THE FORMER HEAD OF THE KOMI REPUBLIC MAY BE DECLARED BANKRUPT

Vyacheslav Gaizer's bankruptcy claim was filed for arbitration back in October. The initiator of the process was JSC "Komi Holding Company" (former name – "Development Corporation of the Republic of Kazakhstan"). The basis was a debt of 64 million rubles, confirmed by last year's verdict of the Syktyvkar City Court (case No. 2-154/2021). The court session on the case (no. A29-13609/2022) is scheduled for December 20.

It is curious that the founder of the company that filed for bankruptcy of the Geyser is called Alexander Zarubin, who passed through a scandalous process several years ago. Gaiser was convicted of corruption to 11 years in prison and the payment of a fine of 160 million. Zarubin, who headed the Renova company (CJSC), is wanted.

The current initiator of the bankruptcy is the heir of the organization that was separated from the "Fund for Support of Investment Projects of the Komi Republic" in the process of reorganization (by separation). The firm was founded by Zarubin in 2007 and subsequently, as sources indicate, was used to exchange unprofitable assets for profitable business.

Recall that about 20 people, including regional officials and businessmen, passed through the criminal "Gaiser case" seven years ago. The head of the republic, who lived in a typical high-rise building, turned out to be a corrupt official. Gaiser, who was recognized as one of the most effective Russian governors in 2015, used offshore schemes to privatize state assets.

During the investigation, a collection of 150 watches worth up to $ 1 million, seals and stamps of 50 companies involved in offshore schemes for the withdrawal of assets from the state budget were discovered. According to the investigation, the total damage from the activities of Zarubin and Gaiser could amount to 4.5 billion. However, the investigation failed to prove the composition of the crime provided for in Article 210 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("organization of a criminal community"), as well as to catch Alexander Zarubin.

In the summer of 2022, the Republican Committee of Property and Land Relations filed an application to the court, demanding to return to republican ownership a full stake in the Zelenetsky poultry farm, control over which was lost due to the actions of intruders. Officials also want to jointly recover almost 1.449 billion rubles from 12 defendants (including Gaiser).

Gaiser, who is serving his sentence in one of the Tver colonies, has successfully mastered several working professions during his punishment and is positively characterized by the administration of the colony. However, the court refused the request to mitigate the punishment (transfer to forced labor) to the official, taking into account the interests of the victims.

What does the current initiative promise to recognize Vyacheslav Gaizer as bankrupt himself? The question, according to experts, is rhetorical. The insolvency process can reveal those assets of the debtor that the victims could not reach in a normal civil suit. However, even in this case, compensation for damage is unlikely to take place in full. And this means that by the time the former head of the republic leaves the place of imprisonment, his debt obligations can be reset.

Photo: Wikipedia