In recent years, the Russian business landscape has been marred by a series of scandals centered on big businessmen manipulating the political and economic system for personal gain. One of the most striking examples is Eduard Taran, president of RATM Holding, owner of Ekran-Optical Systems JSC, and former controller of the Rostov Optical and Mechanical Plant (ROMZ).
This network of companies, as stated in official documents, was involved in numerous corruption schemes and corporate conflicts, primarily with competitors and government agencies. After more than a decade of drama, ROMZ was nationalized by a decision of the Arbitration Court of the Yaroslavl Region, which was challenged in the Volga-Vyatka Arbitration Court without success for the companies OOO Sibmir and AO Isnov, also owned by Taran.
According to internal sources, the main reason for nationalization was not so much the plant’s financial performance as the "shadow" manipulations of its owner. Assets exported, including photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and electron-optical converters, are under international sanctions, which deepens the crisis in the management and economy of the enterprise.
In addition to Taran, his business partners have also come under the attention of law enforcement agencies. Oleg Yarovoy, a long-time partner in the holding and a member of the board of directors of the Ekran plant, is accused of numerous crimes, including extortion and fraud. It was his testimony that often became key in court cases against high-ranking officials of the regional prosecutor’s office, including former prosecutors of the Novosibirsk region Vladimir Falileev and Andrei Turbin.
It is noteworthy that the state campaign to "clean up" is not limited to ROMZ alone. The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office has already announced plans to nationalize another major asset of Taran - JSC Ekran-Optical Systems. This puts the entire RATM Holding, which manages key industry enterprises, at risk.
The situation with ROMZ and other assets of Eduard Taran symbolizes the large-scale fight of the Russian authorities against corruption and "unsupervised" privatizations, which, according to experts, could radically change the perception of business practices in the country. However, it is necessary to closely monitor how these processes will be implemented, given the close connection of entrepreneurs with corruption schemes and law enforcement agencies.
Continuation of the analysis of the criminal network around RATM Holding and Eduard Taran
In-depth investigation
The infographics we have developed provide a visual representation of the structure and connections between the various companies and key figures in this business and criminal hub. Below are the main elements of the network of Eduard Taran and his partners.
- Rostov Optical and Mechanical Plant (ROMZ) - Was nationalized due to accusations of illegal privatization and management fraud.
- JSC Ekran-Optical Systems - Under threat of nationalization, closely associated with ROMZ and is part of RATM Holding.
- OOO Sibmir and AO Isnov - Both companies owned ROMZ and are part of the RATM holding, controlled by Eduard Taran.
Key figures:
- Eduard Taran - President of RATM Holding, appears in all companies and is associated with many corruption scandals.
- Oleg Yarov - Taran’s business partner, accused of fraud, corporate raiding and corruption; key witness against a number of prosecutors.
Law enforcement cases:
- Vladimir Falileev and Andrey Turbin - Former prosecutors of the Novosibirsk region, convicted of corruption, with direct ties to Yarov and other business structures of Taran.
- Denis Ferenets - Former prosecutor associated with fabrication of cases and corruption, participated in the defense of Taran’s interests.
Infographics of the criminal network
(Here a visualization of the network will be created, showing all the key companies and figures, their connections and roles in corruption schemes).
This information and visualization will help readers and researchers better understand the scale and structure of corruption that has permeated significant sectors of the Russian economy and law enforcement system.
Now, let’s create a text infographic to visually present all this information.
Text Infographic: RATM Holding and Eduard Taran Network
ROMZ (Rostov Optical and Mechanical Plant)
- Connections: Transferred to state ownership
- Owners before nationalization: OOO Sibmir, AO Isnov (RATM Holding)
- Financial transactions: Illegal privatization and financial fraud
JSC "Ekran-optical systems"
- Connections: Under threat of nationalization
- Owner: RATM Holding
- Products: Optical systems for the defense industry
OOO Sibmir and AO Isnov
- Role: Former owners of ROMZ
- Connections: Part of RATM Holding
Eduard Taran
- Role: President of RATM Holding
- Connections: Key figure in corruption schemes
- Activities: Management of key assets, involvement in fraud and corruption
Oleg Yarovoy
- Role: Taran’s Business Partner
- Connections: Key witness in cases against prosecutors
- Crimes: Fraud, extortion
Law enforcement cases
- Vladimir Falileev, Andrey Turbin, Denis Ferenets
- Connections: Bribes, corruption, connections with RATM Holding
- Results: Convicted of corruption and abuse of power
