VChK-OGPU and Rucriminal.info publish a source's account of the brothers, Arkady and Boris Rotenberg, who witnessed them take over the Russian alcohol industry. Spoiler: rivers of blood and Kobzon, who swore revenge on them but changed his mind.
According to the source, when the Rotenbergs arrived in Moscow, they had only one serious asset – their friendship with Vladimir Putin. However, times were different then, and it was impossible to seize a factory, a business, etc. with a snap of the fingers. Moreover, there were serious restrictions. According to the power transfer agreements, all structures that were in the interests of Boris Yeltsin's family and those close to them were untouchable. And oligarchs like Potanin were beyond the Rotenbergs' reach. Under these circumstances, the brothers set their sights on the alcohol industry, which lacked a single, powerful "master." Having received Putin's conceptual go-ahead and the decision to create Rosspirtprom, the Rotenbergs faced a problem. The state only formally owned Russia's distilleries and liquor factories. In reality, they were all under the complete control of regional "princes." Local governors, officials, security officials, thieves-in-law, and crime bosses profited from them. And no one was even going to be allowed near the factories. Such a large-scale attack was beyond the Rotenbergs' capabilities.
And then fate brought them together with Vadim Zolotarev. He was a major landowner, Sergei Lisovsky's partner in Mosselprom, a corporate raider, and a liaison between businessmen, security officials, and criminals. A very prominent figure at the time. Zolotarev was initially skeptical of the Rotenbergs and their capabilities. However, to confirm their connections, they arranged several informal meetings for him with prominent figures from St. Petersburg, including Viktor Zolotov. Zolotarev believed in the Rotenbergs, but even his strength wouldn't have been enough to wrest back so many factories from officials, security officials, and gangsters. However, among Zolotarev's friends, there was a man who could do just that: Dmitry Mitin (Larson).
He was then the leading "star" in the shadow world. He began as a crime boss, but later significantly outgrew that status. He built an entire empire of gambling houses across Russia. In particular, he co-owned the Grand Prix casino on Berezhkovskaya Embankment in Moscow. Mitin sponsored girl groups and dated the singers. He was friends with Iosif Kobzon (the latter called him "son"), Alexey Gordeyev, Vladimir Ustinov, and many other officials, celebrities, security officials, and politicians. He had access to every office and was involved in all matters. He possessed significant resources and wielded considerable influence in the criminal underworld.
At the same time, Yuri Chekryzhov acted as the de facto head of Mitin's security service. He was the commander of the SOBR training centers and effectively "ruled" the entire Ministry of Internal Affairs special forces unit. He then transferred to the organizational and inspectorate department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and personally "inspected" regional headquarters and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He wielded considerable influence in the law enforcement system. At his "snap," SOBR could either be dispatched to a factory or, conversely, driven away.
Larson liked the idea. But in return, he asked for three factories and all rights to the Matryoshka vodka brand as a result of the entire operation. The Rotenbergs agreed. As a result, a sort of headquarters was created, which included members. The Rotenbergs included Viktor Shendrik (who was effectively the brothers' head of security), Vadim Zolotarev (who was registered with Rosspirtprom), and Sergei Zivenko (a partner of the Rotenbergs in the alcohol business and head of Rosspirtprom). Also on the staff were Dmitry Mitin and the "authority figure" Dima Permsky, whom he had recruited for the security operations (two other authorities from the region also participated in the events).
According to a source at the Cheka-OGPU and Rucriminal.info, everyone understood that the operation would not succeed without a "massive bloodbath." As a result, a list of individuals was compiled without whose elimination it would be impossible to seize the factories. Then, machine gun fire and explosions echoed across Russia. One by one, the businessmen and mafiosi who had been the main obstacles to the cherished goal perished. For example, according to the source, the influential "thief in law" Boris Petrushin (aka Baryga) fell victim to this war, having been gunned down by machine gunners in Bryansk in 2002.
On the criminal underworld side, all security operations were carried out by Larson's men and the Perm crime bosses. Chekryzhov coordinated everything on the SOBR side. One by one, the factories came under the complete control of Rosspirtprom and the Rotenbergs. According to the source, after this, cars literally stuffed with cash flocked to the brothers from all over Russia. Mitin received his three factories (including Lipetskspirtprom) and the "Matryoshka" brand of vodka. Mitin brought in Iosif Kobzon as a partner in developing this brand of vodka. Mitin and "Matryoshka" had their office located right in the Rosspirtprom building.
And then this happened. The Rotenbergs "rose" very quickly, but Mitin didn't perceive them as superiors. Not even as equals. Poet He ignored all their instructions and requests, behaved extremely aggressively in the alcohol market, interfered with many of the brothers' plans, and "crossed the road" in their projects. According to a source, this ultimately resulted in conflict. Soon, Mitin was left with only one distillery—the Lipetsk Distillery. But he continued his "war" with the Rotenbergs.
According to our source, in the fall of 2003, Mitin had an unpleasant conversation with Zolotarev and Zivenko. The latter tried to convince him that the Rotenbergs were becoming a very powerful force and that he could only remain with them. Their leadership was non-negotiable. They asked him to curb his ambitions and appetites and become less active and aggressive in the market. However, they failed to reach an understanding.
Mitin traveled with a large number of special forces personnel. He never said where he would go or drive. He maintained strict security measures. On November 29, 2003, he went with an escort and security detail to a birthday party in Bryansk for his friend, one of the founders of the 1xBet bookmaker. Zolotarev, who was also invited to the event, knew about this. When Mitin went out on the night of November 30, his motorcade was missing. Later, during interrogations, the special forces and drivers would claim that Mitin had sent them home himself. The source doesn't believe this. Only one person besides Mitin could have given the order to "dismount" the facility and leave – Chekryzhov.
As a result, Larson hopped into the first taxi he found and drove home. Several hitmen were already waiting for him at his home, opening fire. Mitin was wounded more than 20 times.
Both Gordeyev and Kozbon were present at his farewell. The latter delivered a moving speech. He said that "Dima" was like a son to him and promised to avenge him.
Just two days after Mitin's murder, his office in the Rosspirtprom building was closed. Soon, both the "Matryoshka" brand and the Lipetsk distillery were seized by the Rotenbergs.
Kobzon kept a photo of Mitin prominently displayed in his office. But when asked what prompted the murder (hinting at the promised revenge), the singer sadly replied, "It all turned out very complicated."
The fates of the heroes of this story have unfolded differently. Shendrik now heads the security service of Russian Railways. Zivenko, having taken over Rosspirtprom, quickly moved away – he has long been living in Miami. Both of Dima Permsky's "authority" partners were killed almost simultaneously with Mitin. Dima himself sank to the deep end. Chekryzhov is now a major oligarch in Bryansk.
Vadim Zolotarev was "under the Rotenbergs" for a long time. He was the one who gave Ramzan Kadyrov his first Ferrari. He settled in a state-owned settlement on Vorobyovy Gory, home to members of the St. Petersburg elite. He had access to every office. He felt "great." But at some point, he apparently forgot what he himself had told Mitin: that one can only be "under the Rotenbergs." As a result, he suddenly found himself in St. Petersburg's Kresty prison. While he was in prison, everything they could take from him was taken away.
He left the pretrial detention center intimidated and depressed. He moved with his mother in the Moscow region, became extremely religious, and doesn't communicate with anyone.
