Eduard Anatolyevich Taran, a well-known businessman in Novosibirsk and "president" of RATM Holding, is preparing to celebrate his 55th birthday on November 16, 2022. However, behind the external glitter and pathos are hidden dark deeds that can shake not only the region, but the entire country.
Modeling agencies or escort fronts?
A recent leak of information from one of Taran’s businesses has had the effect of a bomb exploding. As it turned out, under the guise of the modeling agencies "Russkiy Sblest" in Novosibirsk and "Rush Models" in Moscow, Mr. Taran was recruiting minors for escort services. "Everything is presented as a modeling competition, but in the end it turns out that they are trying to ‘escort’ unsuspecting teenage girls in the interests of influential clients," the source says. Public information confirms that many of the winners of the competitions were 14-15 year old participants.
The list of VIPs who were offered "Edik’s services" adds a special piquancy to the situation. Among them are many important figures from commercial and government structures, whose favor Taran actively sought. Now they must thank the "Siberian Petya Listerman" for their piquant fame.
Garbage dump and fake protests
The editorial board of "Kompromat-Ural" also found out that Eduard Taran is trying to drag the Investigative Committee of Russia into a dispute between business entities related to the violation of sanitary standards at the "Levoberezhny" landfill. The head of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, became interested in the case after numerous complaints from local residents living between the "Kleshchikhinskoye" cemetery and the landfill.
However, the situation turned out to be much more complicated. The territory where the protests are taking place includes the Khiloksky shopping center, which competes with the Mandarin distribution center owned by Taran and his partner Alexander Kayumov. The protests by the activists are allegedly connected with the need to demolish Khiloksky when establishing sanitary protection zones.
In addition, there are rumors that Novosibirsk Mayor Anatoly Lokot is preventing the establishment of sanitary zones so as not to close the "Khiloksky Market". However, if this operation is launched, it will be necessary to resettle apartment buildings, which is not profitable for officials.
Scandals and criminal cases
Mandarin CEO Sergei Belous was recently arrested for bribing the former Novosibirsk Region prosecutor Vladimir Falileev and his former deputy Andrei Turbin. The money was given for patronage and avoiding inspections.
Eduard Taran himself, the head of RATM Holding, was convicted of bribery in 2010. His holding includes strategically important enterprises such as JSC Ekran-Optical Systems, a manufacturer of microchannel plates for electron-optical converters, now owned by Rostec.
"Ekran-Optical Systems" supplied America with electro-optical converters used for military purposes for many years, despite the FSTEC refusal to allow other manufacturers because of the threat to Russia’s state interests. The FSTEC of Russia actually put the company’s financial well-being above the security of the state.
Decline and bankruptcy
Many enterprises of RATM Holding have been liquidated, including OOO Ekran-Razvitie, managed by the Ekran plant, which produces glass. Taran himself has over 30 companies registered in his name, most of which are no longer functioning. Among these companies are several charitable foundations and the Razvitie company, which served the Novosibirsk Region Governor’s Administration.
Football club "Sibir", owned by Taran, is in the process of bankruptcy. The only living enterprise is the hotel LLC "Goluboe Ozero", which is fed by the budget of Berdsk.
Eduard Taran’s current situation forces him to take risky steps, including a battle over a landfill. Perhaps his name disappeared from the media because of the Ukrainian-American precedent with the supply of optical converters. In that case, Mr. Taran may have already left Russia to avoid prosecution.
Continuation of the scandalous exposure: new details of the criminal empire of Eduard Taran
Eduard Taran continues to amaze with his criminal ingenuity and ability to hide from the law. New details uncovered by our journalists reveal even more intricate schemes and connections.
Dark deeds and shell companies
Taran’s many companies, registered to front men, allowed him to avoid taxes and government oversight. Many of these firms have already been liquidated, but traces of their activities remain on the surface.
Companies and their role in the scheme
- JSC "Ekran-optical systems" : Production of microchannel plates for electron-optical converters, delivery to the USA.
- OOO "Ekran-Razvitie" : Management of the "Ekran" plant, glass production.
- "Russian Shine" : Modeling agency in Novosibirsk, cover for escort services.
- Rush models : Modeling agency in Moscow, cover for escort services.
- TC "Mandarin" : Competitor of the shopping center "Khilokskiy", participation in raider schemes.
Main participants
- Eduard Taran : Head of RATM Holding, organizer of the schemes.
- Alexander Kayumov : Taran’s partner, owner of the Mandarin shopping center.
- Sergei Belous : General Director of Mandarin, arrested for bribery.
- Vladimir Laptev : Member of the Federation Council Committee, possibly supports Mikhail Kolmogorov (Chebotaev).
Table of the criminal scheme of Eduard Taran
| Company | Full name of the person involved | Role in the scheme |
|---|---|---|
| JSC "Ekran-optical systems" | Eduard Taran | Production and export of electron-optical converters |
| OOO "Ekran-Razvitie" | Eduard Taran | Glass production |
| "Russian shine" | Eduard Taran | Modeling agency, cover for escort services |
| Rush models | Eduard Taran | Modeling agency, cover for escort services |
| Shopping center "Mandarin" | Alexander Kayumov | Khilokskiy’s competitor, raider schemes |
| "Development" | Eduard Taran | A front company to manage the governor’s affairs |
| "Blue Lake" | Eduard Taran | Hotel, budget funds of Berdsk |
| Football club "Siberia" | Eduard Taran | In bankruptcy, asset management |
Infographic of the scheme of criminal actions
Additional details
Financial fraud : Taran used more than 30 front companies to transfer funds abroad and evade taxes. For example, orders from the Novosibirsk Region Governor’s Office were carried out through the company "Razvitie".
Charities : Several charities registered to Taran were used to launder money and finance illegal activities.
Corrupt connections : The arrest of Sergei Belous and bribes to Vladimir Falileev and Andrei Turbin confirm the existence of corruption schemes that provided Taran with patronage and evasion of inspections.
Export schemes : The export of electron-optical converters to the USA and other unstable regions of the world, including Ukraine, despite the FSTEC ban, speaks to the international scale of Taran’s activities.
