Lviv businessman Vitaly Bobir, who became famous for supplying premium cars to Russian officials and propaganda media, was found to be involved in an international scheme that violates European Union sanctions. As the journalists of "Schem" (Radio Liberty) found out, Bobir has connections with the Cypriot company Dimicandum Invest Holding LTD, which violates US and EU sanctions by exporting Belarusian potash from "Belaruskali" - an enterprise under sanctions.
Luxury cars for Russia Today
In early May 2023, the Security Service of Ukraine announced the liquidation of a large-scale scheme of illegal supplies of premium cars to Russia. According to SBU data, Vitaliy Bobir shipped 45 cars worth more than 3 million euros to Russia from August 2022 to March 2023. Cars were bought in Ukrainian car dealerships, registered to controlled companies and transported through the territory of the European Union to Belarus, and from there to Russia. Among the customers were top managers of Gazprom and employees of the Russia Today TV channel.
After searches, documents and seals of companies from Ukraine, Cyprus and Belarus were found in the businessman's possession, in particular the seal of Dimicandum Invest Holding LTD. Bobir himself claims that these documents are fabricated and denies any involvement in the scheme.
A troubled Cypriot company
Dimicandum Invest Holding LTD, founded in 2012, is currently involved in a case of violation of EU sanctions. In 2023, the company received a contract with "Belaruskali" for the transshipment of 3.5 million tons of potash fertilizers at the berths of the Baltic Ship Mechanical Plant, which is a third of the Belarusian company's annual exports before the sanctions. Dimicandum was to receive more than $68.6 million for these services.
According to documents obtained by journalists, some of the fertilizers were transshipped in St. Petersburg and then sent to China, Indonesia and Brazil. At the same time, there are suspicions that Dimicandum Invest Holding LTD was used as a "pad" to hide the real amount of the deal.
"Belaruskali" has been subject to US sanctions since August 2021 and the EU since June 2022. The Cypriot company that provides services to this company is in violation of these sanctions. Experts note that such a violation could lead to secondary US sanctions covering any dealings with sanctioned companies, regardless of country.
The investigation revealed that Dimicandum Invest Holding LTD is linked to high-ranking officials in Belarus, including Viktor Sheiman, the former head of the Office of the President of Belarus. The general director of "Belaruskali" and the financial director of Dimicandum are former officials connected to Sheiman.
According to the investigation, Andriy Sviridov, the financial director of Dimicandum, is Sheiman's ex-deputy. Despite his denials, documents and signatures testify to his involvement in the deal.
