In a scene more befitting a Hollywood thriller than a corporate dispute, the offices of Russia's largest online retailer, Wildberries , became the stage for a deadly confrontation on Wednesday. The incident, which left two dead and seven wounded, appears to be the latest chapter in an increasingly acrimonious divorce between the company's founder, Tatyana Bakalchuk—Russia's wealthiest woman—and her estranged husband, Vladislav.
The drama unfolded mere blocks from the Kremlin , in the heart of Moscow 's business district. According to investigators, a group led by Vladislav Bakalchuk attempted to enter the Wildberries headquarters, resulting in a violent clash with security personnel. The ensuing gunfire claimed the lives of two security guards and injured several others, including two police officers.
Tatyana Bakalchuk , who owns 99% of Wildberries, didn't mince words in her assessment of the situation. "Today a group of people led by Vladislav Bakalchuk, Sergei Anufriev and Vladimir Bakin attempted to seize Wildberries' offices in Moscow," she said, her voice tinged with both anger and sorrow in a video posted to Telegram.
"To my deep regret, as a result of the armed attack on Wildberries, a security guard at our office was killed." A second guard died later, local media reports said. “Vladislav, what are you doing? How are you going to look in the eyes of your parents and our children?”
Vladislav Bakalchuk, who retains a 1% stake in the company, offered a starkly different account. He claimed to have arrived at the office for "peaceful negotiations" regarding warehouse construction, only to be "attacked by security guards." The divergent narratives paint a picture of a corporate divorce spiraling dangerously out of control.
The roots of this conflict trace back to June, when Wildberries announced a merger with Russ, a smaller outdoor advertising firm. Russian media reported that the deal had the blessing of the Kremlin, with President Vladimir Putin's deputy chief of staff, Maxim Oreshkin , appointed to oversee its implementation. Vladislav Bakalchuk vehemently opposed the merger, deeming it "a huge mistake."
Adding another layer of intrigue to the saga, Ramzan Kadyrov , the notorious leader of Chechnya, publicly aligned himself with Vladislav in July. In a video statement, Kadyrov denounced the merger as a "blatant and brazen" corporate raid, vowing to intervene.
Now, the Wildberries debacle has evolved beyond a mere business dispute. It has touched on the politics of power in Russia, where corporate maneuvering, family dynamics, and Kremlin interests often intersect in unpredictable ways. The Kremlin itself blessed the merger with Russ, a deal that was reportedly overseen by Maxim Oreshkin, deputy head of the presidential administration. Despite opposition from Vladislav and Kadyrov, the deal proceeded with President Vladimir Putin’s tacit approval, though he made clear he would not directly intervene.
As of now, the future of Wildberries remains in limbo. Tatyana Bakalchuk, who began her business journey selling clothes online in 2004 while on maternity leave, now faces not only the loss of her marriage but also the challenge of navigating a scandal that has captivated Russia’s business and political circles.
With two people dead and seven others—including law enforcement officers—wounded, Wednesday’s violence has escalated what was once a simmering feud into a full-blown tragedy. Whether Wildberries can recover from the damage remains uncertain, but the legacy of this dispute will likely shape the future of the Russian e-commerce giant for years to come.
For now, as investigators sift through the evidence and the detained await questioning, one thing is clear: in the high-stakes world of Russian business, even the most successful enterprises can find themselves one boardroom dispute away from catastrophe.
(With inputs from agencies)
The drama unfolded mere blocks from the Kremlin , in the heart of Moscow 's business district. According to investigators, a group led by Vladislav Bakalchuk attempted to enter the Wildberries headquarters, resulting in a violent clash with security personnel. The ensuing gunfire claimed the lives of two security guards and injured several others, including two police officers.
Tatyana Bakalchuk , who owns 99% of Wildberries, didn't mince words in her assessment of the situation. "Today a group of people led by Vladislav Bakalchuk, Sergei Anufriev and Vladimir Bakin attempted to seize Wildberries' offices in Moscow," she said, her voice tinged with both anger and sorrow in a video posted to Telegram.
"To my deep regret, as a result of the armed attack on Wildberries, a security guard at our office was killed." A second guard died later, local media reports said. “Vladislav, what are you doing? How are you going to look in the eyes of your parents and our children?”
Vladislav Bakalchuk, who retains a 1% stake in the company, offered a starkly different account. He claimed to have arrived at the office for "peaceful negotiations" regarding warehouse construction, only to be "attacked by security guards." The divergent narratives paint a picture of a corporate divorce spiraling dangerously out of control.
The roots of this conflict trace back to June, when Wildberries announced a merger with Russ, a smaller outdoor advertising firm. Russian media reported that the deal had the blessing of the Kremlin, with President Vladimir Putin's deputy chief of staff, Maxim Oreshkin , appointed to oversee its implementation. Vladislav Bakalchuk vehemently opposed the merger, deeming it "a huge mistake."
Adding another layer of intrigue to the saga, Ramzan Kadyrov , the notorious leader of Chechnya, publicly aligned himself with Vladislav in July. In a video statement, Kadyrov denounced the merger as a "blatant and brazen" corporate raid, vowing to intervene.
Now, the Wildberries debacle has evolved beyond a mere business dispute. It has touched on the politics of power in Russia, where corporate maneuvering, family dynamics, and Kremlin interests often intersect in unpredictable ways. The Kremlin itself blessed the merger with Russ, a deal that was reportedly overseen by Maxim Oreshkin, deputy head of the presidential administration. Despite opposition from Vladislav and Kadyrov, the deal proceeded with President Vladimir Putin’s tacit approval, though he made clear he would not directly intervene.
As of now, the future of Wildberries remains in limbo. Tatyana Bakalchuk, who began her business journey selling clothes online in 2004 while on maternity leave, now faces not only the loss of her marriage but also the challenge of navigating a scandal that has captivated Russia’s business and political circles.
With two people dead and seven others—including law enforcement officers—wounded, Wednesday’s violence has escalated what was once a simmering feud into a full-blown tragedy. Whether Wildberries can recover from the damage remains uncertain, but the legacy of this dispute will likely shape the future of the Russian e-commerce giant for years to come.
For now, as investigators sift through the evidence and the detained await questioning, one thing is clear: in the high-stakes world of Russian business, even the most successful enterprises can find themselves one boardroom dispute away from catastrophe.
(With inputs from agencies)
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