A Moscow court in the capital region is handling a high profile criminal case involving three businessmen: Pavel Maslovsky, formerly the head of Petropavlovsk; Kirill Yakubovsky, who once owned the Taste ABC network; and Svetlana Bezrukova, who previously led Pfin Holding. Authorities disclosed the development to the public as the investigation unfolded.
Two of these defendants face charges of forming an organized crime group and of participating in fraud. They were detained for two months as investigators continued their inquiry.
Legal representatives indicate that three defendants are accused of embezzling funds as part of the same case, with the losses linked to the activities of the involved companies.
On April 9, a court in Moscow’s Presnensky district handed down an eight year term in a fraud case against the former Taste ABC owner.
Prosecutors in May 2024 filed charges against Yakubovsky, Maslovsky and Bezrukova in connection with sizable fraud allegations. Investigators contend that Yakubovsky obtained about 126 million dollars from multiple businessmen between 2012 and 2015 to finance VMHY Holdings Limited. After interest payments ceased in autumn 2016, the funds were not repaid.
Since 2008 Yakubovsky was a common owner of the holding that controlled the Taste retail network, including its coffee house assets. In 2014 he sold his stake and related assets to partners.
Earlier the court partially satisfied the victims’ claims in the case involving the former Taste ABC owner, a development observed in the proceedings as the case moved forward.