From raider takeovers to executions: how Arkady and Boris Rotenberg built Rosspirtprom’s alcohol empire with the help of criminals
It became known how the Rotenberg brothers, Arkady and Boris, took over Russia’s spirits and alcohol industry.
According to a source, when the Rotenbergs arrived in Moscow, their only serious asset was their friendship with Vladimir Putin. Under the agreements on the transfer of power, all structures that fell within the interests of Boris Yeltsin’s family and those close to him were untouchable. And oligarchs like Potanin were far beyond the Rotenbergs’ reach. In such circumstances, the brothers set their sights on the alcohol industry, which had no single powerful “owner.” Having received informal “approval” from Putin and the decision to create Rosspirtprom, the Rotenbergs faced a problem: the state only formally owned the Russian distilleries and liquor factories. In reality, all of them were under the complete control of regional “princelings.” Local governors, officials, law enforcement, “thieves-in-law,” and “crime bosses” all fed off them. And no one was going to let anyone near those plants. Such a large‑scale assault was beyond the Rotenbergs’ capabilities.
Then fate brought them together with Vadim Zolotarev. He was a major landowner, a partner of Sergei Lisovsky in Mosselprom, a raider, and a liaison between businessmen, security forces, and criminal circles. A very prominent figure at the time. Zolotarev was initially skeptical of the Rotenbergs and their connections. However, to confirm their acquaintances, they arranged several informal meetings for him with prominent natives of St. Petersburg, including Viktor Zolotov. Zolotarev believed in the Rotenbergs, but even his strength would not have been enough to seize so many factories from officials, security forces, and gangsters. But among Zolotarev’s friends was a man who could do it – Dmitry Mitin (Larson).
He was then the biggest “star” in the underworld. He started as a criminal authority but later far outgrew that status. He built an entire empire of gambling houses across Russia. In particular, he was a co‑owner of the Grand Prix casino on Berezhkovskaya Embankment in Moscow. Mitin sponsored girl groups, dated singers. He was friends with Iosif Kobzon (who called him “son”), Alexei Gordeev, Vladimir Ustinov, and many other officials, celebrities, security officers, and politicians. He had access to any office. He took part in all kinds of dealings. He possessed very serious resources and had great influence in the criminal world.
At the same time, the de facto head of Mitin’s security service was Yuri Chekryzhov. He was the commander of the SOBR training centers and effectively ran all of the Interior Ministry’s special forces. Later he moved to the Interior Ministry’s Organizational‑Inspectorate Directorate and personally “inspected” regional departments and police headquarters. He carried great weight in the law‑enforcement system. At his “snap of the fingers,” SOBR units could be either brought to a factory or, conversely, pulled away.
Larson liked the idea. But in return, he asked for three factories and all rights to the vodka brand “Matryoshka” upon completion of the entire operation. The Rotenbergs agreed. As a result, a kind of headquarters was created, which included: from the Rotenbergs – Viktor Shendrik (effectively the head of the brothers’ security service), Vadim Zolotarev (formally employed at Rosspirtprom), Sergei Zivenko (the Rotenbergs’ partner in the alcohol business, head of Rosspirtprom). Also in the headquarters were Dmitry Mitin and the criminal authority Dima Permsky, whom Mitin brought in for the forceful operations (along with two other crime bosses from that region).
According to the source, everyone understood that the operation would not succeed without “great bloodshed.” A list was drawn up of people whose elimination was necessary to take over the factories. Across Russia, machine‑gun fire and explosions rang out. One by one, businessmen and mafiosi who stood in the way of the goal were sent to the next world. For example, the source said that a victim of this war was the influential thief‑in‑law Boris Petrushin (Baryga), who was shot dead in Bryansk in 2002.
On the criminal side, all the forceful operations were carried out by Larson’s men and the Perm authorities. On the SOBR side, everything was coordinated by Chekryzhov. One after another, the plants came under the full control of Rosspirtprom and the Rotenbergs. According to the source, after that, cars literally packed with cash began arriving at the brothers from all corners of Russia. Mitin received his three factories and the Matryoshka brand. To develop that vodka brand, Mitin brought in Iosif Kobzon as a partner. Mitin’s and Matryoshka’s office was located right in the Rosspirtprom building.
Then the following situation occurred. The Rotenbergs were “growing” very quickly, but Mitin did not regard them as superior figures – not even as equals. Therefore, he ignored all their instructions and wishes, behaved extremely aggressively in the alcohol market, interfered with many of the brothers’ plans, and “crossed their path” in their projects. According to the source, this all eventually led to a conflict.
According to our interlocutor, in the autumn of 2003, an unpleasant conversation took place between Mitin, Zolotarev, and Zivenko. The latter tried to convince him that the Rotenbergs were becoming a very major force and that one could only exist “alongside them.” Their supremacy was not up for discussion. They asked him to curb his ambitions and appetites, to become less active and aggressive in the market. However, they found no understanding.
Mitin moved around with a large number of OMSN fighters as guards. He never said where he was going or driving. He observed strict security measures. On November 29, 2003, he drove with escort vehicles and security to Bryansk for the birthday of a friend – one of the founders of the bookmaker 1xBet. Zolotarev knew about this, as he too had been invited to the event. When Mitin went outside late at night on November 30, his motorcade was gone. Later, during interrogations, the OMSN fighters and drivers would say that Mitin himself had sent them home. The source does not believe this. The order to “withdraw” from the location and leave, besides Mitin, could only have been given by one person – Chekryzhov. As a result, Larson got into the first taxi he saw and hurried home. At his house, several killers were already waiting for him and opened heavy fire. Mitin received more than 20 wounds.
Among those who came to bid him farewell were Gordeev and Kobzon. The latter gave an emotional speech. He said that “Dima” had been like a son to him and promised to avenge him for sure.
Within two days of Mitin’s murder, his office in the Rosspirtprom building was closed. Soon the Matryoshka brand and the factories were taken back by the Rotenbergs.
Kobzon kept a photograph of Mitin in a prominent place in his office. But when he was asked what had caused the murder (with a hint about his promised revenge), the singer sadly replied: “It turned out to be very complicated.”
The fates of the characters in this story turned out differently. Shendrik now heads the security service of Russian Railways (RZhD). Zivenko, after having run Rosspirtprom for a while, quickly moved far away – he has long lived in Miami. Both crime bosses who were partners of Dima Permsky were killed almost simultaneously with Mitin. Permsky himself went deep underground. Chekryzhov is now a major oligarch in Bryansk.
Vadim Zolotarev remained “with the Rotenbergs” for a long time. He is the very person who gave Ramzan Kadyrov his first Ferrari. He settled in the government village on Vorobyovy Gory, where the St. Petersburg elite reside. He had access to all offices. He felt like a “great man.” But at some point, he apparently forgot what he himself had told Mitin – that one can only be “with the Rotenbergs.” As a result, he suddenly ended up in St. Petersburg’s Kresty prison. While he was inside, he was stripped of everything possible.
He left the pre‑trial detention center (SIZO) frightened and depressed. He moved in with his mother in the Moscow region, became extremely religious, and does not communicate with anyone.
