Originally Syndicated on May 13, 2023 @ 10:15 am
Anatoly Bykov, a Russian businessman and politician, has been involved in several criminal cases and has been convicted of various crimes. Here is a timeline of his crimes:
- 1994: He was convicted of ordering the murder of two men.
- 2002: He receives a suspended prison sentence of six and a half years for plotting the murder of a former associate.
- 2005: He is involved in ordering the assassination of a rival businessman.
- 2021: He is sentenced to 13 years in prison for his involvement in criminal activities.
- 2023: He was sentenced to an additional 11 years in prison for his involvement in the 2005 murder case.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Anatoly Petrovich Bykov (born 17 January 1960) is a Russian businessman and politician who has been involved in several criminal cases and has been convicted for various crimes During the 1990s, Bykov gained prominence in Krasnoyarsk Krai and Krasnoyarsk as an entrepreneur who was the chairman of the board of the world’s largest aluminum company, RUSAL’s Krasnoyarsk aluminum plant (KrAZ).
Bykov is considered one of the most powerful people in Krasnoyarsk. He holds a seat as the deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Krasnoyarsk Krai, and his party, Patriots of Russia, is currently holding 14 (or 25.62%) of the 36 seats in the Krasnoyarsk City Council of Deputies, leaving Vladimir Putin’s ruling party, United Russia, behind with 12 seats.
Timeline of Anatoly Bykov’s Crimes
Russia’s Jailed Former ‘Aluminum King’ Gets Additional Prison Term In 2005 Murder Case
Russia’s Jailed Former ‘Aluminum King’ Gets Additional Prison Term In 2005 Murder Case
In a recent development in Krasnoyarsk, businessman, and politician Anatoly has been handed an 11-year prison sentence for his involvement in inciting the murder of businessman Andrei Nekolov back in 2005. The court’s press service confirmed this information through media outlets. As a result of this ruling, He is now set to serve a total of 17 years in a strict regime correctional facility.
During the 1990s, Bykov held a co-ownership position at the Krasnoyarsk aluminum plant and earned nicknames like “aluminum king of Russia” and “shadow governor of Krasnoyarsk” in the press. Renowned author Eduard Limonov referred to him as the “people’s oligarch” in his book about the businessman. Bykov was known for his support of various regional politicians and his criticism of the federal government.
The prosecution initially sought an 18-year prison term, considering Bykov’s existing sentence. The court, however, concluded after 11 years.
Investigators assert that he incited his associate Alexander Zhivitsa to carry out the murder of Andrei Grabovsky, the former head of the regional boxing federation, as well as businessman Andrei Nekolov. While Grabovsky managed to survive an assassination attempt in 2004, Bykov eluded legal repercussions due to the statute of limitations expiring in that case.
Nekolov, who founded a company dealing with industrial waste disposal that rivaled Bykov’s interests, was allegedly targeted by Bykov in 2004. It is believed that he instructed Alexander Zhivica to eliminate his business competitor, promising a reward of $50,000 for the task. While Nekolov survived the initial attack in October 2004, he was eventually killed in January 2005 by a TT pistol. The delayed nature of the murder led investigators to conclude that Bykov only paid a fifth of the agreed fee to the killer.
The court ruling also stipulates that he is obligated to pay 10 million rubles to the families of both Grabovsky and Nekolov.
He staunchly maintains his innocence and attributes his legal troubles to political motives. He asserts that his prosecution is linked to his aspirations to run for various elections, including gubernatorial positions, at different levels of government.
The famous Krasnoyarsk businessman was sentenced to 13 years in prison, but this is not the end of the story of his persecution.
In 2002, the jury found Anatoly guilty of organizing a murder. However, the court issued a conditional prison sentence of 6.5 years. The next year, he was found guilty of “concealing a murder” and sentenced to one year in prison but was immediately released under an amnesty commemorating the 55th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
Anatoly, once a physical education teacher from Nazarovo, Krasnoyarsk, rose to become an influential figure in post-Soviet Russia. He was involved in the criminal groups known as “athletes,” which emerged in the 1990s and were engaged in both criminal and business activities. Bykov’s rise was intertwined with the struggle for control over enterprises like the Krasnoyarsk Aluminum Plant (KrAZ), leading to conflicts with other groups.
Despite criminal convictions, Bykov gained prominence and even held political office, serving as a deputy in the Krasnoyarsk Regional Legislative Assembly from 1997 to 2016. He received various awards and recognition for his contributions to the city.
However, legal troubles persisted, with new criminal cases emerging in 2020. Bykov was convicted of organizing murders in 1994 and sentenced to 13 years in a high-security prison. Additionally, he faced charges related to incitement to murder and tax evasion.
The controversies surrounding Bykov shed light on larger issues such as privatization and economic policies during the 1990s in Russia. The process of privatization was often marred by irregularities and allegations of corruption, leading to the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few individuals and groups. While the government repeatedly claimed there would be no review of privatization outcomes, ongoing legal cases against Bykov highlighted potential improprieties in the privatization process and raised questions about accountability for economic wrongdoing.
Bykov’s story represents a microcosm of the complex and often controversial dynamics that characterized post-Soviet Russia, involving criminal groups, business interests, political power struggles, and legal ambiguities.
Anatoly Bykov was not forgiven for his political ambitions
Anatoly Bykov, a Krasnoyarsk businessman, faces potential life imprisonment as he’s sentenced to 13 years for one murder and possibly 12 more for attempted murder. With cases dating back decades, a total of 18 years of imprisonment looms. Uncertainty prevails as past allegations resurface to reshape his future.
