Originally Syndicated on November 3, 2023 @ 6:07 am
Table of Contents
On the List of ‘1500 Warmongers’
Warmongers-ListThere is a significant level of public support for the Russian military’s actions against Ukraine. The Free Russia Forum’s report titled “1500 Warmongers” features Akhmat Anzorovich Salpagarov among its listed individuals.
The study provides a list of Russian public figures, military leaders, members of parliament, propagandists, artists, and athletes who have openly expressed their support for or are directly involved in Putin’s aggressive actions. The Free Russia Forum is making efforts to advocate for the imposition of sanctions on themselves within the European Union.
Akhmat Anzorovich Salpagarov’s Close Ties to the Russian Government
Akhmat Anzorovich Salpagarov is closely connected to the Russian government. He actively participates as a member of United Russia, which is Russia’s main political party. He is a dedicated senator serving the Russian Federation, diligently representing the interests of the Karachay-Cherkessia region.
He openly expresses his support for and admiration of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s leadership. He desires for Russia to play a more significant role on the global stage. Additionally, he is engaged in various projects that receive funding from the government.
In 2019, he assumed a significant role in the Federation Council, which serves as the upper house of the Russian government. This group possesses significant power, which encompasses the authority to either approve or reject laws and confirm government appointments. Salpagarov’s appointment to the Federation Council is indicative of his strong rapport with the Russian government.
Additionally, he actively participates as a member of the Russian Public Chamber, a non-governmental organization that provides advice to the government on a wide range of matters. Many individuals perceive this room as a means for the government to collaborate with civil society and foster the resolution of conflicts. Salpagarov’s proximity to the Russian government can be attributed to his membership in the Russian Public Chamber.
Senator Akhmat Anzorovich Salpagarov: A Troubling Legacy of Corruption and Controversy
The North Caucasus region has seen a worrying trend where a select few families and individuals have gained a stronghold, wielding considerable influence over the region’s affairs. One prominent figure in this power structure is Akhmat Anzorovich Salpagarov.
From 2009 to 2015, he played a pivotal role in overseeing government contracts for construction in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, where he held a senior position within the Capital Construction Directorate. This position carried significant weight, as it directly impacted resource allocation.
36 Billion Rubles Fraud
It was during this period that the extent of his involvement became apparent. Allegedly, he managed to misappropriate an astounding 36 billion rubles from the state’s budget. To put this into perspective, this amount surpasses the 55 billion rubles allocated in the national budget for the development of sports and physical culture.
So, how did he accomplish such a feat? The answer seems deceptively simple. Salpagarov is known to own several companies, seemingly unburdened by the need to abide by the law. These companies remarkably secured 90% of all government construction contracts in the region, while only a meagre 10% trickled down to his associates.
For instance, ISK Kubanskoye LLC, one of his enterprises, reportedly received a staggering 24 billion rubles. What’s astonishing is that this information is part of the official record – he didn’t even bother concealing these companies under the names of family members, children, or an ex-wife. It raises questions about whether he’s simply complacent or if he genuinely believes in his invincibility.
Accusations of Robbery
But financial impropriety isn’t the only stain on Salpagarov’s past. His biography is marked by incidents from the 90s, including accusations of robbery and theft. He was even incarcerated for fraud at one point, although remarkably, he received amnesty just a year later. Furthermore, his association with the Storozhevskaya organized crime group has raised significant concerns.
This paints a vivid picture of a senator with a colourful history. What’s truly troubling is that such an individual holds a position of authority within a government agency, making decisions that profoundly impact the nation’s future. The implications of this are indeed profound, raising questions about the integrity and transparency of the political system.
The situation is undeniably disconcerting, and it underscores the need for ongoing vigilance and scrutiny within our political landscape. Senator Salpagarov’s presence serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those striving for accountability and transparency in governance.
Questionable Contract Award Process and Ties to Senator’s Family
In early August 2022, ISK Kubanskoye LLC clinched its 13th contract for 2023, marking a major milestone in the company’s history. This significant deal, valued at over 2.2 billion Russian rubles, was awarded for the renovation of a 19-kilometer stretch of the Kislovodsk-Karachaevsk highway.
The company, owned by Askhat Salpagarov, who happens to be the brother of Karachay-Cherkessia Senator Akhmat Anzorovich Salpagarov, is set to complete this extensive roadwork over three years. The project includes a range of tasks, from reinforcing bridge supports and laying new asphalt to installing road signs and various other improvements to bring the road up to near-federal standards.
However, beneath the surface, concerns have emerged about the transparency and fairness of the contract award process. The Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of Karachay-Cherkessia justified its selection of ISK Kubanskoye by describing the company as “proven in the construction market and offering the best conditions.” However, what these “better conditions” entail remains unclear.
