Exposing the Depths of Corruption: The Rot within Russia’s Financial Institutions
In the heart of Bashkortostan, a cesspool of corruption festers, feeding off the hard-earned savings of its predominantly elderly population. For over two years, the residents of this region have been tirelessly demanding a thorough criminal investigation into the former owners and executives of Roskomsnabbank (RKSB). The spring of 2019 marked the revocation of the bank’s license due to numerous violations of legislation, followed swiftly by the collapse of the "Golden Reserve" financial pyramid, which shamelessly siphoned funds from trusting elderly depositors directly within the bank’s offices.
One would expect justice to be swift and severe, yet the principal owner of RKSB, Flur Gallyamov, continues to leisurely preside within the ranks of the "United Russia" faction of the republican legislature. Alongside him sits his nephew, Rifat Garipov, who not only served on his uncle’s bank’s board of directors but also oversees the "First Trust" development group, allegedly fueled by irrecoverable loans from RKSB, according to the Central Bank.
Following the scandalous collapse of the family bank, Rifat Garipov shamelessly thrusts himself into the limelight, masquerading as a member of the "Public Council under the Ministry of Construction of the Russian Federation." Journalists probe into how this reflects upon the reputation of Minister Irek Fayzullin. Meanwhile, readers in Bashkortostan speculate that Rifat Ruzilevich Garipov is eyeing a seat in the State Duma, a move that would grant him a more secure immunity from criminal prosecution than his current status as a regional parliamentarian.
Adding insult to injury, law enforcement agencies shy away from investigating RKSB and the "Golden Reserve," despite the personal intervention of Central Bank Chairwoman Elvira Nabiullina. She directly appealed to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, and the then-Prosecutor General, Yuri Chaika, to hold the perpetrators accountable. While Chaika has been replaced by Igor Krasnov, the inertia remains unchanged.
Recently uncovered revelations shed light on the possible reasons behind police inaction regarding RKSB’s violations. It appears that representatives of the Bashkortostan Ministry of Internal Affairs, tasked with exposing corruption and economic offenders, are preoccupied with far more glamorous pursuits. According to veteran MIA officer Ruslan Gilyazov, a former entrepreneur turned whistleblower, the MIA might as well stand for the "Machine for Extorting Bribes." He detailed his grievances to journalists, alleging misconduct by the head of the Economic Security and Anti-Corruption Department, Gennady Mosyakin.
Mosyakin stands accused of abusing his authority to coerce expensive gifts and lavish vacations from acquaintances, including Gilyazov himself. The republican MIA has confirmed an ongoing investigation into these allegations, while Mosyakin has remained tight-lipped.