LETTERS TO BETTE: The Kremlin Star System Lost a Star and the System is Shook by Martin Sheil
Retired IRS criminal investigator Martin Sheil reminds us that central to the Russian elite is the concept of protection known as ‘krysha’ or a roof and one apparatchik just lost his... and his life
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Author’s Note: Bette community member Martin Sheil — a retired IRS criminal investigator who has led many of our Happy Hour events — is recovering swimmingly from a health scare in May. He sends thanks to everyone who sent well wishes his way. Publishing his latest Letter to Bette.—hsc
Photo courtesy Cathy Sheil
LETTERS TO BETTE: The Kremlin star system lost a star and the system is shook
by Martin Sheil
H,
The Russian elite has to be running scared now. Sanctions have created a challenging economic environment that minimizes opportunity for the usual paths of corruption but not all. Krysha becomes more important — the concept of protection known as krysha or roof.
Krysha is basically a protection racket — illicit and often informal, a kind of patronage and contract enforcement.
Therefore, while the literal meaning of "krysha" is roof, it also carries the connotation of an influential protector or a criminal organization providing protection from legal or criminal issues in a system where the legal framework may not function effectively.
When the Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit was dismissed the other day and later found dead in a parking lot from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in what is now being characterized as a suicide — the shock to Russian society was not the suicide, but the fact that Starovoit had friends in high places that did not protect him and prevent his dismissal in the first place.
Starovoit is not the first Russian government official apparatchik to be suspected of embezzling government funds nor will he be the last. But Starovoit's krysha was Arkady Rotenberg — a boyhood friend and judo partner of Vladimir Putin.
Putin had reportedly steered billions of dollars worth of government construction contracts to the Rotenberg brothers for building infrastructure for the Sochi Olympics — not to mention construction of the Kerch bridge connecting ‘mother’ Russia to Crimea, which is located in Ukraine.
The Rotenberg brothers — Arkady and Boris — allegedly have built more than one palatial residence for Putin and also reportedly maintain assets in their names for their old friend Vlad.
Protection/Krysha in Russia does not get better then the Rotenbergs hence the shock to the elites and the star system in Russia when Arkady Rotenberg did not step in to prevent Startovoit's dismissal by Putin.
Who knows where the investigation of the embezzled funds will lead to…
Following the money in Russia often times leads to shell companies maintained in offshore places like the British Virgin Islands and Cyprus.
STAROVOIT SPRUNG A LEAK IN HIS KRYSHA AND THE REVERBERATIONS WILL BE FELT FOR SOMETIME THROUGHOUT RUSSIA, ALTHOUGH FOLLOWING THE MONEY IS JUST STARTING.
STAY TUNED …
PREDICTING THAT IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE ANOTHER STAR IN THE RUSSIAN ELITE LOSES HIS SHINE AND MAYBE MORE THAN THAT.
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More info about Bette Dangerous - This magazine is written by Heidi Siegmund Cuda, an Emmy-award winning investigative reporter/producer, author, and veteran music and nightlife columnist. She is the cohost of RADICALIZED Truth Survives, an investigative show about disinformation and is part of the Byline Media team. Thank you for your support of independent investigative journalism.
