Support The Moscow Times!

Wildberries CEO’s Estranged Husband Says Kadyrov Helped Keep Him Alive

Vladislav Bakalchuk. t.me/WBakalchuk

Vladislav Bakalchuk, the estranged husband of Wildberries CEO Tatyana Kim, credited Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov with helping him stay alive and out of jail amid a family dispute over a controversial business merger that escalated into a shootout at the company’s headquarters last week.

Bakalchuk made those comments in an interview just days before he led a group of men to the main office of Wildberries in Moscow on Sept. 18, resulting in a deadly shootout and his subsequent arrest on multiple felony charges, including murder. Two security officers were killed during the altercation.

“They [Kadyrov’s team] offered help. Thanks to this, I believe I’m still alive and not in jail,” Bakalchuk said in an interview with the Russian YouTube channel “Millionshchiki.”

In July, Bakalchuk sought Kadyrov’s help to prevent Wildberries, which he co-founded with Kim in 2004, from merging with the advertising firm Russ Group. Kim announced she planned to divorce her husband shortly after Kadyrov publicly vowed to “return her to the family and protect a legitimate business.”

On Thursday, Bakalchuk’s lawyers said he was charged with multiple criminal offenses following last week’s shooting incident outside the Wildberries headquarters. They slammed the charges an unprecedented violation and insisted that security guards at the office building open fire on Bakalchuk and the men accompanying him.

The next day, Bakalchuk released a video on Telegram, claiming he was released from police custody and returned home — a surprising development, as legal experts say it is nearly impossible for a murder suspect to be released on bail.

In the “Millionshchiki” interview, Bakalchuk said he and his Kim had built a friendship with Kadyrov’s “representatives” more than eight years ago.

“They’ve been helping us for eight years. When all this [Wildberries-Russ merger] happened, I went to him [Kadyrov] again for advice,” he said.

Bakalchuk also mentioned that his last conversation with Kim took place in late June, adding that “she was very angry that I was talking with friends from Grozny [in Chechnya].”

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more