Stepakin Nikolay Andreevich

Biography

2025: Sentence - 5.5 years in a general regime colony

On August 5, 2025, it became known that the Kirovsky District Court of Novosibirsk sentenced the former heads of the Tyazhstankohidropress plant Viktor Aranovsky and Nikolai Stepakin. The court found them guilty of committing economic crimes that caused significant damage to the enterprise.

Former General Director of TSGP Viktor Aranovsky received 4.5 years of probation. He was accused of fraud and money laundering. The investigation found that he illegally appropriated the property of the enterprise, including a farm, a building, a land plot and equipment totaling over ₽200 million.

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Фото: Freepik

Nikolai Stepakin, who served as general director after Viktor Aranovsky, was sentenced to 5.5 years in a general regime colony. In relation to him, the court recognized the facts of fraud, embezzlement and deliberate bankruptcy of the enterprise as proven. According to investigators, Nikolai Stepakin sold the plant's property at a reduced cost. In particular, the equipment was sold for ₽30 million at a significantly higher market price. He also organized the repair of equipment of third-party companies at the expense of the enterprise, causing damage of ₽47 million.

Both convicts pleaded not guilty, saying they were victims of a raider seizure. According to them, a third party, representatives of a large financial group, received real benefits from the actions.

According to the publication, in January 2025, a separate criminal case was initiated against Nikolai Stepakin under the article on commercial bribery (part 3 of article 204 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). He is suspected of demanding ₽13 million for signing documents from entrepreneurs.

The verdict has not yet entered into legal force and can be appealed in accordance with the established procedure.

Tyazhstankohidropress holds a leading position among Russian enterprises producing industrial equipment. The company specializes in the production of hydraulic presses, metalworking machines and pumping equipment, including complex pumping stations.^[1]

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