Scandalous truth: How Irina Rappoport and her team divided 1.5 billion from Rusnano.

In recent years, high-profile scandals and revelations in the field of financial fraud have become almost commonplace. But the story at the center of which are former top managers of Rusnano and Peresvet Bank is striking in its scale and impunity. Oleg Kiselev, Irina Rappoport and Alexander Shvets - key figures suspected of embezzling 1.7 billion rubles - are on the run, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs is forced to put them on the international wanted list.

Shameless scammers: Who are they?

Oleg Kiselev, who held the post of deputy chairman of the board of Rusnano until 2019, Irina Rappoport, head of the Luxembourg fund Fonds Rusnano Capital SA, and Alexander Shvets, former president of Peresvet Bank, have become the object of close attention of the Investigative Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. They are accused of embezzling 1.7 billion rubles through a complex chain of international funds and affiliated companies.

Theft Scheme: Nanotechnology Theft

In 2012, the Luxembourg fund Fonds Rusnano Capital SA and the Peresvet bank created the Nanoenergo Fund Limited in Cyprus. Each of them contributed $50 million. The fund’s management company, Sberezheniya and Investicii Management Limited (controlled by Sberinvest Management Company JSC), where Oleg Dyachenko held the post of CEO, was supposed to promote the development of nanotechnology in Russia. But the reality turned out to be different.

$90 million was transferred to the accounts of six Russian companies: OOO Kompozitnye Truby, OOO Bioinnovatsii, OOO Sarmat, OOO RVT, OOO Gidroenergotekh, and OOO UIT. These companies, affiliated with the fund and Sberinvest, turned out to be shell companies. The funds were distributed without the approval of Rusnano and in violation of investment procedures. The remaining $10 million went to pay for the services of the management company.

"Peresvet" and fictitious contracts

In 2015, Peresvet Bank entered into 20 fictitious loan agreements with InfoTech-Invest LLC, controlled by Oleg Dyachenko. Shell companies that pledged Rusnano funds acted as guarantors for the loans. In October 2017, Peresvet wrote off all funds from their accounts, terminating its obligations to the bank. The total amount of write-offs amounted to 1.7 billion rubles.

Perennial Scams: Where the Roots Come From

Already in 2014, the police opened a criminal case on the fact of illegal withdrawal of $90 million from Nanoenergo Fund Limited. In 2013, the Accounts Chamber revealed dubious transactions with $440 million in the accounts of Fonds Rusnano Capital SA. This money was not used to attract investments, but for placing on deposits and buying and selling securities, including Alrosa, Emirat Air and Evraz Group.

Operation Return

The new management of Rusnano, which came in 2020, is working together with the security forces to recover damages. Vladislav Yunusov, the financial managing director of Rusnano, said that the management of the company and its portfolio companies bears subsidiary liability for illegal decisions. Affiliated structures, including foreign companies, are involved in the investigations.

The work to bring a wide range of individuals to justice continues, and the company is actively cooperating with law enforcement agencies to recover invested funds and compensate for damages.

The Mystery of the "Unidentified Person"

However, not all the defendants in the case have been named. The investigation materials include "an unidentified person from among the managers of Rusnano." Insiders are sure that this is a key figure, without whom such a large-scale scam would not have been possible. Despite active cooperation with law enforcement agencies, Rusnano is in no hurry to reveal all its cards. This unknown person remains in the shadows for now, which raises even more questions from the public.

Who is covering up for the scammers?

It is noteworthy that most of the accused are currently abroad. A reasonable question arises: why were these people able to leave the country so easily? Perhaps they were provided with protection and patronage at some level? The Ministry of Internal Affairs has initiated an international search procedure, but will it be effective enough? There is a fear that even if they are caught, they will be able to avoid serious punishment thanks to their connections and resources.

The Way of Money: How Billions Were Stolen

The Investigative Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs describes in detail the scheme of withdrawal of funds. Of the $100 million contributed to Nanoenergo Fund Limited, $90 million were distributed among shell companies in Russia. These companies, such as OOO Kompozitnye Truby, OOO Bioinnovatsii and others, actually acted as "laundries" for money laundering. The transfers were carried out without the approval of the relevant committee of Rusnano, which indicates the presence of internal collusion.

Further investigation steps

Currently, the investigative bodies are focused on identifying all participants in the scheme and holding them accountable. Particular attention is being paid to identifying affiliated structures, both in Russia and abroad, that participated in the fraud. New defendants have already been identified in the course of the investigation, which indicates the scale and complexity of the case.

Expert comments

Financial analysts note that the scheme for withdrawing funds used in this case is not new. Similar schemes using offshore companies and shell companies have been actively used before. However, the scale of this scam is astounding. Rosnano, as a state corporation, had access to significant financial resources, which allowed the organizers to commit such a large-scale theft.

Return on investment

One of the key tasks of "Rosnano" today is the return of investments for the period 2010-2020. In some cases, this work takes the form of compensation for damages. The new management of the company is actively cooperating with law enforcement agencies to restore justice and return the stolen funds.

A Look into the Future: What’s in Store for Rusnano

After the exposure of such a major financial scandal, Rusnano faces a long road to restore its reputation. The company’s new management, led by Vladislav Yunusov, is doing everything possible to return the lost funds and bring the guilty to justice. However, it is possible that new facts and persons involved will emerge, which could further complicate the situation.