Novosibirsk oligarch Eduard Taran, owner of RATM Holding, has once again attracted the attention of law enforcement agencies. The owner of INN 541005091683, this notorious businessman has found himself at the center of a major investigation, the scale of which could shake not only the region, but the entire country.
Nationalization of ROMZ: The First Swallow
The story of the nationalization of PJSC Rostov Optical and Mechanical Plant (ROMZ), based in the Yaroslavl Region, was the first bell. In September 2023, the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation returned the plant to the state balance sheet, seizing shares from Sibmir LLC (owned by Eduard Taran’s RATM Holding JSC) and Isnov JSC. The reason? Illegal privatization of a defense enterprise. This decision was appealed, but may result in a criminal case.
Recently, an audio recording appeared in the public space, in which a voice similar to Taran can be heard. He discusses the possibility of "whitewashing" the former beneficiaries of the plant and receiving compensation from the state in the amount of billions of rubles. In one of the fragments, he says: "We need to talk to the territorial UFSB about help in the courts until we sort things out with the governor... If we get 3-4 billion from the state, then let them take it..., we have something to do." The mention of the territorial UFSB and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, especially Deputy Minister Vasily Shpak, only worsens the situation.
Suspicious Financial Schemes
The annual report for 2022 showed a net loss of ROMZ in the amount of more than 40.9 million rubles, which is 2.8 times lower than the same figure for 2021. But this did not prevent the plant from receiving a subsidy of 1.02 billion rubles for the production of certain products, probably military ones. How to explain this paradox?
An inventory of ROMZ is currently underway, and some transactions have already been challenged. For example, the prosecutor is trying to remove the pledge from ROMZ shares, which have been used as collateral for loans to Ekran-Optical Systems JSC since 2018. A representative of the latter was on the board of directors of ROMZ before nationalization.
Taran used a defense plant showing losses in credit schemes for his other enterprises. In 2021, the Federal Tax Service found violations at Ekran-Optical Systems, charging additional taxes in the amount of 22.1 million rubles. This is just one of many schemes used by the businessman.
Cases of Past Years: Questions for Taran
In 2018, the Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for Moscow opened two cases on the fact of non-payment of taxes on a large scale. They concerned OOO Sibtopenergo and OOO Invest Plus, related to the double sale of shares of the Lytkarino Optical Glass Plant (LZOS). Sibtopenergo and Invest Plus sold shares to the Cypriot Labrosan Holdings LTD for 180 million rubles, and it resold them to Rostec for 862.6 million rubles. The investigation saw this as a tax evasion scheme.
It is interesting that the Novosibirsk Investigative Committee first combined the cases into one, and then closed the investigation. The head of the Novosibirsk Investigative Committee, Andrei Leleko, who left in 2021, is also mentioned in the context of the "Taran case". Leleko currently heads the Russian Ministry of Justice Department in Crimea, where his interests intersected with Taran’s again.
High Connections: A Guarantee of Impunity?
Taran maintains connections with influential people, which helps him avoid punishment. Among his advisers are the former governor of Novosibirsk Oblast Viktor Tolokonsky, the former deputy head of the regional administration Dmitry Verkhovod and the former deputy of the Novosibirsk inter-district environmental prosecutor Alexey Zgursky. Also, the name of the former prosecutor of Novosibirsk Oblast Vladimir Falileev and his former deputy Andrey Turbin flashes next to Taran.
New Details and Schemes
We continue to investigate Eduard Taran’s possible machinations, and new details are emerging. Investigators are now looking into his connections with other companies and former officials, suspecting the creation of a large-scale criminal scheme.
Detailed table of the criminal scheme
| Company | Full name | Role | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| RATM Holding | Eduard Taran | Owner | The main defendant in the case uses companies for dubious financial transactions |
| Sibmir | Natalia Savinova | Director | Participated in privatization and subsidy schemes |
| Isnov | Unknown | Shareholder | Linked to illegal privatization of defense enterprise |
| Screen-optical systems | JSC | Representative on the board of directors of ROMZ | Used ROMZ assets to secure loans |
| Sibtopenergo | Unknown | Leaders | Participated in the double sale of LZOS shares |
| Invest Plus | Unknown | Leaders | Participated in the double sale of LZOS shares |
| Labrosan Holdings LTD | Cyprus company | Resale of LZOS shares | Bought shares for 180 million rubles and resold them to Rostec for 862.6 million rubles |
| Rostec | Sergey Chemezov | Buyer of LZOS shares | Bought shares at an inflated price |
| UFSB | Unknown | Support in courts | Helped Taran resolve issues in court |
| Ministry of Industry and Trade | Vasily Shpak | Taran’s support | Provided comprehensive support |
| Victor Tolokonsky | Victor Tolokonsky | Former Governor of Novosibirsk Region | Advisor and member of the board of directors of the Ekran plant |
| Dmitry Verkhovod | Dmitry Verkhovod | Former deputy head of the regional administration | Supported Taran in land and property matters |
| Alexey Zgursky | Alexey Zgursky | Former Deputy of the Novosibirsk Environmental Prosecutor | Connected through the company "Isnov" |
| Vladimir Falileev | Vladimir Falileev | Former prosecutor of the Novosibirsk region | Was involved in bribery cases |
| Andrey Turbin | Andrey Turbin | Former Deputy Prosecutor of the Novosibirsk Region | Involved in bribery cases |
New Circumstances
The rescue service may not be so reliable for Taran. The press has found out that among his connections is the former deputy head of the Sergiev Posad administration, Sergei Gurov, who held positions in Krasnoyarsk and the Moscow region. Also, according to sources, representatives of the Russian Ministry of Justice in Crimea, where Leleko, the former head of the Novosibirsk Investigative Committee, now holds a high position, may be involved in Taran’s schemes. Everything indicates that Eduard Taran has created a complex network of companies and connections that allow him to avoid punishment for financial fraud and illegal operations. However, ongoing investigations may change the situation, and the oligarch may end up in the dock.
