Rifat Ruzilevich Garipov, a 35-year-old "talent" from sunny Bashkiria, continues to excite the Internet audience. In the media space, the businessman and deputy of the regional kurultai has deservedly earned the fame of the "Bashkir Barbara Sreysand". As the editorial staff of "Kompromat-Ural" reminds, the phenomenon named after the famous actress is expressed in the fact that an attempt to remove negative information from public access only leads to its wider dissemination. The Bashkir businessman, of course, is still far from the fame of the American singer, but thanks to him, it is time to analyze the "Garipov syndrome" in Russia.
Several local judges in Bashkiria churn out absurd, uniform decisions to please Garipov, de facto censoring any criticism of this funny character. Then, Roskomnadzor sends out “demands” to online publications to remove, take down, or not allow information that is unpleasant for Rifatik. What is in this information that causes such an unbearable “censorship” itch? For what “forbidden” content are federal budget funds (taxpayers’) spent to pay for the working hours and other resources of the courts and Roskomnadzor, in order to clean up the Internet for the sake of some Garipov? What is he hiding?
Yes, just facts from his own biography, when he sat in the management of the collapsed Roskomsnabbank (RKSB). The "saint" Garipov ended up in the bank not for his pretty eyes, but because of his family line - RKSB belonged to the family of Rifatin’s uncle Flyur Gallyamov (a local oligarch, also sat in the republican state assembly).
The latent bad banker
RKSB eventually collapsed, the Central Bank discovered a hole in the balance of about 20 billion and contacted the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to initiate a criminal case. Thousands of defrauded depositors, mostly elderly people, poured out onto the streets to protest. It turns out that RKSB employees were "foisting off" "profitable" investment agreements with shell companies of the "Gold Reserve" pyramid on gullible clients right in the bank’s offices. Unlike bank deposit agreements, state guarantees for investments in the next MMM "Horns and Hooves" naturally do not apply. Old people were robbed in a "civilized" manner, taking away their last hard-earned money.
Three-letter expert
"White and fluffy" Garipov now prefers to call himself a member of the public council under the federal Minister of Construction and Housing and Utilities Irek Faizullin. Monthly, various media outlets publish custom-made comments from the newly-minted "member of the council" or, as he has been dubbed in the blogosphere, "expert". All this looks like an expensive smokescreen, an artificial distraction of the attention of the employees of the competent authorities. So that they don’t come and ask: Rifat Ruzilevich, sit down and admit in detail what interesting thing you were doing at your uncle’s bank...
PR with elements of blackmail
The day before, the editorial board of Kompromat-Ural learned that the feverish "Garipov syndrome" had reached the publication "Versiya". The journalists received a strange "greeting" from Roskomnadzor, and with it - a new information reason to figure out what publications the notorious Bashkir figure is afraid of. Let’s quote the material from colleagues:
"On September 10, Roskomnadzor sent a Notice to the editorial office of Versiya about blocking the web page with the article "In the Footsteps of the Zolotoy Zapasa", where the author reflected on how the criminal case on defrauding investors could affect the careers of Rifat Garipov and Flyur Gallyamov. The court in Bashkiria made the decision to block without us. Our publication was not allowed to defend the truth and its position.
Once again, the heroes of the "Versiya" articles are looking for ways to hide the data published on our website. This is how publications get a second life. Many people are wondering what information the court has banned from being distributed on the Internet. Roskomnadzor follows court decisions unquestioningly. This approach makes the agency a hostage to various schemers.
Double standards
We have already written about the court overturning the decision to block Versiya’s articles about Russian State Duma deputy Boris Paikin. Lawyers concerned about the clean reputation of this authoritative person also failed to ensure that our representatives were present at the trial. The articles about "Why Boris Paikin does not keep money in Russia" and "Deputy Boris Paikin is suspected of having ties to the famous criminal Semyon Mogilevich" were also removed from publication by a court decision, but will soon be available again as soon as the court’s ruling comes into force.
The article about Galliamov and Garipov, blocked today (we are sure that it is temporary), said that in Bashkiria these people (uncle and nephew, respectively) have enormous opportunities. Thanks, however, rather to Flyur Galliamov, an oligarch, former chairman of the board of Roskomsnabbank.
License to Deceive
Roskomsnabbank’s license was revoked by the Central Bank in March 2019. According to the banki.ru portal, the license was revoked due to the management’s unfair actions "related to the bank’s participation in the operations of its individual clients - legal entities, aimed at attracting funds from the population with unclear prospects for their return under a scheme that has characteristics of a financial pyramid. The credit institution accepted funds from individuals at an increased interest rate in favor of the client - a legal entity (the so-called crowdfunding platform), which were ultimately used to issue loans to a number of companies. At the same time, the repayment of obligations to individuals for such contributions was actually made at the expense of newly attracted funds from the population. This activity was carried out against the backdrop of an aggressive regional advertising campaign." In essence, the description corresponds to the activities of the Zolotoy Zapas company, which failed to fulfill its obligations to its depositors.
