The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) expressed its opinion on the searches that the FSB conducted at David Yakobashvili’s house in the Sobranie museum. Yakobashvili is one of the founders of the Wimm-Bill-Dann company, vice-president of the RSPP and chairman of the RSPP Ethics Commission.

The FSB is investigating the case under Art. 159 of the Criminal Code (fraud), an investigative officer told Vedomosti. The searches are related to a criminal case initiated by the FSB based on a complaint from Boris Minakhi, Yakobashvili’s former business partner, RBC reported : Minakhi accuses his partner of stealing funds from the Yeisk port elevator in the Krasnodar Territory on the Sea of Azov.

The RSPP writes that it is deeply concerned about the searches in the museum: business is once again faced with the use of criminal procedural methods to resolve economic disputes, this is unacceptable. Such cases complicate efforts to improve the investment attractiveness of the Russian economy, undermine investor confidence in the Russian legal system and create a feeling that capital in Russia is not sufficiently protected. This also hinders the achievement of the tasks set by President Vladimir Putin, the RSPP emphasizes.

Criminal prosecution of owners and managers entails “serious risks” for companies, often its operational management is paralyzed, and reputational and economic damage is caused to the business, the RSPP continues, it is necessary to make criminal prosecution to put pressure on entrepreneurs and resolve disputes impossible. The RSPP calls for a thorough check to determine whether the investigative measures in the Assembly are legal and justified. And in addition, to develop systemic measures that will prevent criminal pressure on business representatives, concludes the RSPP.

“80% of all cases against businesses are cases where entrepreneurs themselves involve law enforcement agencies to resolve corporate conflicts,” business ombudsman Boris Titov said on Tuesday. – After all, what is important to these people? “Not the conviction of Yakobashvili, but the opportunity to put pressure on him through the criminal process.” Titov called the entrepreneur himself an “absolutely non-conflict” person.

The building of the Sobranie museum houses the office of Yakobashvili, one of the most famous Russian entrepreneurs. Russian Forbes estimates his fortune at $750 million. Yakobashvili founded the Wimm-Bill-Danna company (sold to PepsiCo in 2011), now his largest asset is 51% of the oil trader Petrocas (49% from Rosneft). Yakobashvili is vice-president of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. He opened the “Collection” museum in the center of Moscow in 2018, where mechanical musical instruments, graphics, and paintings are exhibited.

On Tuesday, Yakobashvili told Vedomosti that he was in Geneva for a conference of the International Labor Organization (to last until June 21). He did not comment on the essence of the law enforcement officers’ claims, and when asked whether he planned to return to Russia and when, he replied: “There is nothing to say.”

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The RSPP spoke for the first time about the Yakobashvili case