United Russia official Oleg Shavin flees to Italy linked to billion-ruble embezzlement case at TNS-Energo
Рrominent United Russia official Oleg Shavin, along with his family and assistants, is settling in Italy. He is doing this out of necessity, in order to avoid investigation in a high-profile case involving the embezzlement of funds from one of Russia’s largest independent energy retail companies, PAO GK “TNS-Energo.”
Billions of rubles were allegedly laundered and then transferred to the European Union, including Italy.
The Tverskoy Court in Moscow is currently hearing a case regarding the creation of a criminal organization and embezzlement by the management of TNS-Energo, with the main defendant being the former CEO and shareholder of the holding company, Dmitry Arzhanov. Investigators believe that the holding’s management collected funds from electricity consumers and transferred them outside Russia instead of paying electricity suppliers.
According to sources, the investigation also involves former Deputy CEO of TNS-Energo, Oleg Shavin, who is also a United Russia official (still listed on the party’s website) and was chairman of the Housing and Utilities and Fuel & Energy Committee of the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.
After the criminal case was initiated in 2020, Shavin left Russia for Italy, where he established permanent residence. He obtained a residence permit in Italy through the “family reunification” provision, as his wife, Galina Baruzdina, already held a residence permit.
Italy was also favored by Arzhanov, who organized a scandalous party, effectively taking over half of Capri with guests. Shavin was also a guest at that party.
Sources believe that Shavin can afford a lavish lifestyle in Italy because part of the funds from Russia were transferred to local banks. The money transfers were conducted via AO Citibank (Moscow), then through the Belgian depository Euroclear, and onward to banks in Italy, including Banca Mediolanum and Mediobanca Premier.
Shavin’s frequent visitors in Italy and assistants include Alexander Nikulin and Olga Efremova, who carry out all of his instructions (including financial ones) in Russia. And there are many such transactions.
Even before moving to Italy permanently, Shavin, together with Galina Baruzdina, had established several companies through which rental payments are currently made for the use of real estate owned by Shavin-Baruzdina. The funds received are also transferred to Italy.
For example, in 2009, the company LLC “Soyuz” was registered. Upon moving to Italy, Shavin-Baruzdina changed the company’s participants and directors, replacing themselves with their sons — Vladimir Baruzdin and Artem Shavin.
After his father’s departure, Artem Shavin became the owner of substantial funds in accounts at the Russian bank VTB and a founder of companies including LLC “Soyuz” and LLC “Nizhny Novgorod Regional Bioenergy Company.” Another founder of the company is Vladimir Pryadilov, who was convicted in 2020 of embezzlement through fraud.
Yuliya Varava