The chamomile was small. No, he was of average height, normal. But inside he was three years old, six at the most. He loved to impress. More precisely, in strict accordance with Piaget’s theory, the world for him was divided into two unequal parts: the one in which he aroused lively, genuine interest attracted and delighted him. And the other part, which did not arouse interest in Roma, did not exist for him. All his life he tried to expand the first part, sometimes without success. He was not at all interested in the future. More precisely, he, like all children, wanted to grow up and become a big boy. But he had absolutely no intention of growing up. This ultimately cost him his life.
He lived in a world of toys. And games. The office of the security company "Baltic-Escort" was located in the courtyards on the Fontanka. In a damp basement. Tsepov had a tiny pencil case, a meter and a half wide, but long. Table, chair, sofa. The guests were sitting on the sofa. Well, do you know how to immediately recognize an insecure person who has become a boss? He always tries to position himself above his interlocutor. Roma set up some kind of teenage sofa for the guests. And you enter the room, the owner greets you with a completely childish smile, tenderly gives you a soft, sleek palm (like a Leningrad donut: hot, sticky and immediately crumples in your hands). And then you find yourself in a narrow space between the wall and the table, you don’t know where to put your feet, your head is at the level of his table, and he towers above you, majestic and unattainable.
Roma played shooting games on the computer when there were no visitors. And when some conversation began, he reluctantly turned off the computer and handed the guest a combat PM with an under-barrel laser target designator. Let's play. There are targets with a photocell. Offhand, half a second. Don't piss, it's not loaded. He always carried an unloaded pistol with him, in the trunk he carried two pump-action guns and always a machine gun. He loved to shoot, he even built a shooting gallery at his dacha. And without a weapon I felt incomplete. This was, of course, related to his sexual self-perception. He felt without a trunk, as if without genitals. A boy raised by a strict Jewish mother who suppressed his masculinity.
He did not have a secretary in his office; he shunned unmarried female employees. More precisely, to ordinary women. But with all my soul I was drawn to women with a criminal “aura.” I then asked his former lovers. Let's put it this way: Roma had peculiar habits and complexes. He behaved like a schoolboy with his teachers. Anyway. That's not what this is about.
Roma’s mother worked as a dentist in prison. More precisely, at first just a dentist, and then in charge of prisoners’ teeth and dentures. So Roman grew up in complete prosperity. Having changed his last name Beilinson to Tsepov, our hero, not without his mother’s patronage, entered the Higher School of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, then rose to the rank of captain of the prison troops. Made contacts in both worlds. Without regret, he quit because of some murky scandal and intrigue, worked at a military research institute and decided to go into the security business. We met him precisely on this topic. In 1994, the entire Russian elite was clearly divided into those who protect, from whom they protect, and those who need protection. I needed. The “Babylon” program suddenly, out of the blue, soared to the top of the television ratings, powerful friends and no less powerful enemies appeared. And then suddenly serious problems arose at the ASB security company, which was owned by Americans and employed bodyguards trained in the United States. There was an urgent need to transfer my security to another company so that the fighters could use legal weapons. I think I even announced a tender, saying on air that we are looking for such an enterprise. Roma, having heard this on TV, arrived at my studio in ten minutes with a ready-made contract. He generally loved everything shiny - power, television, cinema, show business, patent leather shoes, gold and clean foreign cars. He was practically not interested in money.
Roman Igorevich Tsepov(July 22, 1962, Kolpino, Leningrad - September 24, 2004, St. Petersburg) - Russian entrepreneur.
Biography
After graduating from school, he worked at the Izhora plant, graduated from the Higher Political School of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs, served in the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in political positions, and then at a research institute. He was dismissed from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 1990 with the rank of captain. In 1992, he created the security company Baltic-Escort, which he headed (registered in April 1993). He protected senior officials of St. Petersburg, including Mayor Anatoly Sobchak and his family, as well as Deputy Mayor Vladimir Putin, with whom he was credited with close ties. According to Alexander Nevzorov, Roman Tsepov was an embedded employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the criminal world of St. Petersburg and remained so until his death.
