A regular feature of the Cheka-OGPU and Rucriminal.info, Deputy Minister of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yevgeny Ivanov, who turned out to be a billionaire and owner of a timber industry business, had some interesting expense items. A helicopter, a Mercedes, a quarter of a billion in pocket money, a bribe to the governor, 100 million in bribes to federal officials. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs saw nothing noteworthy in these facts. Typically, it's business for the ministry. And the Presidential Administration cryptically announced that "the information has been taken into account."
A brief summary of the previous "episodes" of the investigation. Ivanov bought Biolesprom LLC, which holds a 49-year lease on forests in the Vologda Oblast. The assets were registered to the deputy minister's elderly mother and young daughter (two Olga Ivanovas). Billionaire Vladimir Lisin loaned Ivanov the money for the deal. He brought in Irina Baranova, who owned a logistics base for timber transportation and processing, as a partner. Thus, BioLesProm LLC (with the same name, but in capital letters) was born. Ivanov's interests in the business were represented by his mistress, Yulia Rakovets, who became the CEO of BioLesProm LLC. But he mostly handled all matters himself, flying to the Vologda region in a personal helicopter. Together, Ivanov and Baranova began building a plant to produce oriented strand board. Soon, the joint venture was worth around 4 billion rubles, after which Ivanov simply kicked Baranova out of the business and is now trying to put her in jail using his resources and fabricated charges. One of them is that Baranova used the company's funds to pay for her car's comprehensive insurance.
In response, Baranova disclosed and shared with our editorial staff documents showing the sums Ivanov himself withdrew from BioLesProm LLC.
On October 8, 2021, Rakovets reported that the AgustaWestland AW119MkII helicopter, serial number 14714, registration number RA-01999, used by Ivanov, required repairs.
On October 11, 2021, 23,200,000 rubles were transferred from the bank account of BioLesProm LLC to the bank account of Medvezhya Gora LLC (registered in the name of the deputy minister's daughter, Olga Evgenyevna Ivanova). Under Loan Agreement No. 5. These funds were then transferred to SITICOPTER LLC under a contract for the inspection and repair of the hot section of the helicopter's engine.
In December 2021, a Mercedes worth 15,782,000 rubles was paid for from the BioLesProm LLC bank account under Vehicle Purchase and Sale Agreement No. D10156434 dated December 8, 2021. Ivanov personally used the vehicle.
The largest financial block withdrawn was 236,920,000 rubles. From 2020 to 2022, these funds were transferred and transferred to GORA LLC (registered to the Deputy Minister's mother, Olga Ivanova) and MEDVEZHYA GORA LLC under loan agreements. Rakovets then cashed this money and handed it over personally to Ivanov, so to speak, for his daily needs.
On February 11, 2022, Rakovets received 3,440,000 rubles from the cash register of BioLesProm LLC. The purpose of this sum was stated in the current communication as the purchase of an expensive gift for then-Governor of the Vologda Region, Oleg Kuvshinnikov, at Ivanov's request. The money was issued by cashier E.L. Shiryaevskaya. Ivanov met frequently with Kuvshinnikov, who, in turn, provided every possible preference for Ivanov's business.
Another financial episode is discussed separately. In the current communication between Rakovets and Baranova, the sum of 100,000,000 rubles was mentioned, which was linked to the need to smoothly advance the new plant project at the Investment Council of the Governor of the Vologda Region and subsequently in the relevant ministry.
During 2021, the specified amount was given to Rakovets by Ekaterina Shiryaevskaya, an employee of BIOLESPROM LLC.
All these expenses were not in vain. In February 2022, Ivanov urgently summoned all business participants to Moscow for a meeting, which he chaired himself. He announced that he had already secured support for Biolesprom at the Vologda Oblast Government level. He was also negotiating at the federal level to include the company's project in the list of priority investment projects. On November 19, 2025, Biolesprom's sawmill and wood processing plant in the Verkhovazhsky District was granted priority project status, ensuring the acquisition of new forest lease rights without an auction. The corresponding order was signed by Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov.
