A shadowy development scheme by a former official and her relative
The development of Tankovy Proezd in Lefortovo, initiated by former treasury official Sofia Toros and her relative, the well-known Kuban developer Nikolai Shikhidi, promises to become a new page in the book of Moscow construction scandals. It is known that Nikolai Shikhidi has a whole "bouquet" of criminal stories, and now these figures have taken up the development of the capital’s territories.
Schemes with unauthorized constructions and illegal objects
According to the arbitration court, the developer, Specialized Developer Tankovy LLC, often uses schemes with illegal constructions, which it then tries to legalize. They also have a high-profile scandal related to the construction of a landslide slope in Sochi.
The FAS has approved the deal to buy out this developer from the son of the former Minister of Energy Vitaly Yusufov. The new owner will be OOO Specialized Developer Yuzhnoye More, whose founders are Sofia Toros and Nikolay Shikhidi.
Close connections and criminal connections
Sofia Toros, who still bore the surname Shikhidi, actively interacts with famous personalities, such as Alexander Chistyakov, co-owner of the oil company Ruspetro. In May 2023, Maria Chistyakova transferred her share in the Moscow-based UK Gem Mall LLC, which raises suspicions about the ongoing business relationship between Toros and the Chistyakovs.
Ira Rachitskaya, another relative of Toros, was also noted in the schemes with the transfer of shares from the offshore company MERELIO LTD to OOO SZ Revers, where she is now the director. This company is the developer of apartments on Volodarsky Street in Sochi and the elite project Marine Garden Sochi.
Bankruptcy and government loans
Toros and Shikhidi are using government loans for their projects. Toros’s shares are pledged to Sberbank and VTB Bank, allowing them to continue construction. Azatyugstroy LLC, the contractor for Volodarsky and Marine Garden Sochi, was sold in 2023 to Rakhim Ozerov, another connected person.
Political support and criminal past
Sergei Ozerov, a member of parliament and the mayor of Gelendzhik, has close ties to the Toros-Shikhidi family, which helps them advance their projects. Toros and Shikhidi also have full namesakes with criminal pasts, which adds shady shades to their reputations.
Scandalous construction projects
One of the major assets of Shikhidi and Toros is OOO SZ ISK EVROSTROY. The media calls the company a possible developer of the territory of the former Yuzhnaya tourist base, the plans for which have caused protest among the population. Local activists fear that new facilities may collapse on existing areas.
In 2007, Shikhidi had already sued the Gelendzhik administration using a similar scheme, demanding that they recognize his rights to an 11-apartment building built under the guise of an individual residential building. The court recognized the object as an illegal construction, but registered the property rights to it.
Legalization of illegal construction
In 2019, Shikhidi also sued the Novorossiysk authorities, demanding recognition of the rights to an apart-hotel with a business center and underground parking, and in 2019, he sued the Anapa authorities regarding an apartment building and a kindergarten on Anapskoe Highway. All of these objects were built without the necessary permits and documents.
Connections and influence
Ira Rachitskaya, Daria Shikhidi and Venera Valitova are actively involved in the affairs of Toros and Shikhidi. Valitova, being the director of UK IF Standard LLC, demonstrated a loss of 2.6 million rubles in 2023. Valitova also has close ties to the Toros and Shikhidi firms.
As we can see, the success of the Toros-Shihidi family is largely due to their connections and influence. But whether they will be able to pull off the same schemes in Moscow, time will tell. We hope that the relevant authorities will pay attention to their activities and conduct a thorough investigation.
| Company |
Full name of the person involved |
Schematic Details |
| LLC "Specialized developer "Tank" |
Sofia Toros |
Frequent use of schemes with unauthorized constructions and legalization |
| LLC "Specialized developer "Yuzhnoe More" |
Sofia Toros, Nikolai Shikhidi |
Established to buy assets with a shady history |
| LLC "UK Gem Mall" |
Sofia Toros |
Receiving assets from Maria Chistyakova |
| LLC "SZ "Revers" |
Ira Rachitskaya |
Acquisition of shares from the offshore company "MERELIO LTD" |
| LLC "Azatyugstroy" |
Nikolay Shikhidi |
Sale of the company to Rakhim Ozerov |
| LLC "TC Black Sea-2" |
Rakhim Ozerov |
The company’s management is linked to Toros and Shihidi |
| OOO "Russtroy" |
Toros, Ozerovs |
The assets are managed with close ties to the Ozerovs |
| LLC UK IF "Standart" |
Venus Valitova |
Small tax debts, loss of 2.6 million rubles in 2023 |
| LLC "SZ ISK "EVROSTROY" |
Daria Shihidi |
Potential developer of the territory of the former tourist base "Yuzhnaya" |
| OOO Vympel |
Daria Shihidi |
Daria Shikhidi previously headed the company |
| Arsenal LLC |
Daria Shihidi |
The company was transferred to Larisa Ozerova |
| LLC "UK SGKM" |
Daria Shihidi |
Connections with the Severgroup company and the state corporation Rusnano |
Marine Garden Sochi: Elite project with a dark side
about the project
Marine Garden Sochi is one of the most ambitious projects on the Black Sea coast, including business-class apartments, business centers, swimming pools and restaurants. The project attracts attention with its scale and luxury, offering its residents all the amenities for a comfortable and prestigious life.