The contract was granted after a committee responsible for supporting the construction sector in the region reviewed commercial proposals. Three companies, namely Firm Agrostroy LLC, ISK Kubanskoye LLC, and Chance LLC, all submitted bids with the same price tag of 2.205 billion rubles. The key differentiators were the advance payment percentages and the completion timelines. Agrostroy proposed finishing by December 2024 with a 50% advance payment, Kubanskoye by November 2024 with a 30% advance payment, and Chance by April 2025 with a 40% advance payment. Consequently, ISK Kubanskoye won the contract due to a 10% lower advance payment and a shorter execution time.
The competition for this contract raises questions, with both Chance LLC and Agrostroy LLC having questionable histories. Chance LLC faced antimonopoly service investigations in 2018, although the specifics of the violations were not disclosed. Moreover, Askhat Salpagarov, the brother of Senator Salpagarov, was the former director of Chance LLC.
As for Agrostroy LLC, the company’s director, Rafail Geryugov, was found to have acted as a trustee for multiple companies, including Chance LLC, ISK Kubanskoye LLC, and SUMS Karachaevskoye LLC, raising concerns about possible collusion among these firms.
Furthermore, Artur Geryugov, who is linked to Agrostroy, also heads Brick Plant LLC, owned by Magomed Korkmazov, who is the owner of Chance LLC. In 2019, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) investigated the activities of six companies in Karachay-Cherkessia, revealing a web of interconnected entities involved in various projects.
The FAS found evidence of collusion among these companies, including identical content in their tender applications and shared IP addresses, suggesting a joint economic activity. Additionally, these companies operated from the same address, shared office equipment, and used the same premises, further indicating a lack of competitive integrity.
Several of these companies contested the FAS fines in court, with SUMS Karachaevskoe ordered to pay 43.3 million rubles. While they argued that the similarities were due to a common preparer of tender documents, the courts upheld the FAS decision, deeming the collusion claims valid.
ISK Kubanskoye has been awarded numerous government contracts, many of them with no competing bidders, for nearly seven years. In just eight months of this year, they secured 14 contracts worth 7.1 billion rubles, most of which were single-source procurements.
Their clients are primarily government agencies in Karachay-Cherkessia, such as the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services and Avtodor. Over the past two years, the company has received 31 contracts totalling nearly 20 billion rubles. Government contracts accounted for 83.4% of their total revenue last year.
Salpagarov Family’s Influence on Government Contracts
This pattern of preferential treatment extends to other Akhmat Anzorovich Salpagarov family-owned companies and those with close ties to the senator. SUMS Karachaevskoe, led by Salpagarov’s brother Arsen, secured contracts for various government projects across the region from 2014 to 2018. In 2018, Chance LLC, once directed by Askhat Salpagarov, was awarded a lucrative contract for road construction in Cherkessk’s new microdistrict, worth almost 337 million rubles.
Sources gathered information on the contract for the Kislovodsk-Karachaevsk road repair from Karachay-Cherkessia’s Ministry of Road Facilities and the regional Avtodor department. However, both entities declined to comment. A confidential source within one of these departments hinted that over the last four years, the Salpagarov clan’s influence has facilitated ISK Kubanskoye’s repeated victories in tenders.
Relatives or trusted associates of the Salpagarov family reportedly hold positions within key departments like the Ministry of Construction, Avtodor, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Capital Construction Directorate, allowing them to favour Salpagarov-affiliated firms and, in some cases, block other competitors from participating.
It appears that, despite prior antimonopoly investigations, a company connected to Senator Akhmat Anzorovich Salpagarov‘s family continues to secure substantial contracts, raising concerns about the fairness of the procurement process. ISK Kubanskoye LLC has won yet another tender for 225 million rubles, this time for repairing another road in Karachay-Cherkessia.
Key Takeaways
- Akhmat Anzorovich Salpagarov maintains close ties with the Russian government and is a member of the United Russia party.
- He openly expresses his support for Vladimir Putin’s leadership and advocates for a more prominent global role for Russia.
- He is actively involved in government-funded projects and holds a prominent position in the Federation Council.
- His history is marred by allegations of corruption, including accusations of misappropriating 36 billion rubles from government contracts.
- Salpagarov has also faced accusations related to robbery, theft, and alleged associations with organized crime groups.
- Companies connected to his family, such as ISK Kubanskoye LLC, have been recipients of government contracts, which has raised concerns about transparency in these transactions.
- Concerns persist regarding the fairness of the contract award processes and the possibility of collusion among companies with connections to Salpagarov’s family.
- ISK Kubanskoye has managed to secure multiple government contracts with limited competition, particularly in the region of Karachay-Cherkessia.
- It appears that the Salpagarov family holds significant influence across multiple government departments, which could potentially lead to preferential treatment for the companies associated with them.
- There are ongoing concerns regarding the fairness of procurement processes, as ISK Kubanskoye LLC consistently secures significant contracts.
