Lawyer of Chernyak’s alcohol holding is suspected of aiding Russians

Lawyer of Chernyak’s alcohol holding is suspected of aiding Russians

The leading legal adviser of LLC "Global Spirits Europe", which is part of the group of businessman Yevhen Chernyak from Zaporizhzhya, is suspected of aiding the aggressor state (Russia).

This was learned by the editorial staff of 368.media from criminal proceedings No. 42022110000000475 under Part 2 of Art. 28, Part 1, Art. 111-2 of the Criminal Code.

The case is also being investigated for signs of criminal offenses under Part 2 of Art. 110-2, Part 2, Art. 111 of the Criminal Code. According to the investigation, the legal adviser, as part of a group of people, participated in financing the budget of the Russian Federation.

Law enforcement officers established that LLC "Global Spirits Group" was registered on January 4, 2019, by the Cypriot company "Global Spirits AMG Europe Ltd".

The Cypriot company AMG-77 Investment Ltd also owns other Cypriot companies, Oxford AMG-77 Ltd and MSD Marketing System Distribution Ltd, which controlled companies licensing the production of vodka products in the Russian Federation, namely LLC "Rodnik i K," which is part of Global Spirits Russia (in 2022, renamed to "Traditions of Success"), owns the TM "Shustov" and "Morosha"; LLC "Trading House "Megapolis" - a distribution company that is part of Global Spirits Russia/"Traditions of Success"; LLC "Russian North" - a legal entity of a plant in Vologda, until April 2022 owned by Oxford AMG-77 Ltd (99%) and Trading House "Megapolis" (1%); JSC "Feodosia Cognac and Wine Plant," which is part of Global Spirits’ assets in Russia.

LLC "Global Spirits Group" was registered on January 4, 2019, by the Cypriot company "Global Spirits AMG Europe Ltd".

At the same time, the Cypriot company AMG-77 Investment Ltd also owns other Cypriot companies, Oxford AMG-77 Ltd and MSD Marketing System Distribution Ltd, which controlled companies licensing the production of vodka products in the Russian Federation, namely LLC "Rodnik i K," which is part of Global Spirits Russia (in 2022, renamed to "Traditions of Success"), owns the TM "Shustov" and "Morosha"; LLC "Trading House "Megapolis" - a distribution company that is part of Global Spirits Russia/"Traditions of Success"; LLC "Russian North" - a legal entity of a plant in Vologda, until April 2022 owners - Oxford AMG-77 Ltd (99%) and Trading House "Megapolis" (1%); JSC "Feodosia Brandy and Wine Plant," which is part of Global Spirits’ assets in Russia.

All these companies were responsible for the production and distribution of Global Spirits’ alcoholic beverages in Russia after 2014.

In December 2016, the Global Spirits AMG-77 holding (Cyprus) left the shareholders of Oxford AMG-77 Limited, and instead, the 100% shareholder became MSD Marketing System Distribution Ltd. This information is confirmed by the Cyprus Registrar of Companies. Thus, since 2016 "Rodnik i Ko" is not part of the Global Spirits holding but is owned by Oxford AMG-77 Limited, which is owned by MSD Marketing System Distribution Ltd.

Additionally, until 2016, the Global Spirits AMG-77 holding owned 100% of the share capital of Oxford AMG-77 ltd, which owned 99% of the share capital of LLC "Russian North" (RF). On 01.12.2016, the Global Spirits AMG-77 holding (Cyprus) left the shareholders of Oxford AMG-77 ltd (Cyprus), and the 100% shareholder of Oxford AMG-77 Limited (Cyprus) became MSD Marketing System Distribution Ltd. This information is confirmed by the Cyprus Registrar of Companies. Thus, from 01.12.2016, LLC "Russian North" (RF) is not part of the Global Spirits holding but is owned by Oxford AMG-77 ltd, which is owned by MSD Marketing System Distribution, whose ultimate beneficiary is a citizen of Ukraine and the State of Israel. A similar ownership structure was in place in LLC "Quality Standard".

The legal entity that registered the TM "Shustov" in Russia is called GSH Trademarks ltd, and the company also owns the rights to the TM "Khortytsia" in Ukraine. In 2007, the owner of the offshore company was the Cypriot Oxford Amg-77 Limited, as of February 2023 - Global Spirits Amg Europe ltd. At the same time, Global Spirits Amg Europe Ltd has been owned by registrant Signa Consulting Trust Reg since 2021, and in 2020 it was owned by Yevhen Chernyak. Moreover, Global Spirits Amg Europe ltd owns the Ukrainian LLC "Global Spirits Group".

After the start of the war, the legal adviser and the actual owner of the business, being aware of the negative consequences of conducting business on the territory of the aggressor state, acted intentionally, having previously conspired with the financial and commercial directors of the holding, at an unknown time and in an unknown way, re-registered the Russian companies to a trusted person, a citizen of the Russian Federation, Oleksandr Bespalov. Bespalov was the chairman of the board of JSC "Feodosia Cognac and Wine Plant" back in 2020. At the same time, he likely worked at LLC "Trading House "Megapolis". In other words, Bespalov was likely a manager of several companies owned by the Cypriot company, which was already owned by the Chernyak family.

In June 2022, just a month after the "vodka deal of the year," a legal entity that may belong to the Ukrainian group Global Spirits registers the TM "Shustov" on the territory of the Russian Federation, thus the company appears to continue to be present in the Russian market.

The legal entity that registered the TM "Shustov" in Russia is called GSH Trademarks ltd, and the company also owns the rights to the TM "Khortytsia" in Ukraine. In 2007, the owner of GSH Trademarks ltd was the Cypriot Oxford Amg-77 Limited, as of February 2023 - Global Spirits Amg Europe ltd. At the same time, Global Spirits Amg Europe Ltd has been owned by registrant Signa Consulting Trust Reg since 2021, and in 2020 it was owned by Yevhen Chernyak. Moreover, Global Spirits Amg Europe ltd owns the Ukrainian LLC "Global Spirits Group".

Russian companies paid 1.54 billion rubles to the aggressor’s budget. Currently, LLC "Global Spirits Europe" is registered to a citizen of Kazakhstan, Oksana Skorina (Bratyakova).

Representatives of Chernyak previously indicated that the Russian companies "Megapolis," "Rodnik i K," "Russian North" have not belonged to GLOBAL SPIRITS since 2014. According to this statement, Yevhen Chernyak has no connection to the listed companies. At the same time, it is stated that Chernyak has been regularly engaged in volunteering and charity to support Ukrainians affected by the war since 2014. A letter about exiting the Russian market is also provided. It states that the GLOBAL SPIRITS group of companies has a "pro-Ukrainian position," which led to it being sanctioned by the Russian Federation.

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