Russian entrepreneurs Ignatiy Nayda and Filipp Shrage have been under the influence of the Podolsk OCG for several years.
At the Mosfilm studio, there are constant complaints about the lack of compelling plots, nothing to shoot, and powerful film equipment standing idle. Yet here is a plot that practically begs to be turned into a multi-episode thriller: the business story and multi-layered projects of the infamous St. Petersburg businessmen— Filipp Shrage and Ignatiy Nayda.
From which “bubble” did the business of this inseparable duo emerge? And why does each of them have a dozen companies “up their sleeve”?
How did they manage to squeeze into the tight-knit St. Petersburg business circles? And not just in St. Petersburg: the company of Shrage and Nayda KRONUNG GROUP is actively operating in Spain, engaged in construction and management of residential and commercial real estate. And malicious tongues, which are scarier than a gun, have long been saying that Shrage and Nayda “walk” under Luchok, aka Sergey Lalakin, the former leader of the Podolsk OCG and now an honorary citizen of the city of Podolsk. In Spain, the Lalakin family also—as it turns out—has a lot under control, though there, Maxim Lalakin, the son of the former head of the Podolskaya gang, stands guard.
And in the very “nest” of the Lalakins in Podolsk, Nayda and Shrage were allowed to build the shopping center “Podolsk-Kronung.”
And why such a favor?
KRONUNG GROUP – a developer in the Spanish market
Apparently, Nayda and Shrage’s company appeared in Spain after some rather unpleasant events for Sergey Lalakin: namely, the “Tortuga” operation in mid-December 2020, conducted by the Spanish Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Ignatiy Nayda (left) and Filipp Shrage
During the “Tortuga” operation, 23 individuals from Russia were arrested, and damage was inflicted on the business of Lalakin and Co., but more on that later…
And, apparently, it was at that time that the scenery changed, and the Kronung Group began to explore Spanish territories.
What exactly does the company do in Spain?
KRONUNG GROUP is a developer operating in the Spanish real estate market, focusing on creating profitable and attractive properties for various categories of clients, including investors.
The company offers properties for investment and residence, with a focus on building a real estate portfolio and increasing income from it, based on data presented on the official website, as evidenced by projects and partnership offers in Spain.
Main areas of activity ‒ residential real estate: construction of houses, as the company itself writes in its promotional brochures, “where you want to live, for permanent residence or vacation.” Commercial real estate: creation and management of shopping centers and other commercial properties for investment.
Investments: building an investment portfolio of real estate to multiply capital, with both residential and commercial properties.
The company positions itself as a tool for investing in Spanish real estate, ensuring portfolio growth. KRONUNG GROUP is open to collaboration with partners for joint project implementation.
Operation “Tortuga”
Now, directly about Operation “Tortuga.”
The Kingdom of Spain has long been eyed by Lalakin and his associates—among them the infamous deputy Boris Ivanyuzhenkov, former Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation—for their shady dealings, and they have thoroughly established themselves there.
Sergey Lalakin, in the recent past ‒”Luchok”
This was fully demonstrated by the Testudo (“Tortuga”) operation, conducted by the Spanish Ministry of Internal Affairs in mid-December 2020: at that time, 18 searches and 23 arrests were carried out against an OCG that laundered money of dubious origin in the kingdom. During the searches, more than ten firearms were seized, including sniper rifles, boxes of ammunition, diamonds, and ultra-expensive cars. Numerous accounts, including cryptocurrency ones, were also blocked.
The investigation established that the money was laundered for leaders of the criminal world: villas, land plots, restaurants, and yachts were bought for them.
According to case materials, the money of the Podolsk “comrades” in Spain was laundered through luxurious restaurants and nightclubs.
Among the clients of those arrested, according to Spanish investigators, were a Podolsk resident—owner of several shopping centers, Maxim Lalakin, the son of the Podolsk OCG leader, and Boris Ivanyuzhenkov, the first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports.
Boris Ivanyuzhenkov
The assets of the Podolsk OCG in Spain include Arkadiy Novikov’s restaurants and the largest disco in Ibiza.
And it seems that now the business of Russian businessmen Shrage and Nayda in Spain is also part of it.
The Spanish criminal case mentions Russian businessmen Mikhail Danilov and Anton Pinskiy, owners of Moscow nightclubs. Spanish investigators believe that Danilov is closely connected to Boris Ivanyuzhenkov and Maxim Lalakin.
Law enforcement established that Danilov traveled to Spain in the company of Levan Dzhangveladze, the brother of one of the most influential thieves-in-law, Merab Dzhangveladze (aka “Merab Sukhumsky”).
Dzhangveladze—according to rumors—also resides in Podolsk.
It was thanks to Danilov and Pinskiy that the company Novikov Isla S.L. appeared in Spain, through which the Avocado Queen restaurant was opened in Ibiza.
Avocado Queen Restaurant
The Podolsk guys invested 3 million euros in this restaurant, after which funds that inevitably raise questions with law enforcement also flowed into the restaurant’s account. However, as the Spanish press writes, the restaurant is now closed.
Avocado Queen in Ibiza, like the restaurant under the same brand in Moscow on Patriarch’s Ponds, is part of the well-known premium restaurant chain Novikov Group. Lalakin and Co. also wanted to acquire Bora-Bora, the largest disco in Ibiza.