Criminal activity
Tsepov provided security services to a number of crime bosses, in particular the family of the leader of the “Malyshevskaya” group, Alexander Malyshev, and some members of the “Tambov” group. He was first arrested in 1994 on charges of illegal possession of weapons (rumored to be due to collecting money for licensing a gambling business). Since 1993, he has survived five unsuccessful attempts. Person involved in a number of criminal cases. The last case was opened in March 1998 on charges of extortion of 70 thousand dollars, after which Tsepov temporarily disappeared to the Czech Republic.
Career rise and death
After Vladimir Putin came to power, he became one of the most influential figures in the business and political life of St. Petersburg. He took part in the celebrations of Putin's inauguration.
He was credited with close ties with the Minister of Internal Affairs Rashid Nurgaliyev, the head of the presidential guard Viktor Zolotov (the latter was present at his funeral) and the deputy head of the presidential administration Igor Sechin. It was also alleged that, thanks to his connections, he had an important influence on appointments to the Central Internal Affairs Directorate and the FSB Directorate. Journalists called him a “gray eminence” and a “security oligarch.”
Tsepov himself spoke about the rumors surrounding his name:
For some reason, at all times, Tsepov turned out to be the most convenient figure for rumors. Elections - Tsepov. Criminal cases, tranches, loans, fuel business, security, casino - Tsepov. Personnel changes - me too. The eminence grise must be with the king.
In the summer of 2004, citing his connections, he tried to act as a mediator between the government and YUKOS. On September 11, 2004, he felt unwell and died on September 24; The investigation established poisoning. Radiation sickness was suspected, and the press noted the similarity of the symptoms of Tsepov’s illness and Litvinenko’s, poisoned with polonium-210. Thus, the historian of the special services Boris Volodarsky in 2009 on Radio Liberty expressed confidence in the murder of Tsepov “undoubtedly by radioactive poison,” calling his death on par with the murder of Anna Politkovskaya and the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko.
He was buried at the Serafimovskoye cemetery, next to the grave of Vladimir Putin’s parents.
Family
Daughter Daria Romanovna Tsepova, after the death of her father, married a native of Sudan, Husama Bashir Said Mohamed, and immediately after coming of age, she voluntarily left for the United Arab Emirates. At the same time, 815 thousand euros were withdrawn from Tsepova’s account by fraudsters. The ex-wife of Roman Tsepov reported in 2010 that a criminal case had been opened regarding the kidnapping of her daughter.
On Friday night, Roman Tsepov, a well-known entrepreneur and general director of the security company Baltic-Escort, died.
Tsepov's death is mysterious. Until now, doctors cannot figure out why the famous entrepreneur, known behind his back as the “gray eminence,” died. He was brought to the Sverdlovsk hospital two weeks ago when he felt slightly unwell. An exact diagnosis could not be established. The patient was becoming increasingly ill and was about to be transported to Germany for treatment. The disease affected the bone marrow, and the processes became irreversible. Doctors do not rule out that the entrepreneur could have been poisoned intentionally; they believe that the drug may still be unknown to them.
“I know that Tsepov died, but I think the question of whether it was a murder is incorrect,” the deputy director of the Baltic Escort security company told us. - Too little time has passed. I believe, however, that the version of his murder cannot be ruled out. Anything could happen to him. He had never had ailments of this kind before.
In the 1992s, Baltic Escort had monopoly rights to provide security services to show business stars touring in the Northern capital. Tsepov was friends with Nevzorov, guarded him and the film crew of the “600 Seconds” program.
There is a persistent rumor in certain circles that the death of Roman Tsepov is revenge for the murder of Vyacheslav Shevchenko, in which, again according to rumors, the head of the Baltic Escort OP was involved. Let us remind you that St. Petersburg businessmen Vyacheslav Shevchenko and Yuri Zorin were killed on March 23 of this year in Cyprus.
Alexander Nevzorov:
– Roman Tsepov has been my friend for ten years. He helped me during my work in the State Duma. I don’t really believe in his natural, non-criminal death. I know that all his life he was surrounded not only by friends, but also by enemies. Tsepov was a recognized shadow king, but he was not a criminal authority, he was a legal authority.
