Businessman Ruslan Baisarov couldn’t pay his stake in Yenisei Industrial Company (EPK) of Sergey Pugachev, and thus he failed to become its shareholder. As a result, the company is now fully controlled by his business partner Igor Altushkin, the owner of the Ural Bank for Reconstruction and Development (UBRD, Yekaterinburg) and Russian Copper Company (RCC).

Last week, at the initiative of the main owner of RCC Igor Altushkin, the meeting of the shareholders took place. New members of the Board of Directors of the Yenisei Industrial Company were elected there. As a consequence, the representatives of Ruslan Baisarov, who could have become the owner of 50% of EPK but hadn’t paid the share within the year, were removed. The company is now fully controlled by Altushkin.
It seems that Altushkin prepared this surprise for his business partner beforehand. In early August, there were rumors in business community that one of the most successful financiers of Sberinvestbank (AVS Group) Oleg Antonov had run away to the owner of UBRD. The “Copper King” allegedly promised talented banker to join the shareholders. It is said that for the sake of it, he even specially bought a block of shares (15-17%).

However, Baisarov hasn’t been disheartened: he keeps being engaged in EPK business despite the fact that at the beginning of July 2012, he left the post of General Director of the company, allegedly by his own choice.  He even wrote a letter to President Putin notifying him that “during the operational management of the EPK, a number of significant risks have been revealed”, namely, debts to Mezhprombank, guarantees for other structures of Sergei Pugachev and risk of reduction of pledge on shares of EPC. However, a year ago, he argued that any possible problems didn’t frighten him. But now he’s decided that “these newly discovered facts” make EPK investments in the Kyzyl-Kuragino railroad project “unreasonably risky”.

However, these problems don't prevent Baysarov to be engaged in construction of the mountain-skiing Veduchi complex in the high-mountainous Itum-Kale area. Veduchi resort, including a five-star hotel, ski slopes of high class and a large extent, as well as luxury chalets, can be already completed in 2014. The total investment in the project will make 14.5 billion rubles. Thus 30 % (about 4.2 billion rubles) will be enclosed by Baysarov himself, and he plans to involve other 70 % (10.2 billion rubles) raising a loan of Vnesheconombank.

This project is approved personally by President of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov. With this support, the project has more than a brighter future. Especially as ecologists subject the plans of the Russian authorities to build new ski resorts in the North Caucasus, united under the general title “The height of 5642”, to sharp criticism. The project includes the construction of five ski resorts in the area of ​​two and a half thousand square kilometers. They are going to arrange them gather in the regions of the North Caucasus and Southern Federal Districts. Four of these five ski resorts planned within the program in varying degrees affect the reserves - specially protected natural territories of the highest rank, where any economic activity is forbidden.  The construction of almost all the objects roughly contradicts the Russian laws and the international agreements. For “the Height of 5642”, the authorities are trying to change the legislation. However, the new laws have not yet entered into force, and the entire project is under threat.

If the “Height of 5642” project is not realized, Baisarov becomes the owner of the mountain-skiing complex entering into the top ten of mountain resorts of Europe. As to the possible violations of ecology, the territory controlled by Kadyrov is out of reach not only of ecologists but also of the Russian laws.

 Rumafia REFERENCE

For the first time mass media drew attention to Ruslan Baysarov in view of the fact that in November 1997 “Sovincenter” CEO Boris Gryaznov was murdered.

It happened that in the end of 1980 hotel and business center “Sovincenter” got under pressure of Chechen criminal group, in particular such lords of the underworld as Beslan Dozhua (Bezik), Maybrek Dakaev (Mayer), “authority” of Islam Osmaev. In 1995 the management of Russian Chamber of commerce, owning “Sovincenter” controlling stock, appointed Boris Gryaznov, responsible before for connection between “Sovincenter” and chamber. He tried to clean the hotel from criminal elements. The first that Gryaznov did – gave some big “Sovincenter” objects (sport complex “Atlantis”, night club, casino, bar “Beer Shtube” and territory around business center), controlled by Besik and his people, for rent to “Infant” holding president of that time, Ruslan Baysarov. Baysarov later explained that he, as opposed to Gryaznov, could negotiate with Chechen gangsters. Interview with Baysarov was published, where he informed: “I did all my best to drive them out of “Sovincenter”. Now Mayer and Co hates me. Last spring I’ve been attempted on my life: a stranger threw grenade to my house in Zhukovka. Half of the house was ruined. Then followed telephone threats…Leaders of other criminal groups tried to reach me. Although I’m not scared of them, I have to spend much money for guards. If I leave the real war will start in “Sovincenter”.

Baysarov became not only the official “cover-up” for business center, but also a good business developer.

