Russia’s richest woman merges company, tragedy strikes in July

In July, a tragic shooting occurred at the Moscow headquarters of Wildberries, resulting in two deaths and several injuries. Tatyana Bakalchuk, the founder and richest woman in Russia, had recently merged her company with Russ Outdoor, a move that her estranged husband, Vladislav Bakalchuk, opposed vehemently. He accused Tatyana of being misled into the merger, which he claimed was a hostile takeover attempt by him and armed associates. The couple's divorce proceedings had begun shortly before the incident, with Vladislav asserting his entitlement to half of Wildberries due to the absence of a prenuptial agreement. The merger aimed to enhance Wildberries' market position and create a competitor to international banking networks. Tatyana sought to secure a partnership with influential figures close to the Kremlin, believing it would protect her business interests amid changing regulations. Vladislav, however, portrayed the Mirzoyan brothers, who were instrumental in the merger, as threats to Tatyana, claiming they instilled fear about losing her business to state control. The shooting incident has raised questions about the safety and stability of high-profile business dealings in Russia, particularly in the context of personal disputes spilling into the corporate arena. Tatyana's public statements following the tragedy indicated her belief that the attack was orchestrated by her estranged husband, further complicating the narrative surrounding the merger and the couple's tumultuous relationship. As investigations continue, the implications of this event extend beyond personal tragedy, highlighting the volatile intersection of business, power, and personal relationships in Russia's corporate landscape.