As for his death, I am not a professional poisoner and I don’t know how exactly he could have been killed. I think that if you have the desire and a little money, all this is not difficult.
Reference
Roman Tsepov was born in Kolpino on July 22, 1962. Graduated from the Higher Military Command School of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. After graduating from college, he served in the Internal Troops. In the early 90s, he organized and headed the private security company Baltic-Escort.
Best of the day
Was familiar with Vladimir Putin. Their acquaintance occurred in 1994, when the current president was still working as vice mayor. According to his status, the vice-mayor was not entitled to state security, but in Smolny they assumed that an assassination attempt was being prepared on Putin. The mayor's office entered into an official agreement with Baltic Escort, according to which the security company provided services for “protecting public order in the places of stay of V.V. Putin.” In addition, Baltic Escort protected Sobchak, Bryntsalov, Berezovsky and members of their families; employees of the security company managed to prevent more than a dozen contract killings.
He was a producer of films by St. Petersburg director Vladimir Bortko, including the released film “I Have the Honor!” about the 6th regiment of the Pskov Airborne Division, which died in Chechnya in February 2000.
Many attempts were made on Roman Tsepov’s life, but the death of the general director of the security company has so far been prevented.
Today, his huge country estate is surrounded by waist-deep grass. Once upon a time, Roman built this dacha, wanting to receive only those closest to him there. There are fragments left of the former empire, which was created from scratch by the former political officer of the Internal Troops. But even ten years ago, someone was looking for a meeting with the powerful Roman Tsepov by any means, while others tried to do everything just not to get in his way. Yesterday, July 22, one of Vladimir Putin’s most trusted confidants would have turned fifty years old...
It’s even hard for me to imagine how this anniversary would be celebrated. The strange death of Roman Tsepov in September 2004 has remained a mystery - the materials of the criminal case are still classified. The same, in many ways secret, was his life - a native of the industrial outskirts, who entered the world under the name Beilenson. He was immediately baptized in the Alexander Nevsky Church in Izhora. But a cross is a cross, and at that time a person’s fate was determined by the fifth count, and with such an origin only a few could dream of a good career.
The main thing is to know physics
Upon admission to Leningrad State University, Roman Beilenson was immediately rejected. They quietly said after him: don’t even try with your last name. Therefore, as his mother Tamara Makarovna recalls, yesterday’s graduate went to work as a mechanic at the Izhora plant. And not to his father’s workshop, where Beilenson Sr. worked as a mechanic. He came home grimy, his hands up to his elbows in machine oil. And the next year I decided to become a cadet at the Higher Political School named after the 60th anniversary of the Komsomol of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR.
And then an incident arose. Passed all exams successfully. But he threw the grenade the wrong way and ran the hundred-meter race slower than expected. And when it turned out that Roman Beilenson wore glasses, the head of physical training made the final verdict: he should not be an officer, because he would not be able to cope with a gas mask.
To which the applicant, who did not have a giant physique, but had an intelligent mind, remarked before the formation something like the following: “You are not in harmony with the laws of physics, the windows fog up when leaving a cold room into a warm one.” And the savvy Beilenson was included in the list of cadets.
Scout Uncle Sasha
Roman dreamed of working in intelligence since childhood. The husband of my father's cousin, Igor Abramovich, was the first secretary of the Soviet embassy in Finland. Although Uncle Sasha was considered a diplomat, he sometimes told his grown-up nephew not only what was said in the textbooks. After such conversations, the future security oligarch acquired a craving for weapons throughout his life.
And he received his first shooting skills thanks to the school military instructor, whom Roman’s classmates called Gingerbread. After some time, Beilenson became the school's shooting champion. But one day, so as not to turn up his nose, his mother, a police doctor, shot him on a dare. By the way, when she later turned to the personnel with a request to change cadet Beilenson’s last name to her maiden name - Tsepov, they were surprised: “How did you, bearing your husband’s last name, end up in the police?” “Yes, I climbed over the fence and ended up,” she grinned.