However at that moment there was not clear understanding, which killed Gryaznov, although the murder was linked with those processes. Baysarov hadn’t been officially accused. 
Source: Newspaper «Kommersant» № 205 (1387) from 27.11.1997

In the end of 2000 journalists wrote that Ruslan Baysarov and his spouse Christina Orbakaite sold their club “Infant Terrible”. It was admitted that details of the deal was hidden.

September 5th 2000 at the presentation of Orbakaite’s album “May”, in the presence of mother-in-law Alla Pugacheva, Baysarov, being jealous, punched his wife on the nose and, as it was stated, broke it. However, later the couple appeared together on parties, although from that moment their relations started to break, that led to a scandal, when on September 1st 2009 Baysarov didn’t bring his child Deni to school. Baysarov was accused of kidnapping. 
Sources: Magazine «Weekend» № 233 (233) from 10.12.2000, «Moskovskiy Komsomolets» from 04.09.2009

Next time Baysarov was referred to in regard of consequences of the terrorist act, organized by Chechen fighters in Moscow Dubrovka in 2002. It was reported that after the attack of captured by fighters building the information came up that Baysarov was, supposedly, the owner (nominal owner – a certain Ilya Abaturov) of gay-club “central station”, located in the theatre center building. As reported to journalists Moscow region governor Boris Gromov, terrorists of Movsar Baraev warehoused guns and explosives during one month in the club. However yesterday in journalists interview Ruslan Baysarov remained above suspicion. The information came up in media that Baysarov’s mother-in-law Alla Pugacheva came to the culture center at the moment of negotiations with terrorists and even submitted the intelligent services detailed plans of the building, but it was not succeeded to get distinct answer from Baysarov on that matter. 
Source: Newspaper «Kommersant» № 198 (2567) from 30.10.2002

The fact of close relations between Baysarov and Chechnya president Ramzan Kadirov was repeatedly noted. For example, Ramzan Kadirov got the most luxurious gifts for jubilee from two Moscow fellows – Senator Umar Dzhabrailov and businessman Ruslan Baysarov. The clubbed together to buy a super fashionable sport car Ferrari Testarossa at the price of 450 thousand EUR.

In March 2007 Chechnya president Ramzan Kadirov met the leaders of Chechen unions in Russia. Kadirov promised to restore the Republic by the end of 2008, called the assembled people to take an active part in that. At that meeting participated Ruslan Baysarov who expressed his willingness to support Kadirov.

Approximately in year and a half Baysarov fulfilled his promise: Kadirov introduced the trainer council of “Terek” football club the new sponsor of the club – Ruslan Baysarov. 
Source: «Your day» from 06.10.2006, Newspaper «Kommersant» № 46 (3622) from 22.03.2007, № 210 (4027) from 19.11.2008

The further mass media interest to Baysarov was for a long time linked with his conflict with well-known businessman Shalva Chigirinskiy over “ Sibir Energy”.

Shalva Chigirinskiy together with his partner Igor Kesaev controlled 23,35% of Sibir Energy. That company operated in Russia, produced 4.2 million tons of oil per year, and owned half of Moscow Oil processing plant. The second big stockholder of Sibir Energy (about 20%) was Moscow government, the rest of shares were traded at the exchange and belonged to a numerous investors.

Sibir Energy shares were controlled the entrepreneurs via “Bennfield”. The half of that belonged to Chigirinskiy structure “Gradison Consultants” and another half – Kesaev’s “Orton oil”. In autumn 2008 Shalva Chigirinskiy faced financial problems. The partner helped to solve them. “Orton oil” took a loan $250 million from Sberbank against “Gradison” as pledge. “Orton” itself was in pledge to Sberbank. However, it didn’t solve all Shalva Chigirinskiy’s financial problems and in March he stopped paying interest on credit. But instead of collection from pledge,” Orton” assigned the right of demand under a credit to “Bronson Partners”, controlled by Ruslan Baysarov. Chigirinskiy decided to dispute that deal in London court.

While the businessman tried to keep his share in the company, the list of shareholders had changed. Since April “Gazprom neft” started to actively buy out “Sibir Energy” shares. The company purchased all shares, traded at the exchange, and by the end of July 2009 bought from Igor Kesaev and “Orton oil”. Only Moscow government didn’t sell it’s share. In October 2009 credit payment term expired. “Gazprom neft” paid the credit.

