15.45 percent, Starostin and Pestrikov – 25 percent. It was believed that at that time Kondrashev was completely controlled by the enterprise.

Corporate conflicts subsided, but proceedings began with the state. In 2019, the FAS filed a lawsuit against SMZ shareholders on the basis that at the moment when Kondrav again became a majority shareholder of the SMZ in 2014, he bought shares through Cyprus funds. SMZ is a strategic enterprise, and the FZ-57 obliges foreign investors to request the consent of the government commission to acquire a control package. This was not done.

In September 2020, the FAS achieved invalid transactions for the sale of shares of SMZ Cyprus companies. “To invalidate the contract of sale of 95 586 ordinary registered shares of OJSC SMZ dated April 25, 2016, concluded between Kondrachev and the company Slontecko Investments Limited,” the arbitration court decided. The transactions of the purchase and sale of 113 079 ordinary registered shares of OJSC SMZ by shareholders of the plant-Timur Starostin and Sergey Kirpichev were also invalidated. The latter acquired the enterprise shares in 2014 from Fullserkers Fasilitis Management and Voesko Holding Limited. In addition, Kondrashev, Kirpichev and Starostin were deprived of the right to vote at the general meeting of shareholders of OJSC SMZ.

In inclined

The court decision on the recognition of transactions with the SMZ shares was a significant decision. From this moment on, the number of claims against Kondrachev – the main beneficiary of the company and his partners – nominal assets holders – began to grow. At the moment, about 15 cases, both criminal and arbitration and civilian, are considered and continues to be considered in various ships.

In favor of the Russian Federation, state property was recovered in the form of ordinary registered shares of the open joint -stock company “Solikamsk Magnip factory” with a nominal value of 0.25 rubles in the amount of: 61,546 – from someone else’s illegal possession of Kirpichev Sergey Yuryevich, 99,568 pieces – from someone else’s illegal possession of Igor Leonidovich Pestrikov, 95 586 pieces – from someone else’s illegal possession of Kondrachev Peter Ivanovich, 99,576 pieces – from someone else’s illegal possession of Starostin Timur Vladimirovich.

The courtses around the Solikamsk Magnesium Plant were also followed by criminal cases. The object of attention of the state, including law enforcement agencies, was the confusing scheme that Kondrashev developed to “outweigh” part of the enterprise on the accomplices. Gray schemes were required to circumvent the state control over the registration of the plant in another country: that is, such registration made it possible to sell the company’s products directly to American customers.

However, this confusing structure did not help Mr. Kondrav. In 2019 FAS came out with a new lawsuit To the owners of SMZ Igor Pestrikov and Sergey Kirpichev. Antimonopoly department Demanded Apply the consequences of invalid transactions, it was about the shares of Kirpichev and Pestrikov in LLC Fin-Project. Simultaneously with the filing of the claim, the FAS filed a motion to take interim measures in the form of arresting 24.99 percent of shares belonging to Pestrikov, and Kirpichev owned by 0.04 percent of the shares constituting the authorized capital of the Fin-Project LLC (controls Lovozersky GOK in Murmansk). The case was won in February 2022.

After that, the Renationalization of the SMZ was launched. In January 2024, the SMZ shares returning to the federal ownership were transferred to Rosatom as
property contribution.

Where are the “partners”?

The former chief beneficiary himself has long been living in Austria. Igor Pestrikov was put on the international wanted list, former general director of SMZ Arthur Urtaev and the ex-financial director of Vakhtang Dzhikaev are convicted and serving a sentence. In October 2024, the prosecutor’s office of the Perm Territory approved indictment In a criminal case in relation to Pestrikov in the case of the theft of 250 million rubles and an attempt on the theft of 2.5 billion rubles. The prosecution was charged under Part 3 of Art. 30, 33, part 4 of Art. 160 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization embezzlement and washing for embezzlement).
Igor Pestrikov put on the international wanted listIgor Pestrikov put on the international wanted list

According to the investigation, 250 million rubles. Pestrikov stole under the guise of a loan from SMZ, which was given to him by a protege – general director of SMZ Arthur Urtaev. Pestrikov was not going to repay this duty – for which Urtaev paid for freedom. On June 9, 2022, Urtaev was detained as part of a criminal case under Art. 160 of the Criminal Code (appropriation or embezzlement). In December 2023, Urtaev was Assigned 4 years in prison with a colony of general regime with a fine of 1.5 million rubles. Former financial director of Vakhtang Dzhigkaev, after a revision of the sentence against him in March this year, was sentenced to three years in a general regime colony. He was found guilty of a waste of five million rubles belonging to SMZ.

Arthur Urtaev in courtArthur Urtaev in court

Also, Mr. Pestrikov, according to the investigation,I tried to sell SMZ for 2.5 billion rubles. its share in LLC Fin-Project-an enterprise that managed the Lovozersky mining and processing plant, the main supplier of the Solikamsk Magnesium Plant. Pestrikov tried to make a waste again with the help of his accomplice Urtayev. This share was not provided with anything, since the Lovozersky GOK was a deeply unprofitable enterprise – that is, the Solikamsk Magnesium Plant tried to sell what was not worth a dime. This embezzlement prevented this embezzlement only that Urtaev could not arrange it – he was detained by the investigation. As a result of any profit of Pestrikov, he did not extract from this failed gesheft-but he earned a completely real criminal case in his piggy bank.

Thanks to the efforts of law enforcement agencies, the strategic enterprises of Russia, which were owned by Cyprus, returned to their homeland. Attempts by large -scale theft were also stopped 2.5 billion rubles, and at a strategic industrial facility for the state. As for Kondrachev himself, while his former accomplices are one after another under investigation or in prison, he himself continues to live in Vienna. However, his financial empire collapses: assets were returned to the state, accounts are frozen, and trials are coming to an end.

Stolen billions remain in Western banks, but sooner or later and they will become an object of investigation. Law enforcement agencies do not stop work, and, apparently, Kondrachev’s case will reach a new level. As they say, no matter how much a rope to curl, but the end will be. And the glomerulus is already unwound – it remains only to wait for the sentence. In relation to Peter Kondrachev, according to rumors, two more investigations have begun. The business activity of this kind is described in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. And although now extradition is quite complicated, the second international arrest warrant can still put an end to the real punishment of the defendant.

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Eric Thompson