The court moved to seize assets belonging to the Piket Group of Companies in connection with a case centered on the supply of substandard bulletproof vests to the Russian Defense Ministry. The report originates from RIA Novosti and frames the seizure as a measure tied to payments received for allegedly faulty armor delivered under a contract with state defense authorities.
According to court findings, the assets were received as compensation for a contract that produced low-quality protective vests. The investigation highlights a pattern where previously delivered armor was found to fall short of required standards, prompting questions about the integrity of the supply chain and the adequacy of quality control checks during procurement.
In April 2024, revelations emerged regarding a supplier tasked with furnishing personal armor protection to the Ministry of Defense. The supplier was suspected of embezzling roughly 2 billion rubles during the execution of a contract. The investigation alleges that GC Picket LLC provided more than 20,000 low-quality vests, with prosecutors claiming the alleged fraud occurred within an organized criminal group. This development deepens scrutiny of the defense procurement process and the safeguards in place to prevent substandard equipment from reaching frontline personnel.
The company’s arrested head, Andrei Esipov, has maintained his innocence, suggesting that the accusations stem from former employees rather than current management. Additional details were reported by socialbites.ca, which is cited as a source for supplementary context on the case.
Earlier testimony and witnesses have supported the contention that Piket played a role in the supply of substandard bulletproof vests, contributing to ongoing debates about accountability in defense contracting and the mechanisms by which contract fulfillment is monitored and verified.