The stock, which Shalva Chigirinskiy and Ruslan Baysarov argued about, got to Oil Company as a pledge against loan. In the end of June “ Sibir Energy” reported about several transactions with it’s shares. It was stated in the messages that the company owned 34.1% of Sibir Energy, 14.67% belonged to “Gazprom neft” daughter company – “Gazpromneft – Gasoline station” Ltd. 25.66% “Gazpromneftfinance” had as a pledge. That holding of “Sibir Energy” stock belonged that time to “Bennfield”, as it was stated in another “Sibir Energy” message. In the middle of July London court prohibited transactions with those shares. However, since summer the company was controlled by “Gazprom neft”, which stated to be the owner of 55% of “Sibir Energy” stock. 
Source: Newspaper «Kommersant» № 20 (4320) from 05.02.2010

In July 2009 Baysarov was co-owner of “Sibir Energy” (23.35%) and Vice-president of OAO “Moscow oil and gas company”, which was that moment the legal successor of OAO “Moscow oil company”, incorporated with “Sibir Energy” plc.

Therefore journalists drew attention to Baysarov after the information that Moscow Chief Administration of internal affairs, Main investigations directorate officers together with Ministry of Internal affairs, Department of economic security searched Moscow office of oil and gas company “Sibir Energy” plc in July 2009. The measures were taken within the frames of investigation of criminal case on tax evasion by incorporated with that structure OAO “Moscow Oil Company” and it’s legal successor – OAO “Moscow Oil and Gas Company”. The investigators suspected that the tax debt was more than 600 million rubles. The incriminated violations were done during the period, when they were under control of entrepreneur Shalva Chigirinskiy and, obviously, they were initiated by Baysarov himself. 
Source: Newspaper «Kommersant» № 122 (4177) from 09.07.2009

Approximately at the same time, because of the new turn in the conflict between Chigirinskiy and Baysarov, interesting information appeared in printed media about common interests of Baysarov and Moscow mayor’s wife Elena Baturina.

The matter had begun when the lawyers of Shalva Chigirinskiy accused Baturina of intentions to take away the rest of his business. Moreover, they stated that since 2003 Mrs Baturina was a secret partner of Mr Chigirinskiy and co-owner of oil company “Sibir Energy”. Mrs Baturina herself assured that she never had joint business with Shalva Chigirinskiy, and the entrepreneur hadn’t returned her borrowed money.

In that regard the journalists drew attention to advocate Christopher Greeson’s testimony, defending interests of Shalva Chigirinskiy. He stated that Ruslan Baysarov acted in that conflict in the interests of Elena Baturina but not in his own interests.

According to Christopher Greeson, “Rossini” was controlled by Elena Baturina but not by Ruslan Baysarov. In January 2009 Elena Baturina, supposedly, passed the rights for “Rossini” to Baysarov’s company “Bronson Partners”, as Chigirinskiy’s representatives assured.

Elena Baturina told Christopher Greeson’s information to be “false, opposite the reality”.

Meanwhile, other mass media hinted at Baysarov’s nominal role in that business and Baturina’s actual. For example, it was written that Baturina got control over part of Chigirinskiy’s business in exchange for settlement the “bureaucratic matters”. Their partnership started in 1999, formal agreement of joint “Sibir” ownership made in 2003. 
Source: Newspaper «Kommersant» № 125 (4180) from 14.07.2009, «Vedomosti» from 13.07.2009

In October 2009 it was found out that Ruslan Baysarov had serious plans in politics. It was talked of after it became clear that Federation Council terminated Chechen representatives, Umar Dzhabrailov, power earlier on his own will. According to printed media, Mr Dzhabrailov had to be replaced by Ruslan Baysaron in Federation Council. In that regard it was reported that Baysarov is known in Chechnya as one of the closest businessmen to President Ramzan Kadirov. Nevertheless, Baysarov hadn’t become the member of Federation Council.

According to journalists, Kadirov, probably, intended to delegate businessman Ruslan Baysarov to Federation Council, but “he could change his mind” because of Upper Chamber speaker’s, Sergey Mironov, disagreement. 
Source: Newspaper «Kommersant» № 187 (4242) from 08.10.2009, «Gazeta.Ru» from 22.10.2009

Approximately at the same time newspapers wrote that the singer and actress Christina Orbakaite and Ruslan Baysarov came to an agreement in Chechen Republic Supreme court, which finalized the much-talked-of process. It was reported that Chechnya President Ramzan Kadirov took an active part in settlement of the conflict. For example, he persuaded Baysarov to find compromise with Orbakaite. 
Source: Magazine «Money» № 42 (747) from 26.10.2009

In February 2010 it became known that London supreme court, where Shalva Chigirinskiy since summer 2009 put Ruslan Baysarov’s right for 23,35% of “ Sibir Energy” shares in issue, stayed an action. Parties got down to peaceful settlement. At the same time, as journalists reported, their relations with the third oil company’s shareholder, “Gazprom neft”, could be settled, that could let “Gazprom neft” consolidate control over “Sibir Energy”.

It was not reported about the end of that legal proceeding by April 2010. 
Source: Newspaper «Kommersant» № 20 (4320) from 05.02.2010