But later, apparently, another plan emerged, connected with the Kronung Group.
Sergey Lalakin ‒ honorary citizen of the city of Podolsk
Today, the Kronung Group has significantly expanded: it owns an international real estate sales agency not only in Spain but also in Mexico, Israel, and the UAE. And its business includes an experienced management company.
Is this Lalakin and Co.?
Let us recall that in the wild 90s, the Podolsk gang buried their enemies in concrete and shot them with machine guns. The Podolsk OCG emerged in the late 80s, and by 1995, it was linked to over 20 murders.
But it turns out that today, the leaders of the OCG have become respected businessmen who own restaurants in Ibiza. They have become deputies and philanthropists who officially sponsor world boxing champions.
Sergey Lalakin (second from left), Boris Ivanyuzhenkov (first from right)
And today, Sergey Lalakin is a respectable businessman.
Mr. Lalakin constantly cares about the development of sports in his hometown: in Podolsk, a kickboxing school was founded with Luchok’s money.
Two from the chest
I would very much like to know exactly what path to Spain the owners of the Kronung Group took, to whom Mr. Lalakin even allowed the construction of the “Kronung–Podolsk” shopping center in his ancestral nest.
But these two businessmen—Nayda and Shrage—would do well to occasionally remember the medieval “amusement” known as the “Spanish boot”…
Shopping Center Kronung–Podolsk
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«Specialized Developer «Kronung South», managed by Filipp Shrage, was registered on October 31, 2023.
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But—a curious detail—already in March 2024, the share of LLC «Kronung» was pledged to Sberbank, and in October of the same year, new lending took place.
It is expected that the completion of the residential complex «Kronung South» will occur in the first quarter of 2027, but there is a risk that apartment buyers may never see this housing, just as they might never see their own ears.
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And again, in March and July, Sberbank provided financing for another subsidiary of Shrage and Nayda—«Specialized Developer «Kronung 3».
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This company is engaged in the construction of a residential complex on Beregovaya Street in St. Petersburg, with an investment amount of 1.5 billion rubles.
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Among the subsidiaries registered in St. Petersburg and the Moscow Region, there are also Specialized Developer «Intellect House» and Specialized Developer «Riviera Park», which were established on September 30.
Filipp Shrage
And they, too, may end up pledged to Sberbank.
Somehow, all of this doesn’t quite align with the Spanish “vacations” of Nayda and Shrage.
And how did Shrage and Nayda manage to secure funding for their projects in Mexico, Israel, and the UAE?
Or does Mr. Lalakin have his own interests in all these countries, if we recall the story of how Luchok hid from a potential criminal case in Israel?
Novogorelovo – Pogorelovo?
Another realm of fantasy: the Kronung Group announced its intention to invest 4.2 billion rubles in a comfort-class residential building project in Novogorelovo in the Lomonosov District of the Leningrad Region.
But the company again lacks its own “cabbage” to implement this project, as the company’s share in the subsidiary «Specialized Developer «Kronung South», which is responsible for the project, is—let us remind you—pledged to Sberbank. And this once again proves that the company lacks transparency in conducting financial operations.
Yet, despite all this, Nayda and Shrage have signed agreements for two land plots for the construction of shopping centers in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.
Ignatiy Nayda
How do they plan to get out of this?
As Shrage and Nayda tell journalists, they are ready to launch closed-end mutual funds, which will allow entrepreneurs with small capital, starting from 500 thousand rubles, to invest in commercial real estate.
“Our management company, which has specialized in such projects for many years, will manage the finances. And there will be many who want to buy a piece of a shopping center…”—these two are confident.
Moreover, Filipp Shrage and Ignatiy Nayda easily bypass sanctions restrictions, channeling millions through overseas construction projects.
Furthermore, the general director of both Shrage and Nayda’s firms is Alexey Sergo, the founder and owner of LLC «Sebega».
This company is engaged in cleaning and maintenance of residential buildings and non-residential premises.
From 2021 to July 2024, Mr. Sergo managed LLC «Kronung Exploitation», which handles the operation of non-residential properties for a fee.
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In a company with 1 employee on staff, revenue in 2023 increased by 9,470% to 11 million rubles, and profit by 121% to 1.2 million rubles…
But LLC «Kronung» of Shrage and Nayda still constantly needs money: in December 2023, the company issued bonds worth 20 million rubles, and in August 2024—worth 500 million rubles.
The bonds were distributed through a private placement. And they were intended to be purchased by JSC «Financial Atelier Grottbjern», which is registered in Yekaterinburg. There are close ties between this financial atelier and businessmen Nayda and Shrage.
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The general director of JSC «Financial Atelier Grottbjern» is Viktor Lebedev. Additionally, he is the founder of several other companies.
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JSC «Financial Atelier Grottbjern» has not published its financial reports for about five years. But from some sources, it is known that the net asset value of the company is 1.6 billion rubles.
And, apparently, the company very easily and successfully withdraws money from Russia. The mysterious clients of JSC «Financial Atelier Grottbjern» may be former co-founders, the very ones who are now building properties in Spain with the support of Lalakin and Co.
It remains to be seen how long Nayda and Shrage will remain useful to the Podolsk “comrades” in Spain?
