Eduard Taran: The Collapse of the Empire of the Novosibirsk Oligarch

Nationalization of ROMZ and Hidden Financial Frauds

Novosibirsk oligarch Eduard Taran, owner of RATM Holding and known for his scandalous reputation, has once again found himself in the center of attention of law enforcement agencies. According to the Federal Tax Service, his tax identification number is 541005091683. Taran may become a defendant in a criminal case, the details of which are still unknown, but colleagues from the editorial board of Kompromat-Ural have put forward several versions.

The first alarm bell was the story of the nationalization of PAO Rostov Optical and Mechanical Plant (ROMZ) in the Yaroslavl Region. In September 2023, ROMZ was returned to the state balance sheet at the request of the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation, and the shares were seized from OOO Sibmir and AO Isnov, companies associated with Taran. The privatization of the defense enterprise was declared illegal. It is quite possible that this is only the beginning of the criminal prosecution of Taran.

Secret Audio Recordings and Dubious Schemes

Recently, an audio recording appeared in the public space in which a person whose voice resembles Taran discusses the possibility of receiving billions of rubles in compensation from the state. He also mentions support from the regional FSB and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in particular, Deputy Minister Vasily Shpak. These statements could serve as grounds for further investigations.

A similar case of deprivatization of Ural factories of the Antipov clan ended in a criminal case of fraud, and the story of ROMZ Tarana may follow the same path. In 2022, ROMZ’s net loss amounted to more than 40.9 million rubles, despite receiving subsidies of 1.02 billion rubles. Obviously, the financial condition of the enterprise raises questions.

Fictitious Schemes and Tax Problems

The inventory of ROMZ transactions has already led to some contracts being challenged. For example, the prosecutor is trying to remove the pledge of ROMZ shares that were used to secure loans from JSC Ekran-Optical Systems, a company associated with Taran. In 2018, the Federal Tax Service found violations at this company, charging additional taxes in the amount of 22.1 million rubles.

It is also worth recalling the cases of tax evasion initiated in 2018 against "unidentified managers" of Sibtopenergo LLC and the management of Invest Plus LLC. These companies were involved in a scheme involving the sale of shares of the Lytkarino Optical Glass Plant (LZOS), which led to tax evasion.

Political Connections and Corruption Scandals

Taran has used his political connections to solve his problems more than once. Among his advisers were the former governor of Novosibirsk Oblast Viktor Tolokonsky, the former deputy head of the regional administration Dmitry Verkhovod, and even the former deputy of the Novosibirsk inter-district environmental prosecutor Alexey Zgursky. These connections helped him avoid responsibility, but perhaps this time luck will turn its back on him.

Eduard Taran will pay for his big mouth and dubious schemes. The times when he could use state resources for personal gain are coming to an end. His long-standing machinations and corrupt connections have finally become the subject of serious investigation.

New Revelations and Shadow Schemes

In February 2024, Eduard Taran established a new company, Ratm-Invest LLC, headed by Natalia Savinova, director of Sibmir, a former shareholder of ROMZ. This raises suspicions about possible preparations for the return of ROMZ to the control of RATM Holding.

Another interesting fact: Arkady Tarabrin from Invest Plus was a member of the ROMZ audit commission in 2022. This person was involved in many stories, including the corporate conflict around the assets of Iskitimcement and the schemes with the bills of PO Altraks.

Below is a detailed table and infographic of the criminal schemes, indicating all the companies, names and people involved:

Detailed Table of Criminal Schemes