Raid Summary
In mid-January 2019, a group of armed individuals stormed onto, and took control of, a number of large-scale residential complexes under construction in the heart of the Russian capital of Moscow.
These real estate development projects include VernadSKY on Vernadsky Prospekt, Pirogovskaya Riviera in Moscow’s Mytishchi District, and Akkord Smart Kvartal in the Odintsovo District. They are owned and operated by SDI Group, a company operating mainly in Russia and the former Soviet Union, but also elsewhere abroad. The German infrastructure development and construction firm, Alcon Development GmbH, owns an 80-percent stake in that company.
Later that month, on January 24, 2019, another group of raiders bounded into the SDI Group’s offices on Kutuzovsky Prospekt and demanded the keys to the building. Some were in ordinary clothes and some wearing uniforms of the Vityaz security company, the primary security provider of properties belonging to God Nisanov, Moscow’s largest commercial real estate holder and a Russian oligarch of Azerbaijani descent. In a video recording, the raid’s orchestrators can supposedly be heard receiving orders from Nisanov, a partner in the projects. Russian media have since reported that Nisanov ordered the raid after a dispute with his partner, Ilgar Hajiyev, the founder of SDI Group.
After the raid, Hajiyev received a number of death threats, prompting him to flee with his family to Switzerland. The overnight loss of three prime real estate developments was a rare but devastating setback for Hajiyev, whose rags-to-riches story has become legendary in the former Soviet Union.
Even more painful for Hajiyev and the SDI Group management were the crimes committed by the perpetrators after the fact. Millions of euros in down payments for apartments, which were paid to SDI Group by hardworking Russian families, were transferred outside of the company’s accounts.
Over the past nine months, SDI Group has issued appeals to Russia’s Presidency and Government, the Moscow Regional Government and Mayor’s Office, and an array of law enforcement agencies in the hope of securing their support to bring Nisanov and his cronies to justice. The company has also launched a number of legal cases in Russia against the individuals involved in/behind the raid.
More information can be found in this investigative story by Novaya Gazeta.
Raid Media Coverage
November 26, 2019
International Policy Digest
Moscow Real Estate Feud Has Potential to Roil German-Russian Relations
November 26, 2019
Lenta.ru
To the Bundestag for Support: Will German MPs Help in Real Estate Struggles in Moscow?
November 25, 2019
Lenta.ua
Real Estate Could Damage German-Russian Relations
November 25, 2019
Reyting.az
A Skirmish Between Azerbaijanis in Moscow Could Ruin German-Russian Relations
November 22, 2019
Jüdische Welt
A Moscow Real Estate Feud Has the Potential to Severely Disrupt German-Russian Relations
November 22, 2019
Welt Express
A Moscow Real Estate Feud Has the Potential to Severely Disrupt German-Russian Relations
June 27, 2019
Ekho Moskva
U-Turn: Problem with Deceived Apartment Owners
June 24, 2019
Govorit Moskva
Mikhail Khazin Discusses the Inaction of Law Enforcement Agencies In Raid on SDI Group
June 20, 2019
Mikhail Khazin: Official Site
There Are Questions, But No Answers Yet…
June 20, 2019
Vesti FM: ‘Full Contact’
Raid on SDI Group Discussed on Vladimir Solovyov’s Show, “Full Contact”
June 11, 2019
Sobesednik
Funds of Apartment Owners at Pirogovskaya Riviera Withdrawn After Call From God Nisanov
June 10, 2019
Haqqin.az
Businessman Ilgar Hajiyev’s Misadventures Continue in Russia
June 5, 2019
Novaya Gazeta
Welcome, Construction, A New Year (ed. A New Owner, God Nisanov)
June 3, 2019
Govorit Moskva
Khazin/Economics Show: On the Issue of Raids
June 3, 2019
Khazin/Economics Show
May 30, 2019
Biznes-FM
Share and Shortfall of Pirogovskaya Riviera: Construction Stops After Corporate Dispute
May 29, 2019
Moscow Post
Rough-and-Tumble 1990s as Performed By God Nisanov?
May 29, 2019
Versiya
May 28, 2019
RIA Novosti
Co-Owner of SDI Group Sells 80 Percent of Shares to German Alcon Development GmbH
May 28, 2019
Gazeta.ru
European Shareholder Joins SDI Group
May 28, 2019
Kommersant
Ilgar Hajiyev Cedes Control of SDI Group
May 23, 2019
Biznes Information Agency
May 22, 2019
Vedomosti
Kievskaya Ploshad Buys Nagatinskaya Transport Hub
May 22, 2019
RuCriminal
Nisanov Hiding Behind FSB and Putin
May 21, 2019
Lenta.ru
Worse Than In the Nineties: How Old Tricks Are Used in New Corporate Conflicts
May 20, 2019
Haqqin.az
Ex-Head of Akkord, Businessman Ilgar Hajiyev Appeals for Support to President of Azerbaijan
May 14, 2019
Haqqin.az
Acclaimed Azerbaijani Businessman in Russia Speaks with Haqqin.az: ‘My Business Was Stolen’
May 14, 2019
Sobesednik
Apartment Owners Are Victims of God Nisanov
May 8, 2019
RuCompromat
Ilgar Hajiyev Complains to Putin About ‘King of Russian Real Estate’
May 8, 2019
Reyting.az
Attack on Renowned Azerbaijani Businessman’s Office: Ilgar Hajiyev Faces ‘Thieves’
May 8, 2019
Xalq.az
God Nisanov Raids Acclaimed Azerbaijani Businessman’s Offices in Russia
May 8, 2019
Moderator.az
Offices of Renowned Azerbaijani Businessman Attacked in Russia
May 7, 2019
TheBell
Partner Accused ‘King of Russian Real Estate’ of Raiding His Business
May 7, 2019
First Anti-Corruption Media
Entrepreneur Asks Putin for Protection From ‘King of Russian Real Estate’
May 5, 2019
Radio Free Liberty/Radio Europe
‘Thieves-In-Law Rang.’ Developers Announce Raid on Business
May 2, 2019
Radio Free Liberty/Radio Europe
Ilgar Hajiyev Discusses Situation with Company
Stills from Footage Recorded During Raid
Approximately 50 security cameras installed at SDI Group’s offices and construction sites were left recording for months after the raid took place in January 2019. Tens of thousands of hours of footage were stored in the cloud before the cameras were dismantled. The footage is currently being transcribed by SDI Group’s legal team. Some stills can be seen below.
External Links
Official SDI Group Raid Website
The legal team at SDI Group has published the above website, which collates Russia and international media coverage about the raid, the founder’s appeals for support to law enforcement and state agencies, video footage, and other documentation.
Official SDI Group Raid YouTube Channel