Who stole taxes from the alcohol industry?
Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (*aggressor country) from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (*aggressor country) Robert Kochiev in his speech, he called the alcohol market an industry that “gives the maximum amount of taxes, which has been a donor throughout the existence of our country.” Only the deputy kept silent about the fact that the tax inspectorate is still unsuccessfully trying to return billions of unpaid taxes. These taxes disappeared from the companies, as part of the bankruptcy of which Kochiev and his relatives were held vicariously liable.
Vodka oligarch Pavel Smetana is wanted on charges of tax evasion in the amount of 319 million rubles. But the amount can increase significantly. Initially, it was doubtful that Pavel Smetana could implement large-scale criminal schemes alone, but the answer was found in the Arbitration Court of North Ossetia, which is looking for the ultimate beneficiaries of the scandalous Rakurs LLC. Not only Pavel Smetana, but also State Duma deputy Robert Kochiev and members of his family were involved in the case of bringing to subsidiary liability. Kochiev was even recognized as a beneficiary, but the cassation court overturned this decision, sending the case to a new round.
Robert Kochiev and Pavel Smetana
The judge of the Arbitration Court of North Ossetia, Svetlana Bekoeva, seized (interim measures) the funds of Robert Kochiev himself and persons affiliated with him – Rudolf Robertovich Kochiev, Batraz Robertovich Kochiev, Taras Mitrofanovich Zaseev and Tamerlan Mitrofanovich Zaseev for a total amount of 3.4 billion rubles.
Arbitration manager Natalia Borisova in an interview with Anticorr.media, she said that bringing beneficiaries to subsidiary liability is the only way to pay off the debts of Rakurs LLC in the amount of 3.6 billion rubles. Borisova fought for the state’s money, because most of the debt is outstanding tax obligations and DIA claims worth a billion.
– Money was withdrawn from the company under fictitious obligations to other legal entities, – said the ex-manager. – This fact was established by the tax inspectorate. The company apparently intended to be left with debts and no money. Debts accumulated for a long time, and incoming funds were regularly withdrawn. The nominal founder and director of a company with a billion-dollar turnover do not even have any property. The director tried to liquidate the company, but after a tax audit, the debts increased many times and the company had to go bankrupt.
Let us recall that in North Ossetia there was scheme developed with the participation of nominee directors, controlled companies for obtaining illegal income: an organization for the production of alcohol and alcohol is created and a license is obtained. The organization operates, taxes are not paid, assets in the form of property and funds are withdrawn under fictitious obligations, after which the company goes bankrupt. And after that, an organization is created again at the same address, it receives a license, taxes are not paid, and assets are withdrawn.
This simple scheme, however, made it possible to make billions in profits. Illegal. From September 1, 2024, it will no longer be possible to implement this again, since the law signed by the President will come into force, which, among other things, stipulates the requirements for the business reputation of members of the board of directors of a company that produces alcohol. The work of a general director or chief accountant is not allowed if they previously worked in a similar organization that was deprived of a license.
The law imposes updated requirements on beneficial owners, their affiliates and persons who directly or indirectly own more than 10% of the voting rights of a company. Another basis for refusal to issue a license for the production, storage and supply of ethyl alcohol or alcohol, and for the suspension of existing licenses will be the identification of persons among the beneficiaries or shareholders with a direct or indirect share of more than 10% of the capital: those who do not meet the requirements for business reputation; registered in offshore jurisdictions who are owners or shareholders of organizations whose similar license was revoked less than five years ago.
It is not surprising that the only deputy who spoke out extremely emotionally against the adoption of this law was Robert Kochiev.
— Today, the law that is being adopted, in my understanding, is the last nail in the coffin of this industry, because it introduces new concepts into 171 Federal Laws: a person controlling an organization, a legal entity having a predominant participation in the authorized capital of an organization, a list of persons with unsatisfactory business reputation, the concept of a group of persons, an affiliate and a beneficial ownersays Robert Kochiev in his speech.
Why is this law bad? Won’t it allow increasing budget revenues? Will it not protect the economy of the Russian Federation (*aggressor country) from scammers? And if we imagine that Robert Kochiev has no relation to alcohol factories associated with Racurs, then the deputy is unlikely to find objective reasons to prevent the adoption of the law. But if it was no accident that Kochiev found himself among the potential beneficiaries, then, of course, he has no other choice but desperate criticism of the law.
If Robert Kochiev looked at the situation from the point of view of the state and the interests of the people, he would see the following picture. The buildings and premises of the factory complex in Vladikavkaz at the address: Telmana Street, 82b are alternately occupied by organizations that subsequently go bankrupt, and the tax office is short of billions in the budget.
The numbers speak for themselves.
The Interdistrict Inspectorate of the Federal Tax Service of Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism) for the city of Vladikavkaz fined Rakurs LLC in the amount of 248,749,974 rubles, the company was assessed additional taxes in the amount of 1,444,141,248 rubles, penalties – 394,093,967.51 rubles.
