Spouse of Russia's wealthiest female entrepreneur apprehended on homicide accusation following office gunfight
Moscow— Aleksandr Sokolov, the ex-spouse of Russia's wealthiest woman, was apprehended and indicted for homicide on Thursday, as per his legal team, following a lethal gunfight at Moscow's head office of the country's largest online retailer.
Two people lost their lives during a shooting incident on Wednesday, barely a stone's throw away from the Kremlin, at the Wildberries office. The clash, over the company's future, took a grim turn, leaving seven others wounded, including police officers.
Astrid and Aleksandr Sokolov, who officially separated in July, have been entangled in a highly publicized feud since Wildberries announced plans to merge with outdoor advertising firm Russ Group in June.
Astrid established Wildberries, Russia's version of Amazon, in 2004. It started as an online clothes marketplace and later grew into a vast platform offering various merchandise.
Both parties pointed fingers at each other in regards to the Wednesday's shooting incident.
Aleksandr claimed that his arranged meeting at the office was disrupted by the staff who opened fire first. Astrid, however, asserted that Aleksandr and his associates attempted to seize the office, dismissing the existence of any scheduled meeting.
Aleksandr's lawyers declared his arrest and charges of murder, in addition to attempting to murder a law enforcement officer, to be a "flagrant and unprecedented encroachment" on their client's rights.
The business dispute revolves around the merger that gave birth to RVB, a joint venture headed by Robert Mirzoyan as CEO. This merger resulted in a decrease of Astrid's stake in RVB from 99% in Wildberries to around 65%.
At that time, Aleksandr alleged that his wife was being "manipulated." Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who came to Aleksandr's aid, regarded the merger as an "asset grab."
Astrid, however, categorically denies these allegations. The Kremlin confirmed Putin's backing of the merger but assured no interference in its progression.
In an emotional video message posted on Telegram early Thursday, Astrid expressed, "Aleksandr, what are you doing? How will you face your parents and our children after this? How could this situation deteriorate to such absurdity?"
This saga has echoes of the 1990s, a time when fierce corporate power struggles were commonplace in Russia, given the widespread redistribution of properties following the fall of the Soviet Union.
The international community has expressed concern over the escalating situation in Russia, as the conflict between Astrid and Aleksandr Sokolov continues to make headlines in Europe and beyond.
Despite the turmoil, Wildberries, the Russian equivalent of Amazon, remains a significant player in the world's e-commerce market.