Tamara, a medical school graduate, married the dapper Igor Beilenson, who had just been demobilized from the border troops. Then even the revolutionary grandmother was surprised why she, without fear, signed up for a new surname, and such a one at that. But the Beilensons lived together in harmony for half a century, quietly celebrating their “golden” wedding last year.
Junior officer Tsepov
After graduating from college, Lieutenant Tsepov went to serve in Valdai. There, for the first time, he almost said goodbye to his shoulder straps. It turned out that the political officer paved the territory of the military unit and glazed the wind-swept soldiers' barracks using building materials that were allocated for the reconstruction of the colony. For the sake of further service, I had to say goodbye to my wedding suit, and also turn to my parents for help, who sent me money.
After Valdai there was Kingisepp. In 1987, Senior Lieutenant Tsepov was involved in a serious car accident - a dump truck with a trailer entered his car at full speed. The ambulance thought it wouldn't make it. Both participants in the accident were operated on at the Volosovsky district hospital. As luck would have it, at this time the lights went out. Roman Tsepov had his leg drilled with a hand drill. Then the elder was shackled from neck to toe in plaster and sent to the 442nd district military hospital for further treatment.
It was July. The first thing Tamara Makarovna saw when she entered her son’s room was the stumped people on the adjacent beds. Roman refused to lie with senior officers and agreed to the soldiers’ “Afghan” ward. For some reason they were fed last. As Tamara Makarovna recalls, food was delivered from right to left, and the “Afghans” lay on the far left. Either the nurse was impressed by Tamara Beilenson’s doctor’s uniform, or simply by her demanding tone, but the next day the order of dispensing food was reversed. At this point Roman begged: Mom, let’s do this at least every other day, it’s embarrassing in front of the neighbors...
Start with the letter "A"
Roman began his adult life with the letter “A”. He proudly scribbled it right on the door of the wardrobe - stick, stick and partition. In much the same way, trusting only his own intuition, reserve captain Tsepov decided to engage in the private security business. The Baltic Escort company he recently founded celebrated its twentieth anniversary. Among Roman Tsepov's first clients were Anatoly Sobchak, the family of the St. Petersburg mayor and first deputy mayor Vladimir Putin. Even then, to the question: are you a diplomat or a warrior, he answered - it’s fifty-fifty, or one hundred-hundred.
Vladimir Putin was not entitled to state protection, but danger began to lurk for the future President of Russia as soon as he decided to find out what was happening with the privatization of the Baltic Shipping Company. Roman Tsepov’s bodyguards were inexpensive for the vice mayor - about $500, which went directly to the salaries of two Baltic Escort employees. Bodyguarding was still prohibited, so the contract spelled out at length “protection of public order in the places where V.V. Putin is staying.” .
In the security business, Roman Tsepov has perhaps reached the highest heights. He was known as a merciless, but extremely professional person who was ready to defend his clients to the end. Tsepov’s odiousness knew no bounds, and therefore in St. Petersburg he was considered to be “watching” from Putin, and in Moscow they said in a low voice that the former political officer was carrying out the most delicate orders of the Kremlin. They shot at him several times and tried to blow him up, but it seemed impossible to eliminate the security oligarch by force. Tsepov’s name was heard when it came to political and economic conflicts on a national scale.
However, for his children he remained just a dad, and for his parents - a son, whom they saw less and less. And mom was in a hurry to fry mushrooms and potatoes for his arrival.
And also candy. Roman loved them since childhood. One day Tamara Makarovna poured sweets into a large box, placing it on the same wardrobe. And when a couple of months later I reached for it, it was empty. A disheveled Roman, smearing away his tears, only repeated doomedly: “Kill me, mom, but I couldn’t resist...” Years later, seeing off her son, who had stopped by for a short time, Tamara Makarovna found only empty candy wrappers in a bowl of sweets served with tea...
He was killed after arriving from Beslan. Poisoned with a potent drug for the treatment of leukemia, since the bullet didn’t kill me. Within two weeks the bone marrow was destroyed. But if Roman Tsepov were alive, Vladimir Putin would probably invite him to his current inauguration, as well as to the previous ones...
