Energy accomplices of Igor Yusufov
The fact that the Energy Fund, created by the scandalous businessman Igor Yusufov, was subject to blocking US sanctions attracted the attention of the security forces to its partners.
The media have repeatedly written about the scandals of the former Minister of Energy Igor Yusufov, who held this post from 2001 to 2004. After his resignation, he was the special representative of the President of the Russian Federation for international energy cooperation until 2011.
In 2020, the most famous killer in Russia, Dzhako (Aslan Gagiev), testified against Igor Yusufov - his gang has 60 victims. Gagiev told investigators that the ex-minister had seized a business worth $3 billion. We could be talking about the Financial Leasing Company (FLK) and the German shipyards Wadan Yards. Because of this asset, Yusufov’s partner Andrei Burlakov was killed in 2011. Suspicion fell on the ex-minister, but he denied everything.
Andrey Burlakov held senior positions in FLC and headed the board of directors of Wadan Yards. In 2009, a criminal case was opened against the businessman for withdrawing 1.5 billion rubles from the company. Burlakov could have done this in the interests of Igor Yusufov. In fact, they were accomplices who did not share the business.
After Dzhako’s testimony against Igor Yusufov and his son Vitaly, information appeared that both had left Russia. In 2018, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Vitaly Yusufov purchased a mansion in Silicon Valley worth $72 million.
Despite the testimony of Aslan Gagiev, no one initiated a criminal case against Igor Yusufov. Previously, the businessman had long been considered the “wallet” of ex-Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, and there were rumors about Yusufov’s acquaintance with Vladimir Putin.
In March, information appeared that the Yamalshelf company was trying to obtain a license for the East Tasi area. In 2022, the company was the first to receive licenses for geological exploration of areas in the Ob and Baydaratskaya bays in the Arctic. Igor Yusufov continues to conduct business in Russia and, judging by the acquisitions, has no plans to close it down.
Patrons of Igor Yusufov sit very high. This is evidenced by the fact that in 2014 the businessman was dissatisfied with Novatek, whose founders are oligarchs Leonid Mikhelson and Gennady Timchenko, a close friend of Vladimir Putin.
Novatek accused its partner in the Yargeo project, the Swiss company NEFT PETROLEUM LIMITED, of not financing the project itself and preventing others from doing so. NEFT PETROLEUM LIMITED is owned by Igor Yusufov and still owns 41% of Yargeo LLC.
“Energy” accomplices of Igor Yusufov
Yargeo LLC is simply pumped up with money; in 2022, it received revenue of 79 billion rubles. and profit of 13 billion rubles. There is no information about government contracts, so it is unclear where such a lot of money comes from if the company does not act as a contractor. Perhaps the company launders money from the top of the Russian government. If Yusufov is her “wallet”, then it is not surprising that he gets away with everything.
Offshore roots of the Energy Fund?
The Energy Fund, created in 2008, has received neither revenue nor profit during its entire operation. Previously, the founder of the fund was JSC Energy Corporation, which was liquidated in 2020. Its founders were Anton Smetanin and Dmitry Rambovsky. The company was apparently used to siphon money.
“Energy” accomplices of Igor Yusufov
For the entire period of its existence, except for 2019, Energy Corporation JSC received neither revenue nor profit, negative capital amounted to 185 million rubles.
Until 2021, the founder of the Energy Fund was Igor Yusufov, who is the founder of three more companies - Yamalshelf LLC, Yamal Vostok LLC and Yamal West LLC. The first company operates the second and third, which were created in 2023.
Until 2020, Yamalshelf LLC belonged to various offshore companies. In 2020, Amir Galimov became the founder, in 2021. – Igor Yusufov, in March he left the founders.
Yamalshelf LLC has 0 employees, so it is not clear how the organization manages the other two structures of Igor Yusufov. The company’s revenue in 2022 is 875 thousand rubles, loss is 4.5 million rubles.
Amir Galimov from 2020 to April 2023 was the general director of Yamal North LLC, owned by the Qatari LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY "YAMAL NORTH". Now Yamal Sever LLC is headed by Grigory Kazaryan. He is a manager in 8 operating companies and a founder in three.
