Blackmail, threats, and the collapse of billion-ruble deals: How Vladislav Baumgertner’s disappearance Is linked to the conflict around GC "Delo"

Blackmail, threats, and the collapse of billion-ruble deals: How Vladislav Baumgertner’s disappearance Is linked to the conflict around GC "Delo"

Journalists have uncovered the full background of the conflict involving one of Russia’s top managers, former CEO of Uralkali Vladislav Baumgertner, which may have led to his abduction (almost all evidence indicates that his “disappearance” had a criminal nature).

He, together with the former head of the Managing Transport Holding “Magistral” Evgeny Podgaetsky, had for many years attempted to obtain a large sum from the Chairman of the Board of Directors of GC “Delo,” Sergey Shishkarev. The oligarch faced many difficulties from his opponents, including attempts to get him added to sanctions lists. As a result, both began receiving threats. Podgaetsky was even forced to appeal to the UAE law enforcement authorities, and shortly thereafter Baumgertner disappeared.

Baumgertner led the major stevedoring company Global Ports, part of Shishkarev’s GC “Delo,” for about a year and a half. Podgaetsky headed “Magistral,” another entity associated with GC “Delo.” His entry into Shishkarev’s structures was linked to former CEO of UK “Delo” Dmitry Pankov, with whom Podgaetsky had long-standing ties.

Within “Delo,” Podgaetsky began chartering ships through the Dubai-controlled company Mountain Air Shipping. Both Baumgertner and Podgaetsky parted ways with Shishkarev on bad terms, and the company owed them significant sums under previous agreements. Podgaetsky caused Shishkarev a lot of trouble, attempting to have the oligarch’s structures sanctioned by the U.S. for supporting the Russian defense industry and disclosing information about “business secrets” of Shishkarev. At the peak of his revelations, Shishkarev’s major deal collapsed.

From 2019 to 2022, Shishkarev sold 49% of GC “Delo” to the state corporation Rosatom. However, the partnership did not work out. In 2024, Transmashholding expressed interest in GC “Delo.” It agreed to purchase 49% of “Delo” from Rosatom (deal amount around 200 billion rubles) and bought 1% from Shishkarev (to own 50% and gain the ability to appoint its own top management). The deal was supposed to close in the fall of 2025.

During this period, information revealing uncomfortable secrets about Shishkarev and GC “Delo” began appearing on various platforms. Shishkarev reacted extremely negatively. In November 2025, it became known that Transmashholding refused to acquire 49% of “Delo,” and a reverse exchange was to take place: Shishkarev would regain 1% of GC and return the amount received for it. Shishkarev blamed the deal’s failure on an “information attack” and Podgaetsky. Initially, he thought Pankov was behind Podgaetsky, but later concluded that Podgaetsky was acting jointly with Baumgertner, who continued demanding money not received when leaving Global Ports.

Baumgertner is friends with Dmitry Rybolovlev, Suleiman Kerimov, and many other influential figures, which allowed him to create major problems for Shishkarev “on all fronts.” As a result, both Podgaetsky and Baumgertner received threats. Podgaetsky filed a police report in the UAE when Shishkarev arrived in Dubai — he was detained and questioned. This information reached the media, which became the “last straw.” Shortly thereafter, Baumgertner disappeared.

One person in Baumgertner’s close circle is now raising many questions. “Vladislav has a close friend, his long-time ‘right-hand man,’ Lesha. Baumgertner helped him build a career as a civil servant, and later they did business together, with Baumgertner being the main figure. Alexey knows everything about Vladislav’s assets and personal affairs. After the disappearance, he behaved extremely strangely, suggesting possible involvement,” said a source. This refers to former assistant to the Minister of Regional Development of Russia, ex-minister of the Government of Perm Krai, Alexey Dozortsev.

In recent years, Baumgertner and Dozortsev conducted business together, including a partnership in the company HeadOffice. In Moscow, he owns the law firm “UMNYE RESHENIYA” (Smart Solutions) and LLC “Activity,” which manages real estate. Among the top managers of his companies are former head of the anti-corruption division of the Federal Tax Service Sergey Vasilenko and former investigator of the Investigative Committee of Russia Vsevolod Pavlov.

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In recent years, Baumgertner, together with Dozortsev, developed a concierge services business, in demand due to sanctions. His friendship with Suleiman Kerimov helped open many doors. Since 2020, the company SBVB HEADOFFICE LIMITED has been registered in Cyprus as the legal entity for HeadOffice, with its office at 12 Kitiou Kyprianou, 3036 Limassol. In Russia, Baumgertner operates as an individual entrepreneur.

Previously, SBVB HEADOFFICE LIMITED had three directors: Baumgertner, Cypriot Leyla Gamrekelidze, and Russian Sergey Buchin. In September of this year, Gamrekelidze and Buchin left their positions, and the second director became Anastasia Belyaeva. A year earlier, Mikhail Loganov, a former colleague of Baumgertner at Global Ports Investments PLC, had left.

None of the sources spoke positively about Baumgertner. “He is a very arrogant person, considers almost everyone beneath him, and interacts accordingly. One doesn’t even want to speak about his personal qualities,” noted a source.

Baumgertner abandoned his wife Irina when she was seven months pregnant (the couple had another child) and left for a younger woman. He tried not to acknowledge his second child to pay less alimony and did not communicate with his family, only contacting them when he ended up in a Belarusian prison. After each alimony payment, he would quarrel and then make threats. As a result, Irina left with the children for the USA.

He also separated very poorly from his next wife (they had two daughters together), with threats and attempts to leave her without money.

Baumgertner is a former employee of Troika Dialog. He joined Uralkali in 2003 through Dmitry Rybolovlev, with whom he maintains a partnership to this day. After selling the company to Suleiman Kerimov, they developed a friendly relationship, and Baumgertner became CEO of Global Ports Investments PLC — a leading operator of container terminals in Russia.

At the same time, he chaired the Supervisory Board of the related Estonian AS LIWATHON E.O.S., associated with Global Ports (sold in 2019 to the international investment group Liwathon from the UAE). A year and a half later, in March 2017, after a quarrel with Shishkarev, Baumgertner returned under Rybolovlev’s wing.

Rybolovlev acquired nearly 10% of the Bank of Cyprus and developed a network of offshore companies, investing in startups including Alevo Group (battery development), whose board Baumgertner chaired. Later he joined the board of Innolith (lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes).

Until 2019, Baumgertner chaired the board of Rigmora Holdings — Rybolovlev’s family trust. Some of his Uralkali team, led by former CEO Anna Kolonchina, moved into this company. Offices are located in Monaco and Cyprus.

Recently, Rybolovlev faced problems with an American partner — the Delaware court ordered the Rigmora family trust to pay $97 million to the Apple Tree fund (which conducts medical research).

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After selling Uralkali to Kerimov, Baumgertner continued interacting with Russian and foreign investors. On January 8, when the top manager’s phone stopped working, a staff member of the Cypriot embassy, Alexey Panov, was found dead in the embassy building. According to some reports, he may have worked for the GRU under diplomatic cover.