Secret decree
Even his relatives do not know that four days before his death Roman Tsepov was awarded the special rank of police major general by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation. This was not heard during the magnificent funeral of the security oligarch and was kept in the strictest confidence for several years after he passed away. Very few people know about the conferment of the rank of general, except that Tsepov was awarded the Order of Courage and “For Services to the Fatherland”, IV degree. Not to mention other state awards.
For some reason I remember how, back in 1996, his glasses sparkling, he said: “As for whether I’m a FSB person or a GRU, CIA, PGU... Let’s do it this way. Everyone has their secrets. I won’t say: no, I’m not a “cop guy.” Time will pass, maybe someone will find out something. What, in fact, is hidden under the guise... But I have nothing to do with the “office”: my controversial past and vile character get in the way...”
But on this anniversary I would so like to address him: “Happy Birthday, Comrade General!”
The verdict of the London court in the case of the murder of Alexander Litvinenko with the help of polonium-210 forced participants in the events of the 90s to recall the story of the death of the St. Petersburg “gray eminence” Roman Tsepov, who died on September 24, 2004 as a result of poisoning.
Experts and journalists noted the similarity of the symptoms of the illness of Alexander Litvinenko and Roman Tsepov. And intelligence service historian Boris Volodarsky, on Radio Liberty in 2009, expressed confidence in the murder of Roman Tsepov “undoubtedly by radioactive poison,” calling his death on par with the murder of Anna Politkovskaya and the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko.
Today we will remember what the “gray eminence of St. Petersburg” Roman Tsepov was like. Our guest is a journalist, general director of the “Operational Cover” information department.
Experts and journalists noted the similarity of the symptoms of the illness of Alexander Litvinenko and Roman Tsepov
– Kirill, in 1996 you began publishing “Operational Cover,” a magazine of private security companies, which published analytical articles on the criminal situation in St. Petersburg. What made you decide to publish such a magazine?
– The idea to cover the criminal and near-criminal situation in St. Petersburg arose earlier. It had to mature because few believed that this project could survive, and few wanted to invest money in it. We had to look for investors, and fundamentally we didn’t want to confine ourselves to some criminal cohorts. The search for such people went on throughout 1995, and then we found them, and the magazine was created. Initially, its editorial staff included people who came from the editorial office of Delovoy Peterburg. And we found support for the magazine, completely unexpectedly for ourselves, from the security company Komkon, which was non-standard at that time, non-standard - because its founders were two generals and three warrant officers of the KGB, and from different units (I will not name their names). They found our project interesting. They found the funds to publish the first issue of the magazine. Of course, by that time we had certain developments, there was an unconditional understanding of what was happening in the city, knowledge that there were clans in the city, we had experience, since I had previously worked in the “Defense” association, I myself had encountered various conflicts situations. There was a general understanding of who was behind what and behind whom, who was behind what. This project did not start from scratch.
– By 1996, the criminal situation in St. Petersburg had stabilized somewhat. The “shooters”, the shooting of competitors, the gang violence, the “lawlessness of the frostbitten,” as it was called, stopped. So these are calm times?
All the security forces “protected” someone during non-working hours, because the state paid them very little and it was impossible to live on this money
“They quieted down a little.” And it often seemed to me that we would have to write about what has already passed: about the formation of some kind of civilized security business, about how “brave guys” from among former law enforcement officers or simply conscientious citizens would protect the peace and quiet of our nascent business, to help our, still incomprehensible at that time, law enforcement system. Plus, at that time the first Chechen war was in full swing - this factor must also be taken into account. In addition, it was clear that all the security forces were “protecting someone” during non-working hours, earning their own money, because the state paid them very little and it was impossible to live on this money.
We really felt like we were going to write about this. But everything turned out wrong, because the “third phase of the 90s,” as I call it, began. It’s difficult for me to say what it was connected with - perhaps with the redistribution of the redistribution. Or perhaps because the state has already determined its approaches and began to divide medium and large businesses. Nobody was involved in raiding in the mid-90s, but towards the end of the 90s, raider takeovers began (though they weren’t called raiders then, but the division began). They took the perimeters of large enterprises, entered enterprises, took away seals, replaced directors, etc. A redistribution of a completely different nature began. And we also fell into it: those people about whom we, one way or another, wrote, for the most part were involved in all these schemes due to the fact that someone was guarding someone, someone was taking care of someone, someone seemed to have already retired, but they dragged him back into it, etc.
