Wildberries: A Business Empire Caught in a Bitter Family Feud Involving Russia’s Richest Woman

One of Russia’s most extraordinary entrepreneurial stories has taken a dark turn with tragic consequences. A shooting at the Moscow headquarters of Wildberries, the country’s largest online retailer, left at least two dead and seven others injured on Wednesday, according to media reports. The incident has plunged the billion-dollar company into turmoil, revealing the deep rift between its co-founders, Tatyana and Vladislav Bakalchuk.

Tatyana Bakalchuk, the billionaire founder and CEO of Wildberries, pointed to her estranged husband Vladislav as the cause of the violent confrontation. She claimed that he led a group of armed men into the company’s headquarters in an attempt to seize control of the business, describing it as a “hostile takeover.” Tatyana stated that she had called on law enforcement to intervene.

Vladislav, however, offered a different version of events, alleging that security guards at Wildberries opened fire on him and his team without provocation. He asserted that he had notified the company in advance of his intention to meet with its leadership for business talks.

This deadly clash appears to be the latest chapter in a months-long struggle between the Bakalchuks over the future of the e-commerce giant they built together. Married for over two decades, their relationship has deteriorated in recent months. Tatyana separated from Vladislav in April and filed for divorce in July. Around the same time, Wildberries announced a merger with Russ Outdoor, a Russian billboard advertising company, in a deal that has sparked considerable controversy.

While Tatyana supported the merger as a growth opportunity, Vladislav publicly opposed it. He enlisted the backing of Chechnya’s leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to bolster his case. In a video, Kadyrov accused Russ Outdoor of attempting to take over Wildberries and vowed to “protect Tatyana and the business.”

Following the merger, Wildberries transferred the majority of its valuable assets to a joint venture with Russ Outdoor, giving Russ a 35% stake in the new entity. Vladislav has fiercely criticized the deal, claiming that Tatyana was manipulated into it and that Wildberries handed over its assets in exchange for minimal investment from Russ. His net worth, once tied closely to Wildberries, has significantly decreased as a result of the transaction.

Vladislav, who once held 1% of Wildberries while Tatyana owned 99%, now controls just 0.65% of the new venture. He has publicly stated that without a prenuptial agreement, he believes he is entitled to half of Wildberries. The couple’s divorce proceedings began earlier this month in Moscow, further complicating the business and personal fallout from their split.

The controversial merger has raised eyebrows not just because of the size difference between Wildberries and Russ but also due to the involvement of high-profile figures in Russian politics. Documents reveal that Wildberries moved nearly all of its subsidiaries into the joint venture with Russ, while Russ contributed little in return. Speculation has arisen that the merger might have been engineered to secure Wildberries’ position with the Kremlin, as Tatyana had not previously been aligned with any powerful political figures.

The roots of Russ Outdoor date back to the 1990s, and it has changed ownership multiple times, including a period under Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp before being sold to Russian investors. Its current ownership is linked to businessman Grigory Sadoyan, and its day-to-day operations are overseen by brothers Robert and Levan Mirzoyan, who Vladislav claims played a central role in orchestrating the deal with Wildberries.

Tatyana’s journey to becoming Russia’s richest woman is a remarkable tale in itself. A former English teacher, she started Wildberries in 2004 from her Moscow apartment while on maternity leave, initially reselling clothing purchased from German retailer Otto. Her vision and persistence turned Wildberries into a retail giant, with her fortune peaking at $7.9 billion before recent events caused it to plummet.

As Wildberries navigates this turbulent period, questions linger about the true motivations behind the merger and the future of the company. What began as a family dispute has now escalated into a high-stakes battle with far-reaching implications for one of Russia’s most successful businesses.

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