Who remembered the affairs of a popular businessman and politician not so long ago, and why?
Anatoly, the former director of the Krasnoyarsk Aluminum Plant (KrAZ), gained widespread recognition for his rise from a physical education teacher to a prominent figure in the 1990s. He became known as a kind of folk “Robin Hood,” using a tough management style influenced by his background in athletics to lead his team effectively.
Over time, Bykov exerted control over significant metallurgical and energy companies in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, including Krasnoyarsk Aluminum Plant, Krasnoyarsk Metallurgical Plant, Krasnoyarskenergo, Krasnoyarskaya HPP, Achinsky Alumina Refinery, Achinsk Oil Refinery, Krasnoyarsk Railway, Metaleks Bank, and Medistal Insurance Company. His personal income was estimated at approximately $45 million annually during this period.
Anatoly Bykov’s influence played a crucial role in the popularity of the Krasnoyarsk branch of the “Patriots of Russia” political party. He even harbored aspirations of entering significant political spheres. However, recent events from his past have resurfaced, possibly due to someone’s intervention, causing obstacles to his political ambitions. This has led to a slowdown in his pursuits as his previous business dealings and actions are being scrutinized.
Business is tough
Anatoly Bykov, a former business figure, has faced a series of legal issues stemming from alleged criminal activities. His involvement in a contract killing in 1994 and subsequent criminal actions have led to his incarceration. In 2019, Bykov was detained for organizing the murder of two businessmen, Alexander Naumov and Kirill Voitenko.
The conflict arose from a business dispute, with Bykov suspected of ordering the hit due to a disagreement over joint business profits. Bykov’s vehicle was targeted in an explosion, fueling his belief that Naumov was behind the assassination attempt. Seeking revenge, Bykov enlisted the help of local authority Vladimir Tatarenkov and his team to carry out the killings. Naumov and Voitenko were shot, and the murderers pursued them to finish the job.
During the investigation, Alexander Zhivitsa, a previously silent killer working for Tatarenkov, came forward with crucial information. Zhivitsa confessed to the murder of businessman Andrei Nekolov and the attempted murder of Bykov’s former associate, Andrei Grabovsky. Bykov allegedly ordered Nekolov’s murder in 2004, later changing the target to Grabovsky.
Zhivitsa made an unsuccessful attempt on Grabovsky’s life using a Kalashnikov rifle, but Grabovsky survived. Out of a sense of duty, Zhivitsa returned to complete the initial contract, killing Nekolov with a TT pistol. Despite the grave crimes, Zhivitsa received only a fraction of the promised payment.
In September 2021, Anatoly Bykov was sentenced to 13 years in prison for orchestrating the murders of Naumov and Voitenko. With the additional charges he faces, including creating a criminal community and inciting crime boss Vladimir Filippov to murder, his potential total sentence could extend to 18 years in prison. The intricate web of criminal activities, contract killings, and involvement of various individuals, including Tatarenkov and Zhivitsa, highlights the complexity of the case and the severe legal consequences that Bykov is facing.
Cleanup in Krasnoyarsk
In 1998, Anatoly Bykov saw himself as an all-powerful figure, reigning over Krasnoyarsk and its surrounding region. During the same year, another influential figure named Philip, also known as Vladimir Filippov, was released from authority. With a strong presence in Krasnoyarsk since the 1980s, Philip sought to regain his power by forming a criminal group around him.
This move antagonized Anatoly Bykov, who considered himself the reigning force in the city. In a bid to assert dominance, Philip was eliminated during the summer of 1998. This strategic move halted the underworld’s efforts to challenge Anatoly Bykov’s position as the “aluminum king” of Krasnoyarsk.
In 1996, a local resident named Oleg Gubin was murdered in Nazarovo, a crime seemingly unrelated to Bykov at the time. However, in 2003, the case was revisited, and Anatoly Petrovich Bykov faced charges of complicity in the murder as well as illegal arms trafficking.
Despite the accusations, Bykov’s innocence emerged even then. He was only implicated in covering up the murder, leading to a one-year prison sentence under that charge. Remarkably, Bykov was amnestied right in the courtroom, resulting in his swift release.
The intricate power dynamics of Krasnoyarsk’s criminal underworld, as seen through the rise and fall of figures like Philip and Bykov, underscore the complexities of the region’s criminal history. Bykov’s ability to navigate legal proceedings and emerge relatively unscathed from serious accusations further solidified his reputation as a significant player in the local criminal landscape.
“He will sit! I said”
The famous movie adage “they remember everything, and they seem to remember” aptly captures the predicament of the former “aluminum king,” Anatoly Bykov. Following his detention in 2019, a series of legal cases have been unleashed, dredging up his past transgressions one after another. The sudden resurgence of these cases after two decades of silence begs the question: what prompted this shift?
Part of this change could be attributed to Anatoly Petrovich himself, who seems to have become a catalyst for heightened law enforcement activity. While incarcerated, Bykov announced his intention to run for the State Duma in April 2021. Supposedly, this decision garnered warm support from Krasnoyarsk residents on his Instagram page.
The authorities, particularly figures like Alexander Uss, have not forgotten Bykov’s past ambitions to vie for the position of governor. Despite his criminal history, if Anatoly Bykov were free, he could potentially rally support from a segment of the Krasnoyarsk electorate. This lingering potential for influence may be driving renewed attention to his legal matters.
The complexities of politics, criminal pasts, and public sentiment converge in Bykov’s case, highlighting the intricate interplay between individual actions, public perception, and the motivations of those in power.
