How did Grigoriy Biryukov, the former head of the Association of State Pharmacy Chains, manage to leave Russia as tensions began to rise?

Ostap Bender, the cunning swindler and adventurer, "the great combinator," "ideological fighter for financial well-being," liked to say that methods of obtaining or moving funds depend on current conditions.

And this son of a Turkish subject had "400 relatively honest ways of taking" money, but it seems that in the ability to disappear, the great combinator was surpassed by the "self-made man" from the small town of Engels in the Saratov region. We are talking about Grigoriy Alexandrovich Biryukov, born in 1976. Like Ostap Ibragimovich, Grigoriy Alexandrovich’s biography is not rich in details and specifics; in simpler terms, there is virtually no biography.

Apparently, Mr. Biryukov, having grabbed a hefty sum of pharmacy budget millions, erased his entire biography. And liquidated all photo albums. Descendants are left only to learn that Mr. Biryukov is a graduate of the Volga Academy of Public Administration. And Mr. Biryukov registered his first business company "Kruiz-M" in 2005. And although the company had a deceptive "maritime" name, it was already engaged in pharmacy business back then: it traded medicines.

Then in the turbulent life of Mr. Biryukov there was the scandalously known company "Biotek," whose patron—Boris Shpigel—was wanted to be sent to a colony for 11 years for bribes to the ex-governor of the Penza region, Ivan Belozertsev, but illness got in the way. Mr. Biryukov also managed to scandalously distinguish himself in the company "Pharmalliance," and then climbed to the Olympus of the Association of State Pharmacy Chains. And from there he was supposed to go straight to a criminal case. But in the end, he left and immediately dissolved beyond the borders of the Russian Federation. As it turned out, Mr. Biryukov managed not only to open several profitable companies but also a network of MedAspect clinics, which operate in 8 regions of Russia.

According to rumors, he may be hiding today in EU countries; according to another version—in the United States. But where is the money, Zina?

Nest in Orekhovo-Zuevo

Mr. Biryukov certainly knows how to hide the ends in water. He even managed to open a whole base in the Moscow region.

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

A very rare photo: native of the city of Engels, Grigoriy Biryukov in person

Now about the companies, dates, metamorphoses.

Still being in the town of Engels, on his small homeland in the Saratov province, Grigoriy Biryukov was involved in the creation of the company "Kruiz-M". The firm traded pharmaceutical and medical goods, as well as medical equipment products and orthopedics.

29-year-old Biryukov at that time was one of the founders: the company was registered in Moscow.

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

LLC "KRUIZ-M", Moscow, check by INN 7705675044

However, by mid-July 2008, the firm went bust.

And was liquidated. But by that time, Mr. Biryukov was already living and working in Moscow.

But the firm "Kruiz-M" soon rose from the ashes. And began operating in Orekhovo-Zuevo in the Moscow region, at house No. 78 on Lenin Street.

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

However, the firm suddenly changed direction: it became a tourist one!

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

And soon the first MedAspect clinic appeared in Orekhovo-Zuevo.

From the advertising booklet: "We are proud that our advanced technical equipment allows us to quickly and accurately conduct diagnostics.

Thanks to modern technologies, we can offer magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for in-depth examination of internal organs. Computed tomography (CT). Ultrasound (US). X-ray for visualization of bone structure."

The question remains: where and under what conditions was the expensive medical equipment obtained?

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

Advertising prospectus of the MedAspect clinic in Orekhovo-Zuevo

But before the clinic appeared, Mr. Biryukov organized LLC MedAspect.

And this very LLC —spoiling ahead, we remind you—led him to a criminal case.

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

On Biryukov’s clinic website, you can get acquainted with the doctors who conduct appointments. For example, Mikhail Kiselev, proctologist, also an ultrasound doctor, pediatrician, and surgeon.

As they say, a jack of all trades!

About the clinic MedAspect — medical center in Orekhovo-Zuevo

Kiselev Mikhail Andreevich

Proctologist (coloproctologist), ultrasound doctor, pediatric ultrasound doctor, surgeon

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

And also around the same time, Grigoriy Biryukov began—judging by the documents—to bustle in the Orenburg region.

