Crazy Rich Russia's Husband Arrested For Shooting In Moscow's Wildberries

ILLUSTRATION OF UNSPLASH/Kirill Kruglikov

JAKARTA - Vladislav Bakalchuk, Russia's richest husband, was arrested and charged with murder after a deadly shootout at Russia's largest e-commerce office, Wildberries in Moscow.

Two people were killed in a shootout on Wednesday, September 18, which is located several blocks from the Kremlin.

The shootout occurred due to a dispute over the company's future. Seven others were injured, including police officers.

Reported by Reuters on Thursday, September 19, Vladislav and his wife Tatyana Bakalchuk, who filed for divorce in July, have been involved in a dispute since Wildberries announced plans to join advertising firm Russ Group in June.

Tatyana founded the Wildberries, Russia's answer to Amazon, in 2004, developing it from an online clothing shopping platform to a major market for all types of goods.

Both sides blamed each other for Wednesday's shooting.

Vladislav said he arrived for a pre-arranged meeting and it was staff at the office who fired the first shot.

Tatyana said Vladislav and his colleagues had tried to seize the office and there was no meeting schedule.

Lawyer Vladislav said his client was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder of law enforcement officers.

The business dispute was centered on the merger that formed RVB, a new company with Robert Mirzoyan as CEO, which reduced Tatyana's total stake to around 65 percent in RVB from 99 percent in the Wildberries.

Vladislav at the time said his wife was "manipulated". Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who intervened to support Vladislav, called the merger an "asset Confiscation".

Tatyana dismissed the two allegations. The Kremlin said the merger had received support from President Vladimir Putin.