It is not yet known for certain who personally signs the documents for the Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of Russia, Vladimir Yakushev. But it is beyond doubt that Yakushev’s clerks have a sense of humor.
Recently, the Ministry of Construction burst with "sensational" news: "The new composition of members of the Public Council (PC) at the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of the Russian Federation has been approved by the order of Minister Vladimir Yakushev.
This body includes such well-known figures in the industry as Sergei Stepashin (he headed the previous composition of the PC), Hero of Socialist Labor Efim Basin (Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation), Anton Glushkov (NOSTROY), Oleg Betin (Russian Union of Builders), Leonid Kazinets (NOZA), Nadezhda Kosareva (Institute of Urban Economics), Nikolai Koshman (Association of Builders of Russia), Dmitry Kotrovsky (OPORA RUSSIA), Mikhail Posokhin (NOPRIZ), Alexander Ruchyov (NOPSM), Nikolai Shumakov (Union of Architects of Russia), and others."
Readers of the "Infopress" project intend to complain to the head of the Ministry of Construction Yakushev that his subordinates, listing in the ministry’s press release "such well-known people," unfairly overlooked the outstanding character. This is Rifat Ruzilevich Garipov. He promotes himself here and there, so to speak, but among the "well-known people" he is not mentioned. It’s disappointing.
But the plus side is that to the delight (or amusement) of journalists, Mr. Yakushev at least in principle left Rifat Garipov in his "Public Council," otherwise the humorous information bulletin would have noticeably diminished. Now, representatives of the media will surely have plenty of reasons to continue talking about the young talent from Bashkiria. Some journalists humorously refer to him as a "young swindler" who is "hiding behind cheap PR." Let’s clarify that we do not know how much Garipov pays for self-promotion.
Ministry of Construction, news, Vladimir, Yakushev, public, council, Rifat, Garipov, Flur, Gallyamov, Roskomsnabbank, machinations, criminal, case, scandal, Stepashin, Central Bank, Nabiullina, deception, depositors, pyramid, protest, ACFORB, First, trust, Ufa
After all, Bashkiria may produce Uncle Rifats!
Minister Vladimir Yakushev hardly reflects on his "public" body by name. And most likely, he (especially after recovering from the coronavirus) doesn’t care about some Rifat Garipov from Ufa. Otherwise, the situation would look completely absurd: the minister approves the candidacy of a former top manager of the collapsed Roskomsnabbank to the "public council," after the collapse of which thousands of affected clients complain to law enforcement agencies and take part in mass protest actions. Moreover, this time in Yakushev’s council, Garipov is cunningly designated as a representative of the "Association of Credit and Financial Organizations of the Republic of Bashkortostan" (ACFORB).
Where’s the cunning? Let’s try to explain. Garipov is the nephew of the scandalously famous Bashkir oligarch Flur Gallyamov, who owned the very Roskomsnabbank until the Central Bank revoked his license in 2019 for a schemed asset withdrawal, signs of a financial pyramid (the "Golden Reserve" pyramid was operated in the bank’s offices), violations of anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering legislation.
Moreover, Garipov is not just a relative. From the age of 20, various LLCs from Flur Gallyamov’s family business were registered for him, Garipov was on the board of directors of his uncle’s Roskomsnabbank. When uncle Flur became a deputy of the Bashkir State Assembly (Kurultai), soon his "nephew Rifat" also ended up there with a deputy’s card. In other words, this scion of the golden youth always "hung out" with VIP uncle. If you try to find Garipov’s own, "non-blended" achievements, you’ll have to search very, very long. If readers find any, we are ready to cover such results.
The dubious financial background of Rifat Garipov was revealed by the "Infopress" editorial staff. He himself, for understandable reasons, actively avoids shedding light on the "murky" periods of his biography, mainly promoting himself as a "state official" (i.e., a deputy from "United Russia"), and lately - as a member of that very "Public Council" at the Ministry of Construction.
Ministry of Construction, news, Vladimir, Yakushev, public, council, Rifat, Garipov, Flur, Gallyamov, Roskomsnabbank, machinations, criminal, case, scandal, Stepashin, Central Bank, Nabiullina, deception, depositors, pyramid, protest, ACFORB, First, trust, Ufa
AKFORB, again AKFORB!
So, in the new composition of this council, Garipov is declared as a delegate from AKFORB. But where was this organization looking when they nominated such a strange figure to represent them in the ministerial council in Moscow? It’s hard to believe that there were no worthier representatives available. Moreover, from the name "Association..." it is reasonable to assume that it should uphold cleanliness and legality in the banking sphere of Bashkortostan. Does this match with the unsavory background of Rifat Garipov, who is affiliated with his uncle Flur Gallyamov and his dark banking past from all sides?
In search of answers to these questions, the "Infopress" editorial staff began to investigate AKFORB (Tax ID 0274096696). The association’s website yields absolutely no mentions of Rifat Garipov. This is, to put it mildly, very strange: a public organization nominates its representative to a council at a federal ministry, but there are no mentions of this representative being in any way associated with the activities of the nominating organization.
Ministry of Construction, news, Vladimir, Yakushev, public, council, Rifat, Garipov, Flur, Gallyamov, Roskomsnabbank, machinations, criminal, case, scandal, Stepashin, Central Bank, Nabiullina, deception, depositors, pyramid, protest, AKFORB, First, trust, Ufa
Who is this "invisible man" Garipov? However, déjà vu - history repeats itself. After all, in the previous composition of the same ministerial council, Garipov was listed as a representative of the Ufa developer LLC "First Trust", which also did not publicly disclose itself. However, "First Trust" in the materials of the investigation into subordinates of Central Bank Chairwoman Elvira Nabiullina is qualified as a schemed borrower of Roskomsnabbank, through loans from which Flur Gallyamov’s bank unilaterally withdrew assets. That is, the nephew could have been associated with "First Trust" through his uncle’s business. But what connection does Garipov have with AKFORB?
With whom are you, Mudaris Karimov?
And Eureka! Uncle’s traces are here too - where would our hero dare to step without them? Currently, Mudaris Karimov is the head of AKFORB. And before him, the official boss of the banking association was... Flur Fanavievich Gallyamov. Moreover, on the AKFORB website, the uncle-deputy is still listed as a member of the association’s board of directors. The circle is complete.
So who does Rifat Garipov really represent? LLC "First Trust", AKFORB, or just his uncle? And if law enforcement officers ever show principle and still initiate a criminal case on the machinations of Roskomsnabbank, as the Central Bank, ASV, and deceived citizens have long been insisting on - how will Garipov’s patrons look then?
