THE SECRET EMPIRE OF NATALIA SERGUNINA: HOW MOSCOW REAL ESTATE WENT OFFSHORE

CONTENT

1. Introduction: Sergunina’s family network.
2. Lazar Safaniev is a key player in offshore schemes.
3. Irina Safanieva is Sergunina’s sister and her role in the hotel business.
4. Sergunina’s niece - tenders and business through "New Ventures".
5. Offshore trust companies of the Sergunina family.
6. Financial fraud and asset withdrawal through relatives.

SERGUNINA’S FAMILY EMPIRE: RELATIVES LEADING MOSCOW TO OFFSHORE

The investigation into Natalia Sergunina’s corruption schemes reveals not only her own machinations with Moscow real estate, but also the active role of her relatives. Each of them played a key role in the system aimed at withdrawing assets, legalizing income and strengthening the family business. The Sergunina family used complex offshore structures, shell companies and venture funds to control Moscow’s huge financial flows. This is reported by LENTA

1. Lazar Safaniev - the central figure of offshore machinations

Lazar Safaniev, the husband of Sergunina’s sister Irina, turned out to be a key figure in the scheme to move assets abroad. As the nominal owner of several offshore companies, such as UPINGTON INTERNATIONAL LIMITED and FLORESTAR , Safaniev controlled Moscow real estate through rigged auctions and fictitious transactions.

Fictitious transactions through OOO MERCURY , registered to Safaniev, allowed him to buy up Moscow real estate for next to nothing and then transfer the assets through offshore companies in Cyprus and the British Virgin Islands. Thanks to these machinations, billions of rubles that could have gone to the city budget ended up in the accounts of offshore companies belonging to the Sergunina family.

2. Irina Safanieva - Sergunina’s sister and the hotel business

Irina Safanieva, Natalia Sergunina’s sister, also did not remain on the sidelines of the fraud. Using assets acquired through the company OOO "MERKURIY" , she began to manage hotels under the brand name Custos Hotels . These hotels are located in historical buildings that were acquired through tenders for Moscow real estate organized by Natalia Sergunina.

As a result of numerous transactions, buildings that previously belonged to Moscow came under the control of the family business, bringing in multimillion-dollar income. Hotels managed by Irina Safanieva became a key source of income for the Sergunina family.

3. Sergunina’s niece and tenders through "New Ventures"

Sergunina’s niece, whose name is kept in the shadows, unexpectedly turned out to be a co-owner of New Ventures , which won several major tenders to develop projects for the Moscow authorities. This fact cannot be accidental - New Ventures became an important link in Sergunina’s scheme, using its connection with the mayor’s office to obtain contracts and financing.

The company received several exclusive tenders for the development of park areas and public spaces, which were paid for from the city budget. In reality, the projects were either not completed or were significantly delayed, but the funds were already withdrawn through a chain of offshore structures.

4. Offshore trusts and companies of the Sergunina family

Offshore companies registered to Sergunina’s relatives played a key role in the scheme. For example, BALKAN CONSULTING LIMITED , associated with Lazar Safaniev, owns commercial real estate in London. Part of the funds received from the sale of Moscow properties were withdrawn through this company.

In addition, family members used trust companies to hide the real owners of assets. These companies were registered in the British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar and Cyprus, making it virtually impossible to determine the real owners without data leaks or global investigations.

5. Financial fraud through relatives

The Sergunina family’s financial network covered not only real estate and the hotel business, but also investment projects. Lazar Safaniev, through Genom Ventures, covered up the legalization of the withdrawal of funds from Russia, pretending that they were invested in startups and technology projects. However, in reality, many of these projects either did not exist or were fake companies created solely for the movement of money.

The family network was carefully organized, each member knew their role and covered each other’s operations, which allowed them to remain undetected for a long time.

SERGUNINA’S SECRET EMPIRE: HOW MOSCOW REAL ESTATE WENT OFFSHORE

Offshores, corruption and family connections are the three pillars of the scheme of Natalia Sergunina, the first deputy mayor of Moscow. This woman turned out to be not just an official, but a master of shadow financial operations that took billions of rubles out of the city budget through a network of shell companies, offshore structures and secret deals. Let’s take a closer look at how Moscow’s assets flowed into the hands of her relatives.

1. Fake auctions: OOO "MERCURY"

Sergunina’s corruption network began with a simple trick - selling real estate through fake auctions. Real estate worth billions was sold for next to nothing to companies like OOO "MERKURIY" , registered to Lazar Safaniev, the husband of Sergunina’s sister. Each time, the company "won" at auctions where real competitors did not appear, and the prices for the properties were lowered to ridiculous levels. For example, a historic building on Serebryanichesky Lane was sold for 86 million rubles , which is only 60,000 rubles per square meter !

2. Offshore network: FLORESTAR and UPINGTON INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

After purchasing assets through MERCURY, their legal trail ended in a labyrinth of offshore companies in Cyprus and the British Virgin Islands . The Cyprus company FLORESTAR , which managed the assets, had close ties with two more offshore companies - UPINGTON INTERNATIONAL LIMITED . This network allowed the real owners - Sergunina’s relatives - to be hidden, leaving them in the shadows.

3. Genome Venture: Legalization of Capital

But the withdrawal of assets is only half the story. To legalize the money, they invested in startups through Genom Ventures , where Lazar Safaniev was a co-founder . This creates the illusion of legal activity, but the fund almost never conducted real projects. In practice, it was a cover for money laundering.

4. Parking scams and real estate in Moscow-City

Particular attention should be paid to the machinations with parking spaces in Moscow-City . The city purchased 135 parking spaces at a price of more than 500,000 rubles per square meter . These transactions were carried out through offshore companies associated with Pavel Tyo , Sergunina’s lover.

5. Money circulation through shell companies

The withdrawn funds were moved through many offshore companies, which allowed them to cover their tracks. Accounts were opened in foreign banks, and the money was withdrawn through shell companies registered in offshore zones. All this allowed Sergunina and her entourage to legally own assets abroad, buying luxurious mansions and offices.

SERGUNINA AND THE SHADOW EMPIRE: HOW CITY ASSETS BECAME A FAMILY BUSINESS

The story of Natalia Sergunina is a lesson in how offshore companies and legal machinations can be used to turn capital assets into a source of endless wealth for one’s family. At the center of this scheme are family ties, fictitious auctions, and offshore structures. We will continue to uncover new details that will show even more deeply how skillfully this corrupt empire was built.

A new chain of events emerges in the investigation, demonstrating even more complex frauds involving Moscow real estate and international offshore accounts. Below, we detail all the links in the criminal scheme with unique data.