The Ministry of Internal Affairs has added Dmitry Zimin, a figure associated with the Beeline brand and the son of Boris Zimin, to the wanted list. Zimin is described in official records as an individual under foreign agent status in Russia. The case centers on alleged financial misconduct connected to a major business venture.
Birth details indicate Dmitry Zimin was born on November 24, 1968. He is said to be wanted under a clause of the Criminal Code, though the specific article is not listed in all documents. Recent court records show a petition for his arrest was filed by the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow. The court website lists charges under section 159 with subsection 4, indicating large scale fraud, with a maximum penalty of up to ten years in prison.
The upcoming trial is scheduled for January 11 before Judge Oleksiy Krivoruchko. The judge is known for decisions in high profile cases, including prior decisions related to Sergei Magnitsky, Nav aly, and other prominent figures. The trial timeline suggested by the court indicates a potential pretrial detention consideration if the defendant remains at large.
A source within RBC noted that prosecutors are aiming to secure arrest by February 15 as part of the ongoing proceedings.
The essence of the accusation
According to TASS, the court press service states that Zimin faces charges of particularly large scale fraud. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has placed him on an international wanted list. Investigators have requested that a detention measure be imposed in absentia against the accused.
RBC, citing a person familiar with the case materials, reports that the dispute involves an agreement to transfer ordinary shares of the BelkaCar LTD car sharing venture. Investigators say that parties to the case agreed to dispose of these shares as part of the alleged fraud. The investigation has included a range of expert reviews, including economic analysis, to support the case.
BelkaCar has seen involvement from several international and domestic figures, including Ralph Novak and Ilnur Azmukhanov, who reportedly faced pretrial detention late in 2022 as part of the fraud probe. Other named individuals linked to the allegations include Fabian Kroycher, a co founder of the Bryanston Group. Authorities claim that shares of the BelkaCar entity were significantly misappropriated, with losses estimated around 47 million euros after a large percentage of the stake was obtained unlawfully.
Earlier, in 2019, Dmitry Zimin’s firm BMT Private Equity secured a controlling stake in BelkaCar, a Moscow car sharing company.
Commentary on the case against Zimin
In interviews with RTVI, the entrepreneur described the Russian prosecution as political in nature. He suggested that the case reflects broader concerns about the use of law and the legal system for political ends. He criticized public statements by authorities and asserted that some actions appear aimed at suppressing dissent. He also commented on social media platforms, noting the political sensitivity around such moves, given platform classifications in Russia.
Activity and recognition as a foreign agent
Boris Zimin, the father of Dmitry Zimin, is known as the founder of VimpelCom and the Dynasty Foundation. In 2015, the Dynasty Foundation was registered as a foreign agent and later dissolved. In 2016 the Zimin Foundation was established as a global nonprofit supporting science and education. Boris Zimin also founded the Sreda Foundation, which has supported various media outlets that Russian authorities have designated as foreign agents. Dmitry Zimin followed his father in philanthropic work and provided support to notable opposition figures at times.
Boris Zimin left Russia in 2004 and has resided in Israel since 2020. In September 2022, the Ministry of Justice added him to a private foreign agent register, noting involvement in cross border funding and political activity, with Ukraine cited as a funding source.