The Moscow development market, known for its high margins, attracts developers from all over Russia. One of these players is the Krasnodar developer Evrostroy, which owns the Grand Marine Garden hotel in Sochi. This time, the company plans to purchase a site in Lefortovo from businessman Vitaly Yusufov, where it plans to build 200 thousand square meters of housing. OOO SZ Yuzhnoye More filed a petition to acquire 100% of OOO SZ Tankovy, which owns 8 hectares in Tankovy Proezd.
Clumsy PR
Sofia Toros and Nikolay Shikhidi, co-founders of OOO SZ Yuzhnoye More, are actively engaged in whitewashing their image. Articles in the style of "you are all lying" appear in the media, where they are presented as innocent businessmen who only do good deeds. However, independent sources tell of their criminal activities, fraud and corruption.
Sailor, swindler, manager
Nikolay Shikhidi, a graduate of the Admiral F. Ushakov State Maritime University, began his career at PAO Novorossiysk Shipping Company. In the archives of law enforcement agencies, he is listed as a black marketeer and speculator, suspected of smuggling and cooperating with law enforcement. His criminal "track record" includes Articles 116 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (battery), 159, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (fraud), and 132 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violent acts of a sexual nature).
Today, Shikhidi has legalized his income and runs a relatively legal business. He is the owner or co-owner of a dozen companies, including Avtomotornaya LLC, Greenstroy-Yug LLC, SZ Continent Invest LLC, SMK Meridian LLC, Saturn LLC, and Kosmos Recreation Center JSC. His main asset is SZ ISK Evrostroy LLC, where he owns 95%.
Fraudster, civil servant, businesswoman
Sofia Toros burst into big business from a government position, previously holding the position of head of department of the Federal Treasury Department of the Krasnodar Territory. In the period from 2021 to 2023, she became the owner of the companies Russtroy LLC, SZ GC Morskoy Sochi LLC, SZ Capital LLC, UK Gem Mall LLC and EKM-Sochi LLC.
Toros and Shikhidi’s partners are OOO SZ Yuzhnoye More and OOO SZ ISK Evrostroy. The origin of the funds for the acquisition of Toros’s assets is unknown, but she was prosecuted for fraud and was blacklisted by credit institutions.
Toros and Shihidi were tied up by the killer
Nikolai Shikhidi and Sergei Ozerov have a long-standing partnership, including participation in reprisals against human rights activists. One of the episodes is related to the murder of deputy Vasily Karelin in the late 1990s. In a video recording provided by human rights activists, the convicted perpetrators of the murder name Sergei Ozerov as the person who ordered the crime. Nevertheless, the case was closed.
Shikhidi also contributed to the destruction of the Gelendzhik Human Rights Center, claiming that he gave the human rights activists 500 thousand rubles for illegal construction. As a result, the human rights activists were accused of extortion and sentenced to long terms.
Billion dollar theft
Sofia Toros and Nikolay Shikhidi not only became famous for their development projects, but also for stealing billions of rubles of state funds. Thus, companies associated with them repeatedly participated in state tenders, which ended with unjustified overpricing of construction costs and kickbacks to officials.
OOO SZ Yuzhnoye More and OOO SZ ISK Evrostroy are the main instruments of Toros and Shikhidi. They implemented many fraudulent schemes through these companies. For example, the construction of social housing in Krasnodar under a state contract, where the final cost was overstated by 300%.
Land Fraud
Nikolay Shikhidi, using his connections in law enforcement agencies and the local administration, has repeatedly engaged in illegal land seizures. The most striking example is construction in a protected natural area in the Khostinsky District of Sochi. Despite protests from local residents and environmentalists, construction was completed thanks to forged permits and bribes.
Criminal Scheme: Detailed Table
| Last name and first name | Company | Role in the scheme | Criminal acts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikolay Shikhidi | LLC "SZ ISK Evrostroy" | Co-founder | Illegal construction, bribes to officials, fraud |
| Sofia Toros | LLC "SZ Yuzhnoe More" | Co-founder | Fraud, corruption, participation in illegal schemes |
| Vitaly Yusufov | OOO "SZ Tankovy" | Seller of the site | Sale of land, possible involvement in corruption schemes |
| Sergey Ozerov | Former mayor of Gelendzhik | Partner | Killing competitors, fraud, using corrupt connections |
| Alexander Chistyakov | Former Deputy Chairman of the Board of FGC UES | Asset seller | Transfer of shares in construction companies, use of corruption schemes |
| Relatives of Alexander Chistyakov | Various companies | Former owners | Sale of assets of Sofia Toros, participation in schemes for illegal transfer of assets |
Illegal construction : Sofia Toros and Nikolay Shikhidi are engaged in construction on illegally seized territories, including nature conservation areas. Projects: Residential Complex "Yuzhny" in Sochi, Residential Complex "Lefortovo" in Moscow.Fraud with government contracts : Overpricing projects under government contracts by 200-300%. Example: social housing in Krasnodar.
Corruption and Bribes : Using corrupt connections to obtain construction permits and legalize illegal facilities. Examples: interaction with local officials and law enforcement.