We had a good time working in the 90s. We had many sources
We had a good time working in the 90s. We had many sources. It was an auspicious time. In the end, we managed to attract the most influential and well-known security companies in St. Petersburg under the banner of “Operational Cover”. And they used us not only as their resource, but also as a kind of negotiation platform where people who had controversial, problematic relationships could come and calmly drink tea. It was a place where opponents could come. It was good. I believe that we managed to extinguish a sufficient number of conflicts, even though we were not security forces, but journalists. Those were good times.
– How did the figure of Roman Tsepov appear on your horizon?
– It was probably February or early March 1996. My “Operational Cover” partners offered to introduce me to one person “with whom it is impossible to communicate.” I was amazed: “That is?” They said that the man was peculiar. I've already heard about him. He had some problems with the Chechens, some story with the division of Apraksin Dvor, and something else. But you never know what anyone had! They offered me to meet him and at the same time they told me that nothing would come of this acquaintance anyway. At this point a professional thought came to my mind: “Come on, introduce me!” They gave me a phone number. I called. A man responded, apparently of a strange character. He answered in a completely inhuman, hoarse and unnatural voice. This was, of course, a pretense. It was theater, a mask.
A tiny office and an incomprehensible person. Not large, without “oblique fathoms in the shoulders.” Glasses on the nose. Novel
The man told me to come and talk and gave me the address. I came. My God! Some kind of passageway, neither this nor that, dirty... But the foreign cars that stood at the entrance, of course, amazed me - they were cool... The entrance to a residential entrance, somewhere in the basement... Some kind of gateways, littered with some kind of tires . All this, of course, did not at all resemble a reputable security company. There was a feeling that this was some kind of get-together, for which three retired colonels gathered to guard some kind of grocery store.
A tiny office and an incomprehensible person. Not large, without “oblique fathoms in the shoulders.” Glasses on the nose. Novel. But, surprisingly, we talked for about fifteen minutes, and it became so easy for us to communicate! I don't know why, but we started contact. We sat and drank tea. This, in fact, was the beginning. We communicated often, closely, and already in the process of communication the details of various stories became known - about the same Seaport of St. Petersburg, about different people. And I am very glad that we never had a serious business relationship. I valued, above all, the opportunity to communicate.
By the way, today, perhaps, there would be neither "Fontanka.ru" nor "AZHUR" in St. Petersburg, because when in 1997 the newspaper "Advertising-Chance" decided that they did not need "Fontanka.ru" and " AZHUR", their current leaders came to me, and we negotiated for them to join our "Operational Cover" structure. But, unfortunately, the guys’ appetites were so high that it was too much for them to do, and then they found other opportunities, but for a while. The moment came when Andrei Konstantinov asked me to introduce him to Roman Tsepov: he was unable to contact him himself. I went to Roman, and he asked: “Why do I need this?” And so on two more times. Andrey continued to insist on getting to know each other. I felt embarrassed. In general, in the end I introduced them. And this, in fact, after some time became a salvation for “AZHUR”, since Roman became a source of financial investments, which raised them.
We were just talking. We had no financial relationship. He could just call me when he wanted, and I could call him when I wanted
And we were just talking. We had no financial relationship. He could just call me when he wanted, and I could call him when I wanted. We met in his office, and somewhere else where they grilled kebabs, I could come to his home. At that time I was without a car, and he often gave me a ride home. Such relations were certainly correct at that time. I have already heard a lot about this man, both good and bad. Someone got to know him through me, someone tried to negotiate something with him through our platform...
