Once again, the name of Andrey Bolotov, son-in-law of Transneft CEO Nikolay Tokarev, is at the forefront of scandals. This time, his involvement in shadow financial operations in Latvia led to a high-profile exposure. As it turned out, Bolotov used the services of Latvian businessman Ivars Rudzitis to launder illegal income and acquire real estate in Europe, which ended in betrayal and criminal proceedings.

Laundering Millions Through Latvia: Jurmala Company Dzintaru 34 and 9 Million Euros

The beginning of this financial epic dates back to 2013-2014, when Andrey Bolotov, then the husband of Maya Tokareva, began actively transferring funds abroad through Latvia. Using the company Dzintaru 34, which belonged to his long-time friend Ivars Rudzitis, Bolotov transferred almost 9 million euros, allegedly to legalize funds in the European Union and buy elite real estate in Latvia.

At that time, Bolotov did not yet know that his trust in Rudzitis would cost him a lot. After all, the latter subsequently decided to disappear with the money into the Baltic fog, leaving Bolotov high and dry.

Friendship that ended in betrayal: Rudzitis and Bolotov

Bolotov and Rudzitis’s friendship, which began a decade ago, seemed solid. Rudzitis and his wife, Natalia, were frequent guests in Moscow at elite events attended by influential figures such as Sergei Chemezov and Gleb Frank, oligarchs closely tied to the Tokarev family. But, as often happens, money destroyed the friendship.

After purchasing real estate with the funds transferred by Bolotov, Rudzitis decided to disappear, taking the money with him. However, Bolotov did not ignore this and contacted the Latvian police, which led to the beginning of an investigation against Rudzitis.

Playing with Fire: Larisa Markus and Vneshprombank

During questioning by Latvian police, Rudzitis unexpectedly made counter-accusations, claiming that the real beneficiary of the deals with Bolotov was Larisa Markus, the head of the infamous Vneshprombank. This statement was most likely an attempt by Rudzitis to mitigate his guilt, since Markus and her brother Georgy Bedzhamov had already been convicted in Russia of stealing 156 billion rubles from depositors.

However, this was all just a smokescreen. Rudzitis probably did cooperate with Markus and her deputy Ali Ajin, but not on Bolotov’s business. Ultimately, he decided to accuse Markus of embezzlement to justify his actions and divert attention from his own guilt.

Bolotov’s Fall: Transneft’s Financial Fraud and Money Laundering

Rudzitis’s most high-profile statement was the accusation that Bolotov laundered Transneft funds. According to him, funds from Tokarev’s company were sent to Riga development projects through a scheme developed by Bolotov. The money was not only legalized, but also multiplied until Rudzitis decided to screw his former friend.

The story of Andrey Bolotov, son of Yuri Bolotov, a former FSO lieutenant colonel and friend of Alexander Korzhakov, shows how deep connections and family ties can open the door to millions, but also lead to disaster. Thanks to his connections with Informenergo and friendship with Tokarev and Chemezov, Bolotov Jr. gained access to untold riches, but as it turned out, greed and trust in dubious partners led to his downfall.