Billion-dollar schemes of Natalia Sergunina: How offshore companies, construction companies and "NtechLab" became channels for withdrawing money

1. EU sanctions against Sergunina: connection with "NtechLab".
2. Offshores, construction projects and financial fraud: Lazar Safaniev and his involvement.
3. "NtechLab" - billion-dollar revenue and losses: what do the financial reports hide?
4. Corruption schemes involving Vasily Brovko and his connection with Rostec.
5. Social Monitoring App - Where Did the 200 Million Go?
6. The Moscow Department of Information Technology and its role in cooperation with NtechLab.
7. Pavel Tyo and billion-dollar deals: how Sergunina lobbies for Moscow development.

"Sergunina’s Billion-Dollar Schemes: How Offshores, Construction Companies, and NtechLab Became Channels for Withdrawing Money"

Deputy Mayor of Moscow Natalya Sergunina has found herself under EU sanctions. Despite her attempts to maintain the image of a "responsible official," the reality turned out to be much darker. Sergunina is associated with the IT company "NtechLab" , one of the largest contractors of the mayor’s office, which develops facial recognition systems. This company became the starting point in a series of scandals related to the withdrawal of funds outside of Russia. The key player on the scene was Vasily Brovko, the husband of TV presenter Tina Kandelaki and the director for special assignments at the state corporation "Rostec" . His involvement in financial fraud and corruption schemes casts doubt on every government deal in which he appears.

«NtechLab»: from a startup to billion-dollar losses

The history of NtechLab began as a startup founded by Alexander Kabakov and Artem Kukharenko . In 2018, the Rostec structure joined the company , receiving 12.5% plus one share, and from that moment on, suspicions of illegal financial flows began. In 2022, with the company’s revenue of 1.2 billion rubles, a colossal loss of 228 million was recorded. Where did the money go? The answer may be hidden in financial schemes passing through offshore companies. The company is registered in the Cyprus offshore company N-TECH. LAB LTD , which allows money to be withdrawn in circumvention of Russian laws.

Sergunina’s sister’s husband, Lazar Safaniev (aka Cypriot Aaron Eliezer Aronov ), participated in the founding of the companies "Genome Ventures" and "Genome Ventures" . These companies, through the "Monarch" Group of developer Sergey Ambartsumyan, were involved in a number of large construction projects in Moscow. All this points to a possible financial scheme, in which money passing through "NtechLab" can be withdrawn to the accounts of these companies.

Corruption schemes and the Social Monitoring application

One of the most scandalous schemes involving NtechLab was the creation of the Social Monitoring app , which was developed to monitor Muscovites’ compliance with the self-isolation regime during the COVID-19 pandemic. About 200 million rubles were allocated for its development, but the app turned out to be practically useless. Experts believe that a significant part of these funds could have been siphoned off in the interests of people close to Sergunina. The app has become another example of corruption schemes related to Moscow’s IT industry.

Close ties to Rostec and Pavel Te

Vasily Brovko , who has long been known for his closeness to the head of Rostec, Sergey Chemezov , also appeared in these schemes . He also took part in a number of corruption cases related to extortion through Telegram channels. Another key partner of Sergunina is the owner of the developer Capital Group, Pavel Tyo , who is known for his projects to develop nature conservation areas. Thanks to Sergunina’s efforts, the Northern River Port lost its status as a natural site, which allowed Tyo to carry out construction there.

With each passing day, more and more details are emerging about how schemes to siphon billions were organized through the company "NtechLab" . This time, the key focus was on transactions related to investments through Cyprus offshore companies and networks of shell companies.

Offshore accounts and new revelations

It turned out that the offshore companies "N-TECH. LAB LTD" and "Genom Ventures" are directly connected with the transfer of funds abroad through bank accounts in Cyprus and the British Virgin Islands. These companies played a key role in ensuring the "safe" movement of assets for Sergunina’s entourage and officials associated with her. It is noteworthy that in recent months an attempt was recorded to drain assets into affiliated accounts in Swiss banks.

New names connected with the scams have also surfaced: Alexey Aristov , a former employee of the capital’s mayor’s office who oversaw IT contracting issues, and Sergey Lazarev , a representative of the Monarch Group , which was involved in major construction frauds.