Roman Tsepov was one of the most influential figures in St. Petersburg at that time
– Roman Tsepov was one of the most influential figures in St. Petersburg at that time. Employees of his Baltic Escort agency guarded Anatoly Sobchak and Vladimir Putin. He had affairs with Viktor Zolotov, Igor Sechin and other high-ranking officials. On the eve of his death, he was engaged, for example, in resolving the conflict between the authorities and YUKOS. From the very beginning of your acquaintance with Roman, did you feel his influence on the current government in St. Petersburg?
- Why did you feel it? I knew it. This was expressed at least in the fact that they called him. You can play anything, but it’s impossible to play a series of phone calls like that. We were drinking tea, and calls rang out, a variety of people called (we won’t name their names), I heard conversations. I knew something about Roman’s movements both then and later, when power changed in the Kremlin. This was not a revelation for me. A couple of times he helped us free of charge when we were under pressure. To solve such problems, a few calls or meetings were enough for him. But I took it quite calmly. For me, he was not a man from some other world, with a crown on his head. Who cares? Someone is somehow communicating with someone...
On the eve of his death, he was engaged in resolving the conflict between the authorities and Yukos.
– One interview that Roman Tsepov gave you in 2003 is considered by many to be a death sentence that he signed for himself. In this interview for Gorod magazine, he talks about how he met Vladimir Putin back in 1994. Here is a quote: "... Vice-Mayor Putin was not entitled to state security by status, although he was in charge of the privatization of the Baltic Shipping Company, where the murder of the head had just been committed. The mayor's office entered into an official agreement with Baltic Escort. I allocated security guards who were capable ensure the personal safety of this person... And about the commercial connection between us - complete nonsense.” How can you comment on this?
To solve problems, a few calls or meetings were enough for him
– In fact, all interviews with Roman were done by me. He was a very private person, did not want to communicate with journalists and, on principle, did not give interviews to anyone. I called him periodically and offered to talk. We apparently had some kind of thread of trust. After some resistance, he agreed, and we talked.
By the way, I had a serious conflict with him. We had a huge fight for six months. This was due to one interview in which it was said that while he was guarding Vladimir Putin, there were no attempts on his life. At first, German journalists asked for this, and we did interviews for them, but I sat next to them. And Gorod magazine very actively asked me to do this interview with Roman. They tried themselves, but they didn’t succeed. At that time, Putin was already president—I think it was already 2002. They wanted to interview the man who was guarding the future president. I convinced Roman for a long time until he agreed. But he set a condition: it can be published only after he has endorsed the text, because there are points that he needs to agree on from a security point of view. I understood perfectly well that these were issues of a state nature - some points needed to be tested by time, something would have to be changed in the future.
We agreed with him. We had a good, big, frank conversation. The magazine "City" called me impatiently to find out how things were going. They asked if the interview had been agreed upon. I confirmed, but noted that there was one condition. “Well, if it’s agreed, can we get it?” – asked the guys from “City”. I gave them the text, but asked them not to put it in the room, to wait, so as not to let me down. And they delivered.
He was a very private person, did not want to communicate with journalists and, as a matter of principle, did not give interviews to anyone
An irritated Roman called me from Moscow, shouting, asking how much they paid me, why I did it, saying: “Is this really more important to you than our relationship?” I told him that I gave the guys the text and warned them not to put it in the room, but they didn’t listen to me. Roman was very offended by me. Then a representative from him came to see me, a very big man (I won’t mention his name, he’s no longer alive). He also asked why I did it. I made excuses as best I could.
We didn’t communicate with Roman for about six months. Then he called one day and invited me to have tea. So we restored the relationship. In his first interview in 1996, it is already said that he “protects the business of the city fathers,” and at that time the “city fathers” were absolutely specific people, and in that interview he openly says that he has relationships with them. I think that this first interview, which he gave when we met him, “weighs” much more. The interview in the Gorod magazine, compared to the first one, was already the “icing on the cake”. This 100% could not be the reason for its elimination.
We saw him shortly before his death. At the end of August 2004, I called him, but didn’t get through. I called at the beginning of September. Silence. Silence. Silence. I somehow didn’t understand, because Roman didn’t have the habit of disappearing somewhere. If he was busy, one of his employees could answer; someone was always on the phone. He could call back. And here there is complete silence. And now I won’t say exactly what date it was - maybe the fourth or fifth of September, but I got through to him. He was very tired. He invited me, I came. He said that television wanted to film him - they were making a film about the university where he studied. Roman didn’t want to act, but I managed to persuade him. This was his last short video message (it, however, did not go anywhere).