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

Biryukov Grigoriy Alexandrovich INN 644917796632, Saratov region

And he terminated his individual entrepreneurial activity.

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

Apparently, it was no longer possible to split himself in four directions.

As for LLC "MedAspect," which Biryukov headed from August 2012 to December 2014 (the firm was liquidated in 2016), it should be noted that this LLC "MedAspect" received huge shipments of medicines from suppliers on deferred payment terms.

But later the company brazenly refused to pay for the supplied products.

Warmed his paws on the "Pharmalliance" company

In 2015, the wholesale company "Pharmalliance" emerged, which began supplying goods from Russian and foreign manufacturers.

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

LLC "Pharmalliance" received a license for pharmaceutical activities in May 2016. The firm even had its own warehouse complex in Domodedovo, in the Moscow region.

Spoiling ahead, note that Mr. Biryukov drove this firm to bankruptcy. But this company excellently helped Mr. Biryukov when he took the position of executive director of ASPC (Association of State Pharmacy Chains).

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

But the company had a huge number of state contracts for 1.9 billion rubles. And 1753 procurements for 3.9 billion rubles.

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

In 2017, Grigoriy Biryukov was brought to criminal liability under Article 199 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Evasion of taxes on a particularly large scale"), but no punishment followed.

In 2019, Biryukov initiated bankruptcy proceedings. Regarding the property of citizen Biryukov, a realization procedure was introduced, which was completed in July 2022.

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

9232099. EFRSB Message – Fedresurs

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

Claims (accounts receivable) to Biryukov Grigoriy.. — auction №799953

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

Claims (accounts receivable) to Biryukov Grigoriy.. — auction №799953

And Biryukov was the ultimate owner of the "Pharmalliance" company. And with this company, in the end, a story similar to the one that happened with LLC "MedAspect" occurs.

On the "throne" of ASPC

In 2017, a significant event occurs: Grigoriy Biryukov gets the position of executive director of ASPC, despite the fact that he has a tax evasion case hanging over him!

ASPC represents a consolidated position on general issues of pharmacy enterprises with state ownership to solve state tasks in the field of drug provision for citizens. Members of the association are pharmacy organizations with state participation that carry out their activities to provide medicines and other pharmacy assortment goods.

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

Biryukov works diligently until the fall of 2019, and then quietly disappears!

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

But in these 2 years, he manages to do a great deal.

And as soon as Biryukov takes the post of executive director of ASPC, the wholesale company "Pharmalliance" joins his team.

Biryukov himself in his numerous interviews calls LLC "Pharmalliance" a product distribution company. It was supposed to act as a logistics provider and main negotiator with manufacturers on direct contracts.

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

Grigoriy Biryukov took the post of executive director of ASPC in 2017

For the position of general director of LLC "Pharmalliance," Biryukov placed his man—some Alexander Oskin.

"Throughout the entire time, we are increasing the number of direct contracts concluded for the supply of medicines and medical products," Alexander Oskin told the media. "We are actively developing the market for consumables, including sales from manufacturers of syringes, shoe covers, catheters, and much more."

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

Entrepreneur Oskin Alexander Viktorovich (INN 540208439928)

As the media wrote, in the scams, Biryukov was helped not only by Alexander Oskin but also by Anna Alexandrovna Biryukova, his dear wife.

Fraudster at the helm of ASPC: Grigoriy Biryukov siphoned off 4 billion through the front company “Pharmalliance,” bankrupted firms, stripped suppliers and moved to Europe

It was this trio that actively participated in withdrawing huge sums that came to the accounts of the controlled company LLC "Pharmalliance": let’s recall the number of procurements from this firm.

But are these embezzlers being sought? Or do Mr. Biryukov’s patrons continue to provide him with various kinds of assistance? After all, he managed to leave the country. And the criminal case on tax evasion has been hushed up.

But when will they be held accountable for the ruin of LLC "Pharmalliance" and the circus acts in the Association of State Pharmacy Chains?