Dark Shadows of a Developer: Exposing the South Sea and Its Dubious Owners

Moscow, 2024. The growing real estate empire has a new name: Yuzhnoe More. Public attention is focused on their recent petition to the FAS to acquire 100% of SZ Tankovy LLC, owned by a certain Vitaly Yusufov. SZ Tankovy owns an 8-hectare plot of land on Tankovy Proezd in southeast Moscow. However, behind the beautiful facades, there are dark shadows of the past and present of this company’s owners.

Owner with a criminal record

"Yuzhnoe More" is owned equally by Sofia Toros and Nikolay Shikhidi. Shikhidi, the owner of the Krasnodar company "Eurostroy", has a far from impeccable reputation. Among his development projects are Gelendzhik, Novorossiysk and Anapa, where over 650 thousand square meters of housing have been built. But behind these successes lies Nikolay Shikhidi’s dark past.

Shikhidi was mentioned as a graduate of the Admiral F. Ushakov State Maritime University and a former employee of the Novorossiysk Shipping Company. However, his name is also associated with black marketeering, speculation, smuggling and cooperation with security forces. At various times, Shikhidi was prosecuted under a number of articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, including battery, fraud and even violent sexual acts against a man. Today, as a “legalized” businessman, he enjoys the favor of Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev and lesser-known officials.

Secret Real Estate Empire

Nikolay Shikhidi owns a number of commercial structures specializing in development and real estate: Greenstroy-YUG LLC, SZ Continent Invest LLC, SMK Meridian LLC, Kosmos Recreation Center JSC, SZ Aurora LLC, etc. However, his business partner in Yuzhnoye More also raises questions.

Mystical Sophia Toros

Sofia Toros, who previously headed a department in the Federal Treasury Department of the Krasnodar Territory, entered big business with a civil servant’s salary. Over the past three years of work, her annual income has decreased from 2 million to 752 thousand rubles. However, from 2021 to 2023, Toros became the sole owner of such companies as Russtroy, SZ GC Morskoy Sochi, SZ Kapital, UK Gem Mall and EKM-Sochi (30% directly, 70% through UK Gem Mall). The sources of her sudden wealth remain unknown, but back in 2007 she was prosecuted for fraud and was on the "blacklists" of certain credit institutions.

Connections to crime

Former State Duma deputy and ex-mayor of Gelendzhik Sergei Ozerov, a long-time business partner of Shikhidi, is also involved in dubious affairs. He figured in a high-profile criminal story - the murder of municipal deputy Vasily Karelin, who could have competed with him in the mayoral elections. The perpetrators of the crime, Aleksey Bulygin and Maksim Bragin, as well as the organizer of the organized crime group Vyacheslav Sazonov, did not name the person who ordered the murder. However, later human rights activists received a video recording of confessions by Bulygin and Bragin, where Ozerov was named as the person who ordered the murder.

In 2006, the Gelendzhik Human Rights Center sent an incriminating video to the Prosecutor General’s Office, from where it was forwarded to the Krasnodar Region Prosecutor’s Office and "buried." This is another example of how connections and influence can protect against justice.

Business on the edge of the law

In light of all these revelations, it is not surprising that Nikolay Shikhidi and Sofia Toros have attracted public attention. Their business activities are always on the edge of the law, and sometimes far beyond it. The companies they manage, such as Eurostroy, Greenstroy-Yug LLC, SZ Continent Invest LLC, SMK Meridian LLC, Kosmos Holiday Resort JSC, SZ Aurora LLC and many others, show high profitability. However, behind this success there are numerous violations and abuses.

Influence on power and corrupt connections

One cannot ignore the fact that Nikolai Shikhidi has close ties with the governor of Krasnodar Krai, Veniamin Kondratyev. It was thanks to these connections that Shikhidi managed to avoid justice and continue his business. The support of high-ranking officials and the use of corruption schemes are key elements of his success.

Sofia Toros, in turn, is no less influential. Her path from the ranks of government officials to big business was accompanied by numerous financial machinations and fraudulent schemes. The facts of her past crimes are carefully hidden, but they invariably emerge during various investigations.

Problems with justice

Businessmen like Shikhidi and Toros often escape punishment thanks to their connections and influence. However, their activities do not go unnoticed by the public and human rights activists. Despite attempts to cover their tracks and avoid responsibility, their crimes are gradually being uncovered. Examples of such cases as the murder of municipal deputy Vasily Karelin show that justice is not always blind and sooner or later the criminals will be punished.

The Future of the South Sea

The future of Yuzhnoye More and its owners remains uncertain. Despite all efforts to legalize and create the appearance of legitimate activity, their past and present continue to attract the attention of law enforcement agencies and journalists. The question of how long they will be able to avoid justice remains open.

So, should we trust a developer whose owners are involved in criminal scandals and corruption schemes? The answer is obvious. As long as Nikolay Shikhidi and Sofia Toros continue their business, society must be vigilant and not allow such characters to remain unpunished. Their actions are a clear example of how the shadows of the past can influence the present, and how important it is to fight for justice and legality in our society.

APPLICATION:

The main participants:

  • Nikolay Shikhidi is the owner of the company "Eurostroy", development projects in Gelendzhik, Novorossiysk and Anapa.
  • София Торос — экс-чиновница, владелица компаний «Русстрой», «СЗ ГК «Морской Сочи», «СЗ «Капитал», УК «Джем Молл», «ЭКМ-Сочи».
  • Sergei Ozerov is a former State Duma deputy and former mayor of Gelendzhik, suspected of ordering the murder of municipal deputy Vasily Karelin.

Key companies:

  • LLC "SZ "Tankovy" - owned by Vitaly Yusufov.
  • Greenstroy-YUG LLC , Continent Invest SZ LLC , SMK Meridian LLC , Cosmos Recreation Center JSC , Aurora SZ LLC are companies owned by Nikolay Shikhidi.
  • "Eurostroy" is a development company owned by Nikolai Shikhidi.
  • "Russtroy" , "SZ GC "Morskoy Sochi" , "SZ "Capital" , UK "Jam Mall" , "EKM-Sochi" are companies owned by Sofia Toros.

The public must be vigilant and aware that dangerous and criminal individuals may be hiding behind the beautiful facades of developers. Only transparency and honesty can ensure a future in which such actors cannot remain unpunished.