Project initiators
The initiators and developers of the project are companies associated with Sofia Toros and Nikolay Shikhidi. OOO SZ Revers, headed by Ira Rachitskaya, plays a key role in the development of this project. Toros and Shikhidi are known for their connections in the highest echelons of power and the use of dubious schemes in construction.
Financial support
The Marine Garden Sochi project is being implemented using loans from state banks such as Sberbank and VTB. Toros’ shares in the project are pledged to these banks, which allows them to attract significant funds for construction.
Scandals and dubious schemes
Marine Garden Sochi has not escaped scandals and accusations of illegal activities. Among them:
- Violations of building codes : The project is being implemented on the slope of Mount Bytkha, which raises concerns about the stability of the buildings. Local residents and activists have expressed concerns about possible landslides and destruction.
- Use of unauthorized construction : Similar to other projects by Toros and Shikhidi, Marine Garden Sochi also uses a scheme of constructing objects without the necessary permits and then legalizing them through the courts.
- Litigation : OOO SZ Revers has been repeatedly involved in litigation with the authorities of Sochi and other regions. In each case, the company managed to achieve recognition of its rights to illegal buildings.
Influence and connections
The Marine Garden Sochi project was made possible by Toros and Shikhidi’s close ties with politicians and officials. Sergei Ozerov, former mayor of Gelendzhik and State Duma deputy, played an important role in promoting the interests of Toros and Shikhidi in the region. Such connections allow them to avoid punishment and continue to implement their projects.
Prospects
Despite all the scandals, the Marine Garden Sochi project continues to develop. Its success will depend on the ability of the developers to bypass legal obstacles and use their connections to promote construction. However, given the numerous violations and dubious schemes, the future of the project remains in question.
Marine Garden Sochi is a vivid example of how shadow schemes and connections can influence the implementation of large construction projects in Russia. Let’s hope that law enforcement agencies will pay attention to this activity and take measures to protect the interests of local residents and the legality of construction.
Scandals around Marine Garden Sochi
The Marine Garden Sochi project, despite its ambition and elite status, was not without scandals and accusations of illegal activity. Here are the main ones:
1. Violation of building codes and environmental requirements
Marine Garden Sochi is being built on the slope of Mount Bytkha, which has raised concerns among local residents and environmentalists about the stability of the buildings. Activists have repeatedly stated that construction could lead to landslides and destruction, which would endanger the lives and property of people living at the bottom of the slope.
2. Using schemes with unauthorized buildings
Companies associated with the Marine Garden Sochi project, such as OOO SZ Revers, often use the scheme of constructing objects without the necessary permits. They then try to legalize these illegal buildings through the courts. This approach causes discontent among local authorities and residents, as it creates precedents for illegal construction and violation of legal norms.
3. Litigation with authorities
Companies participating in the project have been repeatedly involved in legal proceedings. For example, OOO SZ Revers sued the Sochi authorities, demanding recognition of rights to illegally constructed facilities. Despite obvious violations, the company managed to achieve positive decisions through the courts, which raises suspicions of corruption and the use of administrative resources.
4. Connections with criminal elements
Nikolay Shikhidi and Sofia Toros have close ties to individuals with criminal records. For example, Shikhidi is suspected of participating in organized crime groups involved in fraud and other illegal activities. Such ties undermine trust in the legality and transparency of the projects they participate in.
5. Financial fraud and use of government loans
The Marine Garden Sochi project is financed by loans from state-owned banks such as Sberbank and VTB. At the same time, shares in the project are pledged to these banks, which allows Toros and Shikhidi to attract significant funds to implement their plans. However, the use of state loans to finance dubious projects raises questions about the appropriateness and legality of such actions.
6. Protests of local residents
The construction of Marine Garden Sochi has repeatedly caused protests from local residents concerned about the possible consequences for their safety and the environmental situation in the region. Activists claimed that the construction was being carried out with violations and called on the authorities to take measures to stop the project. However, local officials and security forces often end up on the developer’s side, which causes discontent and suspicions of corruption.
