Yevhen Anisimov: The criminal "watchman" of Zaporizhzhya is returning

Yevhen Anisimov: The criminal "watchman" of Zaporizhzhya is returning

In the Zaporizhzhya region today, there are probably no people who haven’t heard about Yevhen Anisimov.

This figure was called a "supervisor" of the Zaporizhzhya region in the media during the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych. His partner was attributed to the well-known criminal authority Yura Yenakiyevskyi (Yuriy Ivanyushchenko), and rumors circulated that no decision in the local regional council was made without his consent. Considering Yevhen’s own criminal past (nicknamed "Anisim" in reputable circles), it’s not surprising that on his path to the unofficial position of the "master of the Zaporizhzhya region," he actively used illegal tricks he learned back in the racketeering 90s.

The extent of his influence on events in the region was truly colossal, but that was before the start of Euromaidan, which displaced many supporters of the Party of Regions and their accustomed seats. However, it seems that Anisimov does not want to lose the schemes he had established in the Zaporizhzhya region for years. Recently, information emerged that he is gathering strength again and intends to reclaim what he had lost. To better understand who Yevhen Anisimov is, one needs to delve into his past, where there are many interesting and even shocking facts.

How It All Began

Yevhen Anisimov is quite a private person, and learning something about him is very difficult. His press service diligently hides some facts from his biography, but it’s impossible to hide everything — too many people he "wronged" on his way to his financial position. So, here’s what we managed to learn about him. Yevhen was born in April 1975 in Zaporizhzhya. He received his secondary special education at the Zaporizhzhya Metallurgical College. According to official biography, his first job was in 1999 when he became the director of the company "Diamant." According to the documentation, its founder is Oleksandr Anisimov (Yevhen’s father). It is noteworthy that later this company was headed by Anisimov’s close associate and concurrently former deputy of the Zaporizhzhya City Council from the "Party of Regions," Oleksandr Valykov. Yevhen’s younger brother, Vyacheslav, was also a deputy of this city council from the "Party of Regions."

Starting in 2001, Yevhen Anisimov worked as the general director of TPC "Favorit" (before this, the structure was headed by his friend Sasha Valykov). The main activities of "Favorit" included retail trade, restaurant activities, and leasing of property. Among other things, this company owned the "Oleksandrivskyi" market in Zaporizhzhya. In fact, this company played the role of a local "legal" racketeer controlling and "protecting" local businesses. In 2005, Yevhen moved to the company "Terminal-2005" as the deputy general director for commercial affairs. According to official information, this enterprise deals with fueling, ore and metal trade, and also produces abrasives.

Yevhen Anisimov

By 2010, Yevhen Anisimov was more perceived as the younger business partner of the well-known businessman Serhiy Yevtushenko. Together they were involved in passenger transportation projects and had joint interests in local Zaporizhzhya markets. After Yevtushenko left Zaporizhzhya, Anisimov engaged in buying up bankrupt firms (not without his help, of course) and building his business empire.

Under the Wing of the "Family"

Despite the fact that officially Yevhen Anisimov was a private entrepreneur, he had extensive connections in the government circles as well as in criminal ones. To gain authority in the criminal circles, he even gave himself the title of "supervisor" of the Zaporizhzhya region and the nickname "Anisim." This was quite risky on his part, as according to thievish laws, "supervisors" can only be experienced "thieves in law" who are "crowned" by the decision of the criminal layer.

By 2010, Yevhen Anisimov was at the head of one of the large organized criminal groups in Zaporizhzhya, which was engaged in small racketeering and extortion. Everything drastically changed, however, when Anisim was "taken into account" by the well-known criminal authority "Yura Yenakiyevskyi." 

Yuriy Ivanyushchenko

In fact, Ivanyushchenko made Anisimov the representative of his interests in the Zaporizhzhya region. Thanks to the connections of an influential patron, Yevhen Anisimov’s affairs began to rise rapidly. He even got slightly "carried away," desiring to take control of the entire turnover of the criminal Zaporizhzhya business. To achieve his goals, "Anisim" forced Andriy Hrechkovskyi (called "Greek" in criminal circles) to work for him. It is said that "Greek," who headed a large OCG (about 100 fighters), was personally obliged to Anisimov for "saving" him from prison for the murder of the Crowbar restaurant director Volodymyr Kuzmenko. 

Together with Hrechkovskyi, he managed to build a unique system of "bandit taxation."

Firstly, to work quietly and avoid attacks from the criminal world, businessmen had to pay money for "protection."

Secondly, VAT refunds for financial and production activities of enterprises could only be received if work was conducted through firms controlled by Anisimov, with the criminal element taking as much as 25% of the VAT refund.

Thirdly, to keep enterprises operational, necessary payments had to be made through intermediaries appointed by Anisimov.

Fourthly, sources of income connected with shadow turnover (markets, kiosks, route transportation, parking) were under Anisimov’s full control, allowing him to launder his illegal financial gains.

Fifthly, funds that Yevhen withdrew from legal turnover at various levels were funneled through his own conversion centers. In fact, his "offices" were the only ones in Zaporizhzhya where one could illegally cash financial resources.

Of course, this scheme wasn’t managed by Anisimov himself, who didn’t even have a higher education, but rather by his friends — general director of "Diamant" enterprise Oleksandr Valykov (already mentioned), as well as Vladyslav Nechytaylo.

For a long time, law enforcement agencies did not react to what was happening because of the immunity purchased from the then head of the MIA in Zaporizhzhya region, Volodymyr Serba. 