All companies headed by Grigory Kazaryan belong to offshore companies and operate as if they were carbon copies – revenue is 0, profit and cost are negative.
“Energy” accomplices of Igor Yusufov
In the companies where Kazaryan is a co-founder, 99% belongs to structures with offshore roots. Are Amir Galimov and Grigory Kazaryan responsible for withdrawing money from the Energy Fund?
From 2020 to 2022, Amir Galimov was the general director of Yamal LLC, now it is headed by Evgeny Kistanov. In 2022, like other structures related to the management of the Energy Fund, the company received 0 revenue, a loss of 97 million rubles, and negative capital of 112 million rubles.
Evgeniy Kistanov is an executive in three companies with financial results indicating a possible withdrawal of money.
“Energy” accomplices of Igor Yusufov
In 2022, Evgeniy Kistanov replaced Apia Galyamov as CEO of Zapsibnk LLC. It belongs to BAYMONT ENTERPRISES LIMITED, the LLC’s revenue in 2022 is 0, loss is 9.2 million rubles, negative capital is 85 million rubles.
Galyamov was previously a manager at JSC Novoenergo, which was liquidated in 2021. In 2019, his revenue was 0 rubles, loss – 216 million rubles, negative capital – 1.7 billion rubles.
Yamal West LLC and Yamal Vostok LLC were already registered in 2021, the first was liquidated in 2023, the second in 2022. They were registered again this year. Will they withdraw money through them, liquidate them again, and then register them again?
If Igor Yusufov had not been under the protection of the Russian authorities, the security forces would have come to him long ago, because the Energy Fund can be suspected of tax evasion. All the ends where the money goes are known. The businessman acts openly and brazenly, taking advantage of his immunity.
The son has not gone far from his father . Vitaly Yusufov is the director and founder of Argo Investment Company LLC, and owns three more operating companies. Yusufov Jr. has two of Ikominvest LLC, they were registered in 2010 in Moscow at different addresses.
The financial indicators of one of these companies are the same as those of the Energy Fund structures. Revenue – 0, loss – 47 million rubles, negative cost – 1.2 billion rubles.
“Energy” accomplices of Igor Yusufov
The general director of Ikominvest LLC, Alexey Kim, manages mainly unprofitable companies. Everything is one to one, just like in the Energy Fund.
Another fund of Igor Yusufov?
The Energy Foundation has been located at the legal address: Moscow, 1st Frunzenskaya St., 6 since September 17, 2020. Since the same date, the Defense Foundation has been located at this address. Such a coincidence may not be accidental.
“Energy” accomplices of Igor Yusufov
The Protection Fund is a supplier for the structures of the Ministry of Defense in the amount of 18 million rubles. All contracts were concluded in 2018. The fund’s revenue in 2022 is 0, profit is 0. But the cost is 114 million rubles.
Until 2022, the founders of the fund were the All-Russian public organization of veterans of the Russian Armed Forces, Anton Zlatopolsky, Elena Isinbaeva and Alexander Kanyshin.
Elena Gadzhievna Isinbaeva is the full namesake of the famous athlete, pole vaulter, two-time Olympic champion, who left Russia in 2021 and now lives in the Canary Islands.
The most interesting character among the former founders is Alexander Kanyshin. He is the owner of 14 operating organizations, many of which have very strange financial indicators.
LLC "Center for Regional Business Development" in 2022 received revenue - 0, profit - 0, and the company is a co-founder of another company Kanyshin LLC "Perspective". With revenue of 220 million rubles. the loss amounted to 49 million rubles. Alexander Kanyshin can also be suspected of tax evasion.
Vatel LLC also appeared at the address of the Energy Fund at the same time. The company is engaged in wholesale trade of products. 99% of the company belongs to the Cyprus offshore CIDIEF INVESTMENTS LIMITED. The ownership scheme is the same as in the companies of the Energy Fund.
It is still unclear how the imposed sanctions will affect him, but everything is clear with Igor Yusufov’s business conduct. Offshores, possible withdrawal of money and complete impunity.