Roman sits all grey. I ask: "Why do you look so bad?" He says: "Yes, I'm very tired"
And Roman sits all grey. I ask: "Why do you look so bad?" He says: “Yes, I’m very tired. I just came from Beslan.” - “What were you doing there?” - “You know what happened there.” - “Yes, I know, but what were you doing there?” - “Well, I was called to come there and deal with certain issues. We have a head of state who called.” Roman returned from there and was in really bad shape.
He asked me: “Listen, I need an analysis of the situation in St. Petersburg. What analytical materials do you have? We need to see that there is nothing like this (Beslan) here.” I say: “Roma, I have some experience on this topic, because every day I analyze threats - various, including theoretical ones. There are many sources of information - certain agents, etc., including in diasporas. Come on ", I'll ask around, maybe I'll find out what? Maybe one of the strangers is walking here, wandering around, maybe something else... And when do you need it?" He says: “It’s better to do it quickly. You understand, the situation is such that another school, and especially here, no one needs it.”
He said he would get through, he didn't need help. I wished him to get well soon. And a few days later he died
I agreed. I met different people and found out: everything seemed to be calm, nothing like this was expected. I collected information, called him and offered to meet. And he asked me to write all this on a piece of paper and bring it to the office. I again offered to see him. He said that he was not feeling well and went to the hospital. I took the document to the office. After some time, he called again and asked how he was feeling. He replied that he felt worse, very badly. And it was already mid-September. I asked if I needed help. He said he would get through, he didn't need help. I wished him to get well soon. And a few days later he died.
– There are many versions of the murder of Roman Tsepov. Which version are you leaning towards?
“No interview, even the most frank, could have caused his departure so quickly, especially taking into account who and how he flew to Beslan. And shortly before he passed away, he continued to communicate with the president. No, it seems to me that there is a completely different story there. Many versions have been put forward. Our airwaves are not enough to voice them all. You can agree with some of them, and not with some.
Roman has embarked on a path that does not end well. In fact, he became a person for solving problematic problems
In general, at some point Roman embarked on a path that does not end well. And despite the fact that he was posthumously awarded the rank of major general, despite everything else, it is clear that this path was very dangerous, because in fact he became a person for solving problematic problems. This happens sometimes. We don't choose our destiny. But he found himself at the forefront of some major conflicts, each of the participants in which had certain capabilities, and anyone whose tail he “stepped on” could be interested in eliminating him, could pay, organize a murder. And as far as I know from conversations, that year he had many intersections on various issues, including with our oligarchs, current and no longer current. And each of them could have a hand in this.
That year he had many conflicts on various issues, including with our oligarchs. And each of them could have a hand in this
But who eliminated him? Who needed it? Now I will say something that I have never said openly before. Not long ago I had the opportunity to communicate with a person who may be involved in his elimination. I have an absolutely clearly stated story on my voice recorder about where they went, what they took, who they came to, where they got the drug, in what form it was present, who it was given to for elimination, etc. I don't know how true this is, I haven't checked it yet. But in general, I don’t understand very well how this can be verified, because the criminal case has been closed, suspended, despite the fact that Roman’s parents (and I often meet with them) were not given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with this case.
All our attempts to find this criminal case and get acquainted with it were unsuccessful. All our requests receive incomprehensible answers that it is either in Moscow, or in St. Petersburg, or somewhere else. In general, it cannot be found. Therefore, I don’t understand very well how you can check the information that I wrote down, although all the names and surnames are there.
All our attempts to find this criminal case and get acquainted with it were unsuccessful.
The concentration of knowledge about many matters in one person and his direct participation in many problematic situations sooner or later, unfortunately, was bound to lead to such a result. That's all.
– It is clear that you cannot yet talk about the contents of the recording, much less present it to us. But you can answer one question: was it a political murder?