Volodymyr Serba

Anisimov was doing well until a series of problems descended upon Yura Yenakiyevskyi, causing him to cease supporting him. His "power group" included the aforementioned Volodymyr Serba, head of the Zaporizhzhya DDIA Ihor Bohdanov, head of the department for combating economic crimes Serhiy Natakhin, and head of the criminal investigation department Volodymyr Herman. In political circles, he also had strong political support — Olena Bondarenko, Oleksandr Valykov, Andriy Netreba, Oleh Serovskyi, and his younger brother Vyacheslav Anisimov. It is said he was even personally supported by the now-fugitive President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych. Anisimov was also attributed with a close friendship and partnership with former Zaporizhzhya mayor Oleksandr Sin (nicknamed "Koreychyk"). It is said that it was "Anisim" who persuaded Oleksandr Sin to move from the opposition "Batkivshchyna" (from which he was elected as mayor) to the predatory "Party of Regions." 

Oleksandr Sin

It’s noteworthy that Anisimov started his criminal activities with the "exploitation" of the slag heaps of the "Dniprospetsstal" enterprise. With loyal Volodymyr Serba coming to power, he decided not to share with local entities anymore. He even announced to his criminal "partner-competitors" (Kaltsev, Chernyak, "Demyk," "Sokyra," "Franz") that from now on he would work directly with "daddy" (Viktor Yanukovych) and would personally deliver $1 million to him every month, while the rest of the group could divide among themselves, giving him ("Anisim") a solid percentage. Over time, Yevhen achieved that they shared not just a portion of kickbacks but all business profits.

In mid-August 2013, an attack was made on Yevhen Anisimov. Near the "Rybatskyi Stan" restaurant in Zaporizhzhya, his convoy was fired upon with two machine guns. About 20 bullets hit the vehicle, but none hit its target, and "Anisim" was unharmed. During the investigation, two versions of the incident were considered. The first was an assassination attempt, and the second was intimidation. According to expert conclusions, Anisimov’s life was saved by a navigator hanging at the chest level of the driver that took the bullet intended for the businessman. About 50 prominent figures (businessmen, politicians) whom he had managed to antagonize were suspected of the assassination attempt. The attack did not surprise anyone, as "blood feud" has long been adopted in Zaporizhzhya, and Anisimov had made enough enemies. But his "sworn friends," especially Yevhen Chernyak, claimed it was a simple staging. Some of them will be discussed below.

Influential Enemies

Volodymyr Kaltsev — former deputy head of the Zaporizhzhya Regional State Administration and, concurrently, head of the Alexander holding. Volodymyr and his brother Serhiy (MP from the "Party of Regions") have long been enemies of Anisimov. At one time, his subordinates seized the Kaltsevs’ office on Patriotic Street and constantly organized attacks on their firm from the criminal world and law enforcement.

Serhiy Valter — former mayor of Melitopol. Experts say that "Anisim" set law enforcement officers on Melitopol’s city council with searches, as a result of which almost half of the mayor’s team was arrested. In February 2013, he was suspended from office for bribery. It is worth noting that even in Soviet times, Valter was imprisoned four times, which is why he possessed colossal authority in criminal circles. That’s why Yevhen Anisimov "removed" him with the help of government structures, not criminals.

Yevhen Chernyak — businessman, owner of the alcohol holding Global Spirits, main trademark — "Khortytsia." In 2010, Anisimov blackmailed Chernyak, demanding 50% of the shares in one of his enterprises (read more about Yevhen Chernyak in the article Yevhen Chernyak. "Vodka King" of all Ukraine ).

Hennadiy Fuks — former deputy head of the Zaporizhzhya Regional State Administration. At one time, Anisimov demanded 5 million euros from him, threatening to open a serious criminal case against him in case of non-payment. These threats forced Fuks to flee to Israel for permanent residence, where he still lives. In Zaporizhzhya, a criminal case was initiated against him, which could not be completed due to his absence in the country.

Brothers Sydorenko — Volodymyr and Valeriy are famous boxers from the city of Enerhodar. They were his main opponents in the capture of power in the city. Anisimov’s people tried to remove them from the game by arresting one of the people close to them for illegal possession of weapons (which was planted by the police during the arrest).

Ihor Dvoretskyi and Artur Abdinov — former owners of the enterprises "Industrialbank" and "Zaporizhstal." Fighters under Anisimov’s control, with the permission of local authorities pampered by him, completely blocked the work of their enterprises, forcing them to sell them to Yevhen’s associates.

Volodymyr Kokoylo — his company "Ost-West" underwent a massive attack from structures controlled by Anisimov. Here "comrades" of Yevhen’s flared up with their fantasy. To discredit Kokoylo, Anisimov’s people made a film about him called "Jackals," accusing him of corruption, abuses, and numerous legal violations. Later, the court refuted these accusations, but the "seeds of war" had already been sown and the conflict between them continues to this day. 

In October 2013, Anisimov was detained at the "Boryspil" airport while attempting to flee the country. He was arrested and placed in custody in a detention facility. According to the investigation materials, he faced about 12 years in prison on charges of extortion, creation of an organized criminal group, participation in attempted crimes, and laundering of illegally obtained income. However, under the cover of the "Dignity Revolution" he managed to get out of the detention facility and disappear from law enforcement. He was even declared internationally wanted by the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Recently, his name disappeared from the lists of those wanted by law enforcement, and it is rumored that he was even seen in his hometown of Zaporizhzhya. This can only mean one thing — the former "supervisor" of the Zaporizhzhya region is taking action again. 

Dmytro Samofalov, for SKELET-info