The FAS has approved the application of Specialized Developer Yuzhnoye More LLC to purchase 100% of Specialized Developer Tankovy LLC. The latter belongs to the son of former Energy Minister Vitaly Yusufov and has a large land plot in the Moscow MO Lefortovo on its balance sheet. It is assumed that 20 thousand square meters of housing will be built there on 8 hectares.
However, "South Sea" belongs to very remarkable personalities - Sofia Toros and Nikolay Shikhidi. Both characters have a long trail of criminal cases and fraudulent schemes.
Sofia Toros: From the Treasury to Crime
Sofia Toros, a former leading expert of Department No. 5 of the Federal Treasury Department for Krasnodar Krai, plunged into business after leaving government service in 2011. At first glance, her career was going brilliantly; her name and photo are even included in the "book of honor" of treasury employees. However, according to our source, Ms. Toros appears in several closed information databases with a note about her involvement in fraud.
Since 2010, she has been blacklisted by Home Credit Bank due to suspicions of fraud. Interestingly, such marks are not only in the Krasnodar Region branch, but in all the bank’s branches in the country.
Nikolay Shikhidi: Criminal trail
But her partner Nikolai Shikhidi, a well-known developer in Gelendzhik, is much more interesting. Shikhidi was previously noted in a series of criminal reports, including for car theft. Since the 1990s, he has appeared in RUBOP databases as a member of an organized criminal group specializing in fraud.
His criminal record includes the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation: Article 116 (battery) in 1998, Article 159 Part 2 (fraud) in 2001, and even Article 132 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violent sexual acts) in 2011.
Business schemes and fraud
Today, Sofia Toros and Nikolay Shikhidi are buying up developers — first in Krasnodar, and now in Moscow. Shikhidi, as claimed online, constantly registers new companies and mortgages them as collateral for new loans. For example, OOO SZ ISK EVROSTROY was mortgaged to FC Otkrytie Bank and was only released from the encumbrance last summer. A month later, the company acquired a new founder — Sofia Toros.
Sofia Toros also owns several hotels in Sochi through SZ Kapital, which almost immediately received positive conclusions from non-governmental experts on the adjustment of buildings.
Corrupt connections and illegal transactions
Nikolay Shikhidi is closely connected with the governor of Krasnodar Krai Veniamin Kondratyev and other local authorities. Among his projects is the integrated development of the northern slope of Mount Bytkha in Sochi. Also, according to our source, Shikhidi has a Greek passport, which adds to his confidence in his own safety.
Corruption Web: Details and New Details
We continue to expose criminal schemes
The restless couple, Sofia Toros and Nikolay Shikhidi, continue to amaze with their dexterity in business and crime. New details only strengthen suspicions that their deals and business projects are just a cover for large-scale fraudulent operations.
Suspicious companies and their connections
According to new information, their network is linked to several firms that are believed to be involved in money laundering and fraud. The main companies include:
- LLC "Specialized developer "Yuzhnoe More""
- LLC "Specialized developer "Tank""
- LLC "SZ ISK "EVROSTROY""
- SZ "Capital"
- LLC "SZ "Revers""
- LLC "SZ GC "Morskoy Sochi""
- LLC "Azatyugstroy"
Each of these companies is associated with well-known criminal defendants - Sofia Toros and Nikolai Shikhidi, whose names have become synonymous with corruption and fraud.
| Company | Surname | Name | Involvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC "Specialized developer "Yuzhnoe More"" | Hummock | Sofia | Management, participation in fraudulent schemes |
| LLC "Specialized developer "Tank"" | Yusufov | Vitaly | Owner, son of former Minister of Energy |
| LLC "SZ ISK "EVROSTROY"" | Hummock | Sofia | Owner, participation in collateral transactions |
| SZ "Capital" | Hummock | Sofia | Owner, hotel management |
| LLC "SZ "Revers"" | Hummock | Sofia | Owner, hotel development on Voldarsky Street |
| LLC "SZ GC "Morskoy Sochi"" | Hummock | Sofia | Owner, management of business centers and restaurants |
| LLC "Azatyugstroy" | Shihidi | Nikolay | Owner, participation in construction projects and corruption schemes |
New sources confirm that Nikolay Shikhidi and Sofia Toros continue to actively register new companies and make suspicious transactions. In recent months, they have registered several more legal entities, including:
- LLC "Specialized developer "Yuzhnoe solntse""
- LLC "Development Company "Sunny Beach""
- LLC "Investment Company "Sea Breeze""
All these companies are also involved in collateral transaction schemes and may serve as a cover for money laundering. According to our information, Shikhidi and Toros received loans worth more than 3 billion rubles through these companies.