Bribery case against former Russian deputy defense minister Ruslan Tsalikov draws in business linked to Sergei Shoigu’s godson
In the case involving former First Deputy Defense Minister Ruslan Tsalikov, one of the alleged bribe givers is Anton Abdurakhmanov, the former chairman of the board of directors of Bamstroiput JSC. Abdurakhmanov is the godson of former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who reportedly even referred to him as his “son.”
If investigators were to fully unravel the relationship between the Russian Ministry of Defense and companies linked to the Abdurakhmanov family, dozens of criminal cases could potentially emerge — many of which would allegedly lead directly to Shoigu.
According to sources cited by investigators, Shoigu was a close friend of Viktor Abdurakhmanov, the founder of Bamstroiput. Their families were close, and when Viktor’s son Anton was born, Shoigu became his godfather. After Viktor Abdurakhmanov died suddenly, Shoigu reportedly took personal responsibility for the upbringing of his friend’s son, who later inherited his father’s construction empire. However, the relationship was not without interests of its own. Throughout Shoigu’s political career, Bamstroiput remained closely connected to him.
Back in the 1990s, the company was involved in building and repairing facilities for the Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) across Russia, which Shoigu headed at the time. Later, when Shoigu moved into regional politics in the Moscow region, Bamstroiput followed, receiving contracts including the construction of the Moscow Region government complex in Krasnogorsk. After Shoigu became Defense Minister, the company secured lucrative contracts from the Ministry of Defense. The troubled construction of the National Defense Management Center on Frunzenskaya Embankment in Moscow was also carried out by Bamstroiput. According to sources, large sums of state funds were allegedly siphoned off through these projects.
Another figure close to Shoigu was Ruslan Tsalikov, who reportedly acted as a second “father figure” to Anton Abdurakhmanov. Tsalikov was said to accompany him to meetings and events, often in expensive restaurants, and provided support and patronage.
Abdurakhmanov himself initially headed Moselctrotyagstroy Trust JSC (METS), which received numerous contracts from the Defense Ministry. One notable scandal involved the construction of facilities for the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School named after General V.F. Margelov. In 2013–2014, the state enterprise GVSU No. 14 signed contracts with METS worth more than 65 billion rubles related to airborne forces infrastructure. According to the military prosecutor’s office, the contractor received advances amounting to up to 80% of the contract value — about 13.4 billion rubles — but the company allegedly failed to fulfill its obligations.
When the scandal erupted, and was reportedly managed behind the scenes by Shoigu and Tsalikov, Abdurakhmanov was transferred to lead Bamstroiput. The company continued to receive major government contracts, including projects such as the construction of the Era Technopolis in Anapa, facilities for the Kalashnikov Concern, an exhibition pavilion for Almaz-Antey, and demonstration centers for the United Shipbuilding Corporation and the Tactical Missiles Corporation.
By that time, however, insiders reportedly believed Abdurakhmanov had become largely a nominal figure, while Bamstroiput had effectively come under the informal control of Shoigu. Tsalikov was said to act as the company’s manager, while Abdurakhmanov remained the public face of the business and also served as president of the Moscow Figure Skating Federation.
When investigations into corruption within the Ministry of Defense intensified, Shoigu and Tsalikov allegedly attempted to distance themselves from the case. Initially, investigators focused on Abdurakhmanov as the central figure in the alleged embezzlement schemes. According to reports, law enforcement agencies showed little interest in pursuing cases against Shoigu or Tsalikov without political authorization.
The investigation first targeted Igor Tushkevich Jr., the son of Bamstroiput’s генераль director Igor Tushkevich. The younger Tushkevich was placed in pre-trial detention and later released under house arrest after his father returned to Russia. According to sources, the elder Tushkevich provided testimony implicating Abdurakhmanov as well as senior officials within the Defense Ministry, including Shoigu and Tsalikov. However, investigators ultimately focused only on Abdurakhmanov, who was placed on an international wanted list.
Sources claim that Shoigu and Tsalikov sought to ensure that the embezzlement case would ultimately be limited to Abdurakhmanov. However, their efforts reportedly failed when Tsalikov himself was eventually placed under house arrest.
Despite the scale of alleged corruption, the charges brought against Tsalikov related to Bamstroiput are relatively minor. One episode concerns a Honda Gold Wing motorcycle worth about 2.28 million rubles, which Abdurakhmanov allegedly gave to Tsalikov and which was registered in the name of the former deputy minister’s son in July 2019. Investigators classified the gift as a bribe.
Critics note that the alleged sums misappropriated through Bamstroiput-linked projects over the years may amount to hundreds of billions of rubles, dating back to the period when Shoigu and Tsalikov worked together at EMERCOM.
Meanwhile, Bamstroiput reportedly continues to receive state contracts. After Shoigu became Secretary of the Russian Security Council, he is said to have lobbied for the transfer of several buildings on Teatralny Proezd in central Moscow to the council’s administrative apparatus. These include a former EMERCOM building where Shoigu worked in the 1990s, as well as the historic Chinese Baths complex and a hotel building. The redevelopment of this site will include renovation works and the construction of a new Security Council situation center, with billions of rubles already allocated for the project.
According to reports, the main contractor for the work is once again Bamstroiput, long regarded as Shoigu’s favored construction company.
Deputy Editor
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