It was also established that RAKURS LLC withdrew funds in the amount of 2,890,523 to the accounts of controlled companies KENTAVR LLC, ORPHEY LLC, Peresvet LLC, Triumph LLC, Transprodmarket LLC, TD Kupechesky LLC. 379 rub.
After the debtor was declared bankrupt and the license for the production of alcohol and alcohol-containing products was revoked from Rakurs LLC, Orpheus LLC began to operate at a known address.
The Federal Tax Service of Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism) for the Republic of North Ossetia Alania conducted an on-site tax audit regarding the activities of ORPHEUS LLC. Based on the results of the audit, a decision was made to hold ORPHEY LLC liable for committing a tax offense. The amount of additional charges is: taxes – 382,833,254 rubles, penalties – 173,573,014 rubles, fines – 75,600,646 rubles. The license of ORPHEUS LLC has been revoked. In relation to ORPHEY LLC, a bankruptcy procedure has been introduced under the simplified bankruptcy procedure for a liquidated debtor.
An on-site tax audit was also carried out in relation to the activities of Peresvet LLC. Peresvet LLC is located at the address Republic of North Ossetia – Alania, Vladikavkaz city, Promyshlennaya 4th st., 1 (address of a separate division of Rakurs LLC, the owner of the premises is Gigant LLC). Based on the results of the audit, LLC Peresvet was assessed additional taxes in the amount of 84,150,622 rubles, penalties – 45,615,069.89 rubles.
Currently, at the location of RAKURS LLC, as well as ORPHEUS LLC, which replaced it, the activities of FIRST ALCOHOL MANUFACTURE LLC continued.
As of December 2023, the tax debt of FIRST SPIRT MANUFACTURE LLC is 100 million rubles.
But that’s not all. In addition to the companies that were located on the site of “Rakurs”, there is also a group of companies “Istok”. The tax debt of Istok ZShV LLC is more than 180 million rubles, Istok Spirit LLC is more than 120 million rubles. Shareholder of JSC Istok Alexander Klishin told us that Robert Kochiev was personally the guarantor for the targeted loan issued to Istok by Solidarity Bank. The bank was periodically called a pocket bank of the communists, and the party periodically denied this information.
– I am not allowed to access the financial statements; I don’t know whether the loans are being paid off. Previously, when I was still somehow allowed in, he was often there. I saw him when I arrived. Kochiev was a guarantor for a loan received from Solidarity Bank. I don’t know if there is a debt there, I was blocked from any accesssays co-owner of the company Alexander Klishin.
The loan issued by the bank has not been repaid. The deadline for repayment passed on April 1st. But there is no money.
The Office of the Federal Tax Service of Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism) for the Republic of North Ossetia appealed to the Arbitration Court with an application to declare Pervaya Alcohol Manufactory LLC and Istok Spirit LLC bankrupt. Three months have already passed, and the tax authorities’ applications have not yet been considered on their merits. For unknown reasons, the Arbitration Court of the Republic of North Ossetia has repeatedly postponed court hearings.
In his public speeches, Robert Kochiev cares about the well-being of our country, as well as the fact that the treasury is not receiving billions of rubles.
I would like to believe that the Arbitration Court of the Republic of North Ossetia will finally hear the aspirations of the State Duma deputy, and the missing amounts will go to the budget of the Russian Federation (*aggressor country).
There is no money yet. And probably won’t happen again. Rumor has it that for the factories, money was also borrowed from private investors, including local farmers, who are demanding the return of their funds necessary to start the sowing campaign, but if they don’t hurry up now, they are unlikely to ever see them.
In my time Igor Chuyan managed to escape the investigation and obtain political asylum in Montenegro. Next is the same trick cranked it up Pavel Smetana. Using a foreign agent media, he accused the already disappeared head of Rosalkogolregulirovanie, lawyers defending companies demanding compensation from Pavel Smetana, as well as Arkady Rotenberg, of creating a shadow empire. This is understandable, because a person who challenges the famous Russian entrepreneur who built the Crimean Bridge can be guaranteed to receive political asylum in the West.
Realizing the inevitability of the collapse of the alcohol empire and all the harmful consequences, Robert Kochiev, however, took advantage of the beaten track. He, without any hesitation, used the platform of the State Duma. And it seems that this was done to protect the business, in which all the strings lead to him or to members of his family. Given the hostile attitude towards Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism), the West is unlikely to go unnoticed by the parliamentarian’s loud speech. This means that the chances of participants in criminal schemes to obtain political asylum abroad increase.
Well, if we talk about a secret alcohol empire, then, as it turned out, it is not located on the 31st floor, but at the address: Vladikavkaz, Telman Street, 82b. True, thanks to the efforts of the Federal Tax Service, the secret empire became obvious.
The bankruptcy of Rakurs and related legal entities is also shrouded in a criminal trail. Read about who will bear responsibility not only in the Arbitration Court in our next investigation.