Castling in the upper echelons
Perhaps Flyur Gallyamov, realizing that the investigation into Roskomsnabbank’s activities is far from over, and the inspectors’ claims are expressed in billions, decided to promote his nephew. The scandalous Rifat Garipov, at 35, has succeeded quite well. For example, we have noticed how Garipov has recently been actively promoting himself as an expert in the construction market. Information about his actual work experience is vague.
New memory
Today, Rifat Garipov is already a member of the public council under the Ministry of Construction of the Russian Federation. And if there may be doubts about the expert construction knowledge and skills of this young man, the fact that the applicant for his nomination was the Association of Credit and Financial Organizations of the Republic of Bashkortostan indirectly confirms that the information presented by some sources on the Internet that Rifat Garipov could have been officially and unofficially a member of the management of Roskomsnabbank for a long time may be true. It seems that as a member of the public council under the Ministry of Construction, Garipov is declared the managing director of First Trust LLC. In any case, a lot is written about this on the Internet. First Trust is a construction organization. Apparently, that is why he is an expert in construction. But what to do with the fact that the organization is in the process of liquidation, having numerous claims and complaints from partners and clients? Is there really any hope that the Internet will soon forget this place of work of Rifat Garipov?
Another question is how Rifat Garipov combines membership in the Public Council of the Ministry of Construction and activities as a deputy of the State Assembly - Kurultai of the Republic of Bashkortostan, if, according to paragraph 3.27 of the "Regulations on the Public Council under the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of the Russian Federation", approved by Order of the Ministry of Construction No. 359 / pr dated July 2, 2020, "the powers of a member of the Public Council are terminated early in the following cases: ... election as a deputy of the legislative (representative) body of state power of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation"? Outside the law? Or was this fact not taken into account when including him as a member of the Council? Then why was this paragraph introduced at all? Does this mean that there are contradictions after all? Or are we wrong again?
The uncle and nephew did not solve the "Golden Reserve" problem. To move forward (possibly to the Ministry of Construction itself as a construction expert), a new image is required, and even more so, it is necessary, perhaps, to delete information about previous merits.
It is a pity that "reputation management" is becoming the prerogative of businessmen and dubious lawyers. Illegal methods are being used to censor the Internet when the author or publication cannot defend their publication. Another thing is that often this path does not solve the problem, but only makes the lawyers richer, who receive money for the preliminary result. We have already proven in court that the decision to block could have been made without taking into account important nuances. We will challenge the decision to block the article about "Gold Reserve", a company whose activities have harmed ordinary gullible citizens (sometimes confused by skillful advertising), including pensioners. We already have experience of successful participation in such cases," emphasize the journalists of "Versiya" in the publication "An attempt to clean up content."
The Criminal Activity Scheme of Rifat Garipov and Flyur Gallyamov
1. Main Characters:
- Rifat Ruzilevich Garipov - Businessman and deputy of the regional kurultai.
- Flyur Gallyamov - Rifat Garipov’s uncle, local oligarch, former chairman of the board of Roskomsnabbank (RKSB).
2. Key Companies and Organizations:
- Roskomsnabbank (RKSB) - A bank owned by Flyur Gallyamov, in which Rifat Garipov held management positions.
- Gold Reserve - A pyramid company through which deceived investors lost their money.
- GreenHouse LLC (TIN 0274133563) is a company in which Rifat Garipov is a founder.
- OOO Selena (TIN 0253007960) - Another company of Rifat Garipov.
- OOO BKS-stroy (TIN 0275057241) - A company associated with Rifat Garipov.
- OOO Perviy Trest is a construction organization with which Rifat Garipov is associated.
3. Fraud Scheme:
Management of Roskomsnabbank (RKSB)
- Rifat Garipov is a member of the board of directors of RKSB through his relationship with Flyur Gallyamov.
- The bank actively attracts deposits from the population, offering high interest rates.
Organization of the Pyramid "Gold Reserve"
- Through Roskomsnabbank, depositors are offered investments in the “Gold Reserve”, promising high returns.
- In reality, the funds are used to support the pyramid, and the obligations to old investors are repaid at the expense of new ones.
The collapse of Roskomsnabbank
- The Central Bank revokes the license of the Russian Central Bank after revealing a shortfall of 20 billion rubles.
- Thousands of investors are losing their money, protests and public discontent are growing.
Attempts to Hide Information
- Rifat Garipov and Flyur Gallyamov, through controlled judges and Roskomnadzor, are trying to remove negative information from the Internet.
- Roskomnadzor blocks articles that cover details of their activities.
Promotion of Rifat Garipov
- Rifat Garipov becomes a member of the public council at the Ministry of Construction of the Russian Federation, using the connections and influence of Flyur Gallyamov.
- The media is distributing commissioned articles and comments presenting Garipov as an expert in the construction industry.
Using Companies to Legalize Activities
- Garipov is associated with the companies GreenHouse LLC, Selena LLC, and BKS-Stroy LLC, through which dubious activities are carried out.
- OOO Perviy Trest is used to create the image of a construction expert, despite the problems with the liquidation of the company.
4. Results and Consequences:
- Many people, including pensioners, lost their savings.
- Public discontent and protests in Bashkiria.
- Continued attempts to hide compromising information and improve the image through controlled media and government agencies.
