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Russian bankers and petro oligarchs continue to suffer premature deaths in shocking numbers, and ex-fed Martin Sheil and I have written volumes on the whys and wherefores.
In today’s latest breaker on a young Russian banker who plummeted to her death in an old-timey fashion popularized in Prague in 1419 as a way to express dissatisfaction with local government — a judge, a burgomaster, and several members of the town council were given the heave ho — forensic sleuth Martin Sheil followed the money. Just fyi, he had me at ‘Willy the Shake’ and ‘for those too lazy to read’ lol.
Here is that report:
Heidi
Another Russian fell out of an 11th Floor window to her demise and, well, there is an aura of suspicion surrounding her and while that suspicion includes her death I am a follow the money kind of guy and something certainly smells. I would first look to the British Virgin Islands rather than say Denmark, as Willy the Shake might lead one to consider.
Sure, there may be more realistic conclusions to draw from a beauteous 28-year-old Moscow Bank Vice President named Kristina Baikova falling out of window and off a balcony at 3:00 am in the morning after she called up "a friend" by the name of Andrei to come over for a drink.
What could go wrong in that scenario?
But humor me and my financial conspiracy theory for a NY minute, will ya.
Baikova was an executive at a Moscow bank called Locko, which was owned by a sanctioned Russian by the name Denis Evgenovich Rusanov. Evgeny or Eugene, got himself sanctioned relative to his dealings with Ukraine. So what does a sanctioned Russian bank owner do to avoid sanctions?
Those of you who have been following me following the money can anticipate that I will look to offshore maneuvers and you would be right. Follow along with me as we navigate the ICIJ database of offshore shell companies and ENABLERS.
So we can see that Mr. Rusanov owns a shell company located in the British Virgin Islands by the name Centreinvest Capital Partners.
It is not unusual for a Russian financier to fancy locating a shell company in the British Virgin Islands, in fact, it is quite common - the reader should note the identity of the sham corporate director and to do that we need to download the ICIJ link for Centreinvest.
The reader's attention should be drawn to an individual listed twice in the graphic by the name Brenda Patricia Cocksedge, who is listed as both Director and Shareholder.
For those too lazy to read the article, The Guardian connects Ms. Cocksedge to a total of 709 shell companies.
Busy, busy, busy!
Now we don't know just what occurred in that 11th Floor Moscow apartment of Ms Baikova's. But if I was conducting an investigation rather then the FSB, I would strongly consider interviewing Mr. Rusanov and Ms. Cocksedge soon after quizzing Andrei.
And I would strongly consider looking further through the window of offshore shell company databases to pin down motive.
Bonus shell company find relative to Rusanov - Enid Investments Limitedanother BVI shell and who do we find listed as both Director and Shareholder ... Cocksedge - Oh my!
What in the Enabling hell is going on here?
We can't ask Kristina Baikova anymore. Her time enabling sanctions circumvention is over.
Think that might be the point?
Anyone…
If I am a Russian then I stay away from the windows. And be careful of any shell companies you might be enabling in BVI.
Sincerely,
Martin Sheil, working away in my tiny windowless cage like a pet gerbil.
May Ms. Baikova and all the others rest in peace.
🤍🙏🏼
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