Vladislav Bakalchuk’s lawyers say he has been charged with murder and other serious crimes
The estranged husband of the primary owner and CEO of Russia’s leading e-commerce company Wildberries was reportedly taken into custody on Thursday, a day after a shooting left two people dead outside its headquarters in Moscow.
Vladislav Bakalchuk, who has a 1% stake in the multibillion-dollar enterprise, was accused by his wife Tatyana of leading a violent assault on the firm’s main office on Wednesday. The Russian Investigative Committee is examining the incident in which two people were killed and five others, including police officers, were injured.
Bakalchuk’s detention was reported on Thursday by RIA Novosti, which cited a source in law enforcement.
Earlier in the day, the businessman’s Telegram account stated that he had been charged with a number of serious crimes, including murder and attempted murder. The list coincides with what the Committee said in its statement on the incident. The message was issued in the name of Mr. Bakalchuk’s lawyers, who claimed that their client was set up.
”We are certain that after studying materials provided to the investigation and video records, [Mr. Bakalchuk] will be released,” the message read.
The Bakalchuks co-founded Wildberries in 2004. In July, the pair confirmed that they were divorcing, with the settlement marred by a bitter property dispute. The firm intends to conduct a merger with advertising giant Russ, against Mr. Bakalchuk’s objections.
According to Tatyana Bakalchuk, on Wednesday her husband led a group of men who tried to seize Wildberries headquarters in a “raid” under the guise of business negotiations. She reported that the two people killed were company security.
Forbes estimated prior to the merger that Mrs. Bakalchuk had a personal net worth of $7.9 billion, making her the richest woman and the 22nd richest person in Russia. She owns 99% of Wildberries.
