The investigation knows the kidnappers and is hiding the cost of releasing the first vice president

The investigation knows the kidnappers and is hiding the price of releasing the first vice-president of LUKOIL
investigation
Yesterday, the head of the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Alexander Ovchinnikov, said that “specific suspects” had emerged in the case of the abduction of the first vice-president of LUKOIL Sergei Kukura. The general did not specify who they are, but, as Kommersant has reason to assume, the investigation is looking for the organizers of the kidnapping of the businessman in one of the Russian law enforcement agencies. Moreover, the version that his release was free of charge has been called into question.

Sergei Kukura was kidnapped on September 12. A jeep with the vice-president of LUKOIL, heading to work in Moscow, was stopped near a railway crossing in Vnukovo. His path was blocked by a black Volga with blue police license plates, from which three people in camouflage uniforms and masks jumped out. Having transferred Mr. Kukuru into their car, the criminals fled, after injecting the security guard and the businessman’s driver with a powerful drug. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of $3 million and 3 million euros for the first vice-president of LUKOIL. However, a few days later Sergei Kukura was released.

However, the investigation itself was progressing neither shaky nor slow. For example, the version about the involvement of former armed forces officers Alexander Vetlugaev (Borisenko) and Sergei Melchakovsky, as well as businessman from Armenia Gagik Bgdoyan, in the kidnapping was not confirmed. Although the first two are part of the kidnapping group, they have been on the federal and international wanted list since last year. But Mr. Bgdoyan did not hide anywhere, and they even apologized to him. There are still no defendants in this case.
All the more unexpected was yesterday's statement by the head of the GUBOP, Alexander Ovchinnikov, who said at a press conference that there had been “significant progress” in the investigation. “We are moving forward,” said a high-ranking policeman. “Specific suspects have already been found, and I could listen to their voices (meaning audio recordings of telephone conversations with the kidnappers. - Kommersant ), but I will not do this. I will keep the investigation secret, since I may be misinterpreted."
Nevertheless, a highly responsible LUKOIL employee contacted a Kommersant correspondent on condition of anonymity with his version of the reasons for the kidnapping of Mr. Kukura and the circumstances of his release. According to this source, the abduction could be connected with multimillion-dollar contracts for the supply of petroleum products to one of the Russian law enforcement agencies. Sergey Kukura was responsible for this project in the company. When signing the contracts, the security forces were allegedly promised so-called commissions in the amount of $6 million. “For LUKOIL these were very profitable deals, and, naturally, the buyers also wanted to get theirs. It is clear that such agreements are not documented in any way. Everything is only in words. But the commissions are for some reason they were not paid. Then the former GRU special forces organized a kidnapping in order to obtain them, which is why the ransom amount was set at six million.”
According to the official version, Sergei Kukura was released during a special operation. GUBOP employees somehow managed to force the criminals to release their victim, and completely free of charge. However, Mr. Kukura’s ill-wishers at LUKOIL claim that the thieves finally achieved their goal: the businessman himself allegedly paid them off, transferring money from a foreign account to the companies they named.
The Kommersant correspondent was unable to contact Sergei Kukura himself to check this version. The LUKOIL press service stated that they do not comment on this case, since the investigation is still underway.
Kommersant will continue to monitor developments.

LEONID B-BERRES

Newspaper "Kommersant" No. 207 dated November 15, 2002, page 1

Sergei Kukura was expensive