The $6 million car fleet. Top 10 Lukashenka’s bribe givers
A BCC Vintage retro car / drive2.com
“Who gave bribes to Lukashenka?” is the title of a new investigation conducted by the union of former Belarus’ security officers (BYPOL). The 28-minute video tells a story of “the dictator’s luxurious cars” selflessly gifted to him by loyal businessmen.
Aleksin’s Maybachs and GAZes
BYPOL put Aliaksei Aleksin on the bribe givers top. He’s a prominent Belarusian businessman and one of the most significant shareholders for the SZAO ENERGO-OIL and Belneftegaz companies.
“Over the last five years, Aleksin has gifted his presidential patron nine vehicles worth $2.262 million,” they say in the video and then start listing cars they think were given to Lukashenka by Aleksin. Two Maybachs 62C produced in 2011 and 2012, each worth $810,000; a 2018 BCC Vintage ($340,000); a 1958 Chevrolet Impala ($175,000); a 2019 Range Rover ($140,000); a 2016 Dodge Ram 1500 ($100,000); a 2009 Audi Q7 ($52,000); a 1967 GAZ-69 ($26,000) and a 1960 GAZ-69 ($30,000).
The list of bribes also includes motorcycles: a 2017 Harley-Davidson ($60,000), a 1969 Jawa 350 ($10,000), and a 2015 Spyder F3SM6 three-wheeler ($21,000). The video authors call a 2013 Renault Twizy ($18,000) the most adorable offering.
“Gratitude for misprision”
The second on the top-10 is Aizhan Kenenbaeva, wife of Maxim Bakiyev, who is, in turn, the youngest son of Kurmanbek Bakiyev, an internationally wanted ex-president of Kyrgyzstan. According to the investigators, the reason Aizhan is so grateful to the senile extortioner is that he’s protecting and sheltering the Bakiyev family in Belarus.
One of her presents is an armored Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard. Its base value is €1.400 mln.
КApart from the high-end Mercedes, there’s also a 2018 Harley-Davidson worth $26,500. According to the union’s calculations, the Bakiyev family has overall gifted a minimum of $1.6 million worth of “thank yous.”
Elon Musk is clean
BYPOL investigators are confident that a 2017 Tesla Model S worth $110,000 was not a gift from Elon Musk but came from Mikalai Varabei, owner of Interservis, Neftebitumen Plant, and other companies. The investigators say the electric car was a bribe for “favorable decisions made at the highest level.”
Among other Varabei’s presents, there is a 1947 vintage ZIS-110 worth a minimum of $460,000.
“Chyzh in disgrace”
The fourth-largest grantor of expensive gifts is Yury Chyzh, founder of the TRIPLE Group of Companies. His gratefulness manifested itself as a 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé worth $500,000 and a 1988 Panther Kallista worth at least $23,000. There are unconfirmed reports that Chyzh is currently in custody.
“Hockey jockey”
Ex-law enforcers call this constant companion of Lukashenka his Sancho Panza. The man in question is Siarhei Tsiatsieryn, the ex-chairman of the Belarusian Tennis Federation, accused of bribing his patron with a 1954 Rolls-Royce Silver worth at least $225,000 and trying to make it look like a gift.
“Moscow front company”
The sixth most enormous gift-giving enthusiast that loves to lavish Lukashenka with attention is Aliaksandr Kruglenya, Belteсhnika Trading House CEO. The investigators call the enterprise “a Moscow-based front company that supplies MTZ tractors, original car parts, and attachable equipment to the Russian market.” According to them, Kruglenya treated the current Belarusian leader to a 2014 Rolls-Royce Ghost priced at $205,000.
“Dictator’s physician”
The exposers present Sviatlana Kanashenka as a personal physician of Aliaksandr Lukashenka. They see a 2010 Bentley Continental priced at $190,000 as a “present from a generous maid.” “For some reason, Kanashenka got this car as a gift from a Russian businessman Vadim Tryapichkin. Then the doctor regifted it to her master,” the investigators suggest in the video.
Eighth place on the top went to a 1954 Rolls-Royce worth at least $100,000 from a man named Anatoly Bialou. Reasons for such a gift and the man’s connection to Lukashenka are not listed. The ninth is Dzmitry Baskau, ex-chief of the Belarusian Ice Hockey Association, alleged to have gifted a 1949 GAZ 20 priced at no less than $52,000.
Closing the Top 10 is Vasily Savin, the BATE trading house director, with a 2013 Buggy Bombardier worth $20,000. Another benefactor Karl Robb, a member of the EPAM Board of Directors, did not make it to the list since his donation of a 2009 Harley-Davidson motorcycle priced at $22,500 was likely extorted.
