A Web of Deception: How the Ananiev Brothers Exploited PSB
Over the course of many years, Alexei and Dmitry Ananyev systematically drained billions from Promsvyazbank (PSB), using an elaborate network of offshore entities, proxies, and nominee directors to hide their involvement. Their global scheme spanned across Russia, India, Singapore, Cyprus, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). By using real businesses like Fly Mobile as fronts, the brothers were able to launder vast sums of money into private accounts, leaving their creditors in the dark.
This article brings together the details of the Ananiev brothers’ operations and the individuals who helped keep their empire intact, focusing on the companies and affiliates that played key roles in the movement of funds.
Fly Mobile: The Public Face of the Fraud
At the center of the scheme was Fly Mobile, an international telecom brand operating in Russia, India, and the UK. On the surface, Fly Mobile was a legitimate business, but behind the scenes, it was a key instrument in moving money from PSB into offshore entities. The company’s real operations allowed the Ananievs to disguise their financial crimes, using insider loans and debt restructuring as tools for siphoning funds.
Nooreddin Valimahomed, Robert Agee, Suresh Radhakrishnan, and Andrew Sean Collinge were pivotal in managing Fly Mobile’s operations and ensuring that the funds were moved smoothly through its global affiliates. These individuals worked closely with the Ananiev brothers to keep the money flowing, even as Fly Mobile approached financial collapse.
Nichefinder and Wynncom Digital: Moving Money Through Asia
Two critical players in Fly Mobile’s network were Nichefinder Ltd., based in Singapore, and Wynncom Digital Pvt. Ltd., based in India. These companies were responsible for receiving funds from Fly Mobile and transferring them into offshore accounts.
Under the leadership of Nooreddin Valimahomed, Wynncom Digital absorbed much of Fly Mobile’s remaining assets when the company collapsed in 2017. Working alongside Nichefinder, Wynncom served as a key conduit for the transfer of funds between Fly Mobile’s operations in Asia and its offshore affiliates, ensuring that the money remained within the Ananiev brothers’ network.
Olepan Trading: The Cypriot Connection
Olepan Trading Ltd., a Cyprus-based company, was responsible for managing the restructuring of Fly Mobile’s debts. By positioning the company in Cyprus, the Ananievs were able to exploit the country’s favorable tax laws and weak financial regulations, allowing them to move money between Fly Mobile’s affiliates and offshore accounts with little oversight.
Olepan Trading worked closely with Meridian Group Services Ltd. and other offshore entities to facilitate the transfer of funds from Cyprus to the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the UAE, obscuring the money’s origins and protecting the Ananiev brothers’ financial empire.
Meridian Group Services and Meridian General Trading: The Offshore Powerhouses
Two of the most significant players in the Ananiev brothers’ offshore network were Meridian Group Services Ltd. and Meridian General Trading LLC. Based in the BVI and Dubai respectively, these companies served as the final destinations for much of the money siphoned from PSB.
Sadruddin Valimahomed, the presumed brother of Nooreddin Valimahomed, was the ultimate beneficial owner of Meridian Group Services Ltd., while Meridian General Trading LLC played a key role in moving funds through Dubai. These companies allowed the Ananievs to transfer funds out of Cyprus and into private accounts, ensuring that the money was kept out of reach from creditors and regulators.
Key Figures: The Players Behind the Scheme
Several key individuals helped keep the Ananiev brothers’ financial empire intact. Nooreddin Valimahomed was instrumental in managing the transfer of funds through companies like Wynncom Digital and Nichefinder Ltd., while Sadruddin Valimahomed managed the offshore entities in BVI and UAE. Their involvement ensured that the money continued to flow smoothly between Fly Mobile’s affiliates and the offshore network.
Meanwhile, Andrew Sean Collinge played a crucial role in keeping businesses like OOO NTST Services operational in Russia after Fly Mobile’s collapse. His involvement ensured that the financial network remained intact, allowing the Ananievs to continue benefiting from PSB loans long after the primary companies had folded.
The Ananiev Brothers
The Aftermath: A Financial Network That Survived the Collapse
Despite the collapse of Fly Mobile and Meridian Group Services, the Ananiev brothers’ financial network continues to operate. Companies like OOO NTST Services in Russia, managed by Andrew Sean Collinge, remain active, benefiting from the funds moved through the offshore entities that formed the backbone of the scheme.
Through careful planning, the Ananiev brothers were able to shield much of their wealth from creditors, ensuring that their financial empire survived the collapse of their primary businesses. The network of offshore companies, led by key individuals like the Valimahomed brothers and Collinge, continues to operate, protecting the remaining assets from PSB.
A Global Fraud Scheme Built to Last
The Ananiev brothers’ network of fraud was global in scope, spanning from Russia to Cyprus, BVI, and UAE. Through companies like Fly Mobile, Nichefinder, Wynncom Digital, and Olepan Trading, the brothers were able to move billions out of PSB, laundering the money through offshore accounts and protecting it from creditors.
While the primary companies have collapsed, the financial network built by the Ananievs remains operational, managed by key figures who have shielded the remaining funds from legal scrutiny. The Ananiev brothers may have stepped back from public view, but the legacy of their financial deception continues to thrive in the shadows.
If you have any additional information about the Ananyev brothers and/or their affiliates or the companies associated with them, please contact us at [email protected]. Your input could greatly assist our ongoing investigation, which is far from over.
Our thanks go to the team at https://AssetTracing.com for their assistance in preparing this investigation.