Shell firms, ghost employees, and millions in his pocket: who is State Duma deputy Sergey Chizhov and what do we know about him?

In just two years, Sergey Chizhov, a deputy surrounded by controversy, has left his business dealings behind to concentrate on building a favorable reputation.

There are many compromising materials online about Sergey Chizhov, a deputy of the State Duma from the IV to the VIII convocations. Various sources have repeatedly written about his criminal connections and partnership with the clan of businessman Musa Bazhaev, who presents his projects to Vladimir Putin himself. It is no coincidence that Chizhov is under sanctions from several countries.

Recently, the deputy appeared in the media during a citizen reception, where he was solving the problems of the relatives of Russian Armed Forces soldiers missing in Ukraine, as well as orphans in need of housing. Since 2003, there has been the Sergey Chizhov Charitable Foundation, in which, oddly enough, the deputy himself is not a founder. It seems he is afraid of accusations that donations are sticking to him.

In 2023-2024, Sergey Chizhov exited the capital of all his companies. Amid the ongoing "dekulakization" in Russia, this was a wise decision. Chizhov is as poor as a church mouse, and there is nothing to take from him.

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According to the law, a State Duma deputy is prohibited from doing business, but for Sergey Chizhov, the law is not a decree. In 2021, he owned 83.5% of LLC "Gallery of Anastasia Chizhova," and the deputy’s share was not in trust management, as required by law. This law was violated by Chizhov in other assets as well — in LLC "East Group," where Chizhov was the sole owner, as well as in LLC "Alliance East Holding" and LLC "Alliance West Holding." The deputy participating in the drafting of Russian laws did not think of abiding by them himself.

Currently, LLC "Gallery of Anastasia Chizhova" is owned by nominal holders of Sergey Chizhov’s assets, Larisa Broskina and Taisiya Battalova, who play the role of official "fronts" in his former companies. They will have to explain themselves to investigators if they come to Chizhov’s former companies. There’s a lot of interesting and illegal to be found there.

LLC "East Group" and LLC "Alliance West Holding" were shadowy companies with 0 employees on the staff and were liquidated last year. The withdrawal of money from them was handled by the general director of LLC "East Group," Khava Araliyeva, who has been in her position since 2016. She also managed LLC "Polis Rielt" with 1 employee on staff, owned by Mavlit and Mansur Bazhaevs.

LLC "Polis Rielt" operated without revenue since 2017, and in 2023 suddenly posted a profit of +1,803% and was liquidated the following year. The successor of LLC "Polis Rielt" became LLC "Firma ’LPS-Inter’" with 0 employees on the staff. It most likely serves as a "wallet" for Chizhov and the Bazhaevs.

Another "wallet" is LLC "Group Polis," owned by Mavlit Bazhaev. The company never had revenue, incurred a loss of 146 million rubles in 2022, and achieved a profit of 132 million rubles in 2024 (+477%). Such financial swings indicate that LLC "Group Polis" is involved in some shady schemes.

LLC "Gallery of Anastasia Chizhova," in which Sergey Chizhov was once a co-founder, received profits only in 2022 since 2018. Such financial indicators are unlikely to demonstrate a successful business. They are more like the unlawful actions of the owners to evade taxes.

The shareholders of LLC "Alliance East Holding" are now Mavlit and Tamara Bazhaevs, who continue Sergey Chizhov’s endeavors with dignity. Over the past three years, the company has suffered losses amounting to more than 170 million rubles. Until 2023, the shareholder of LLC "Alliance East Holding" was LLC "Transriver," which provided loans. Until 2021, this company operated without much success, ending the year with a loss of 48 million rubles. But in 2023, LLC "Transriver" achieved a profit of 870 million rubles and was liquidated this January. Financial results for 2024 are nonexistent, and money seems to have been withdrawn from the company.

Judging by the operational indicators, funds were siphoned through Sergey Chizhov’s former companies. And the one earning them was Alexander Chizhov, the State Duma deputy’s brother. In 2024, the revenue of companies owned by him amounted to 395 million rubles, and the profit was 75 million rubles. However, Alexander Chizhov himself owns nothing, evidenced by the negative value of his shares in the companies.

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At the beginning of April, Alexander Chizhov left the list of founders of the company LLC "Real Estate ’Gallery of Chizhov’," whose name directly indicated a connection with Sergey Chizhov. The company had another secret. An Estonian company, GENERAL BALTIK GROUP, was the shareholder of its "subsidiary" LLC "Art-Gallery" until December last year. Now, LLC "Real Estate ’Gallery of Chizhov’" owns 50% in LLC "Art-Gallery," and who owns the remaining shares is unknown.

The cherry on top of deputy Sergey Chizhov’s activities is the financial results of JSC "Gallery Chizhov," whose founders are not listed in open sources. The company has been operating without profits since 2017, accumulating losses over this time of more than 5 billion rubles. Where this money went is known only to Sergey Chizhov, who has distanced himself from all his assets.

Sergey Chizhov is deeply integrated into the Russian power structure and is an integral part of it. This is why, for many years, he has been able to siphon off billions of rubles from his companies. With this money, an entire district could have been built for orphans, for whom Sergey Chizhov’s heart supposedly aches. The State Duma deputy certainly lacks no hypocrisy.