Russian official who bought property in South Florida, was fired

Igor Zorin Photo: Federal Communications Agency

The general director of the federal state unitary enterprise Russian Broadcasting and Alert Networks (RSVO), Igor Zorin, was dismissed after the prosecutor submitted a violation of anti-corruption legislation. In the name of Zorin were recorded several apartments in Miami condominium Trump Palace. The property, worth a total of $9 million, was acquired with the help of a former FSB officer, now the head of the board of directors of the Alfa-Anticriminal security company and the founder of a law enforcement motorcycle club. Spetsznaz
(Spetsnaz Law enforcement Motorcycle club) Svyatoslav Mangushev.

Investigating the publication Miami Herald it is also said that Zorin had business relations with the security company of the former Russian intelligence officer Svyatoslav Mangushev, who now lives in South Florida. Zorin hired the company Mangushev as a contractor for the RSVO company. The total amount of these contracts was about $ 3 million.

Mangushev served in the special forces of the FSB and after moving to the United States founded the Russian-American biker club. Spetsnaz (Spetsnaz Law enforcement Motorcycle club), whose members are people from the law enforcement structures of Russia and the United States. This club asked for official recognition of the Russian club "Night Wolves", which is closely associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin and came under sanctions from the United States and Europe. It turned out that the club Spetsnaz closed after journalists approached them Miami Herald.

In 2012 and 2013, Zorin bought two cottages for a total of $ 4,5 million, and a property worth $ 1,5 million, bought by Mangushev, was rewritten in his name. Zorin also spent $ 3.3 million on a mansion Bal Harbor.

At the same time, Zorin did not indicate data on his purchases in the state disclosure of information. His documents state that he received $ 75 thousand, which does not cover the maintenance of apartments. To accumulate $ 9 million, he would have to save all his salary for almost 130 years.

The Russian government is replete with kleptocracy, and the state of South Florila with its tropical climate and non-transparent real estate market has become a haven for such corrupt officials.

Through the shell company, Zorin also owned a house worth $ 147 thousand in a building in Hollywood. Now the apartments are managed by a real estate agent, Vadim Yushkevich, associated with Mangushev. According to him, this premise was sold for $ 260 thousand in August.

In order for law enforcement agencies not to be interested in their deals, Zorin and Mangushev came up with a complicated scheme. Firstly, real estate transactions in Miami, Mr. Zorin were committed for cash. Secondly, realtors made deals not directly with Zorin, but with commercial firms belonging to him. This provided a minimum level of anonymity in the transaction. Thirdly, the companies on which the real estate was registered were not registered immediately to Zorin - they were opened by Mangushev. After the company's account was opened in the bank, it was re-registered to Zorin. Thus, Zorin circumvented the bank principle. Know Your Clientwhich obliges banks to find out detailed information about each company that opens an account in their bank.

Information about the relationship of Zorin with Mangushev to the notice of the Russian procurators brought a non-profit organization Transparency International.

The organization was surprised that the prosecutor's office listened to their information.

“Allegations of specific violations of anti-corruption laws by Zorin have been confirmed,” V.G. Volkov, Russia’s assistant prosecutor general, said in a letter last month Transparency International. “An indictment response is currently being considered.”

“This is one of the rarest cases when the Prosecutor General’s Office agrees with our conclusions,” wrote Ilya Shumanov, deputy director Transparency International.

Perhaps, he said, the Russian authorities are trying to make Zorin an example for other officials and encourage them to get rid of illegal real estate. Russian newspaper Merchant reports that Zorin is unlikely to face criminal charges.

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