The assets of the Ukrainian alcohol company Bayadera Group worth more than $100 million have been “nationalized” in Russia
21 February 2025 07:07
The Velykoustiisky District Court of the Vologda Oblast has ruled to confiscate the assets of Bayadera Group, the largest Ukrainian alcohol company producing Vozdukh and Perepelka vodka. Bayadera Group stated that the company currently does not own any assets directly or indirectly and does not operate in Russia. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to Russian media.
A Russian court has recognized the owners of Bayadera Group, Natalia Bondareva and Svyatoslav Nechitailo, as well as their proxy in Russia, Yuri Moklyak, as “extremists.”
Russian prosecutors claimed that after the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the holding’s assets in Russia were re-registered to Yuriy Moklyak, a trustee of Ukrainian entrepreneurs and co-owners of Bayadera Group, Natalia Bondarieva and Svyatoslav Nechytailo, and he, in turn, registered them to his relatives and controlled persons with whom he has friendly or partnership relations.
Follow us on Telegram: the main news in a nutshell
In particular, in 2023, Moklyak became the formal owner of 100% of the shares in the authorized capital of National Alcohol Traditions LLC. This Russian company owns 99.1% of the Veliky Ustyuz distillery.
In addition, Moklyak and his company Fadel International Ins, registered in Micronesia in the Marshall Islands, are the founders of the Russian LLC Business Group (until 2017 – LLC Bayadera Import), 100% of the shares in the authorized capital of which were previously also owned by the Bayadera Group holding.
In addition, the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation names Alcoholic Traditions of Crimea LLC and Southern Alcoholic Traditions LLC registered in the occupied Crimea as related to these companies. Their owners are Antonina Moklyak, Yuriy Moklyak’s daughter, as well as his wife Natalia Romanova and a number of trustees.
Russian prosecutors also claimed that the co-owners of Bayadera Group directed part of their profits to finance the Armed Forces of Ukraine, so the Russian court, together with the owner of Russian assets, Moklyak, recognized them as extremists and banned their activities.
What assets did Russia confiscate?
The total value of the seized assets is estimated at more than $100 million (about 9 billion rubles). The list of confiscated companies includes:
- JSC Velikoustyuzsky Distillery (Vologda Oblast, Russia);
- National Alcohol Traditions LLC (Moscow);
- Business Group LLC (Moscow);
- LLC “Southern Alcoholic Traditions”; (temporarily occupied Crimea)
- Alcohol Traditions of Crimea LLC (occupied Crimea).
What do you know about Bayadera Group?
Bayadera Group is one of the largest alcohol holdings in Eastern Europe, founded in 1991. The company’s portfolio includes such popular brands as Khlibnyi Dar, Kozatska Rada, Koblevo, Marengo, First Guild, Vozdukh, Celsius, Rada, Vaccine, Nikita, ENTRE, ALIKO and others.
In addition, the holding is the official importer of products of world-famous brands, including Becherovka, Captain Morgan, Johnnie Walker, Baileys, Moët & Chandon, Hennessy, Glenmorangie, and Belvedere.
The company’s products are sold in more than 35 countries.
Closed court session
The trial lasted only one day – the hearing started at 10:00 and ended at 18:00. The case was considered in camera, and the decision to confiscate the assets was made without prior public discussion.
Financial assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a pretext for repression
According to the Russian prosecutor’s office, in 2022-2024, Bayadera Group transferred more than $1.8 million to support the Armed Forces, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and the Azov Regiment. The company also actively cooperated with the charitable foundations Ukraine on Fire and Come Back Alive. The Russian authorities used these facts as a basis for criminal prosecution of Ukrainian business in Russia.
Bayadera Group’s position
The press service of Bayadera Group in a comment to EP stated that the company currently does not own any assets directly or indirectly and does not operate in Russia.
“Accordingly, the confiscation of these assets has nothing to do with our company and has no impact on its operations, financial condition or any other indicators,” the press service said.
Follow us on Telegram: main news in brief
