Bespalov Alexander

Biography

2023: Arrest in bribe case

On June 16, 2023, the Zamoskvoretsky Court of Moscow arrested the owner of the Russian North and Rodnik and K distilleries, Alexander Bespalov, who is accused of committing crimes under paragraph "a" of Part 4 of Art. 291 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (giving a bribe to an official committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy).

Directly giving a bribe (Article 291 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), as reported by Business FM, is imputed to another person involved in the case - the head of Rodnik and K, Andrei Lazutin, who was released under the ban of certain actions. It was his request, according to the investigation, that Bespalov fulfilled when in 2022 he decided to help his subordinate. According to the radio station, it was about $10 thousand.

Co-owner of Russian North and Rodnik and K distilleries arrested in Moscow in bribe case

He complied with his request. I received money from him and transferred it further, - said the entrepreneur's lawyer Elisha Pyatin, noting that Bespalov "did not take a single ruble for his help." He didn't have the need for money, he just helped the person, "said the defender.

He did not explain what the money was intended for or who was the recipient of it, citing the fact that he did not receive permission from the client to release this information. However, he noted that at the time of his arrest Bespalov did not admit his guilt, he gave detailed testimony in the case.

Entrepreneurs, if their guilt is proven, face from 7 to 12 years in prison.

According to Forbes on July 4, 2023, Bespalov and Lazutin head the enterprises that poured Khortitsa vodka and other products of the Global Spirits holding. A criminal case has been opened against the founder of the holding, a former member of the Ukrainian Forbes list Yevgeny Chernyak, in Russia on the financing of terrorism: according to the investigation, he transferred more than 500 million rubles to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other Ukrainian military. The TFR reported on the detention of two "proxies" Chernyak, without naming them, and claimed that one of the detainees was charged under Part 4 of Article 291 of the Criminal Code (giving a bribe), the second - under Part 3 of Article 291.1 of the Criminal Code (mediation in a bribe committed by a group of persons on an especially large scale).^[1]

Notes