224th flight detachment badge order. The flight squad has reached the height of prices. Commercial activities of the company

The ex-deputy head of the 224th Flight Detachment, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Defense, was arrested for fraud with a pocket company in the amount of up to 2 billion rubles.

Original of this material
© "Kommersant", 02/01/2018, The flight squad has reached the height of prices

Oleg Rubnikovich, Ivan Safronov

As Kommersant has learned, the Investigative Committee is investigating a criminal case of fraud on an especially large scale committed by the former management of OJSC State Airlines “224th Flight Detachment” - an enterprise that provides air transportation in the interests of government agencies, including the transportation of motorcades for first persons of Russia. The former deputy director of the detachment, Dmitry Novitsky, was arrested on charges of embezzling several hundred million rubles from JSC Rosoboronexport. The case also involves the former general director of the company, Konstantin Vartanov.

The criminal case of fraud (Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) in the 224th detachment was taken over by the Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. Initially, the investigative department of transport looked into the fraud. The first person involved in the case was the former deputy general director of the enterprise, Dmitry Novitsky, who, at the request of the investigation, was taken into custody by the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow. In addition to the standard arguments that Dmitry Novitsky does not intend to hide and interfere with the investigation of the criminal case, the defense also focused on the “illegal initiation of a criminal case, the absence of a crime,” where the amount of damage has not even been established. However, the defense failed to achieve a more lenient preventive measure in the Moscow City Court.

Meanwhile, according to Kommersant sources, during the investigation it was established that from 2010 to 2015, the leadership of the 224th flight detachment committed the theft of funds from Rosoboronexport JSC, allocated for organizing air transportation and freight forwarding services. The basis for the pre-investigation check, and as a result of its results, the criminal case, was a statement from the management of the joint-stock company, which revealed fraud on the part of its partner. According to preliminary data, Rosoboronexport's losses can be estimated at amounts ranging from several hundred million to 2 billion rubles. However, the forensic financial examination, which should determine the exact amount of damage, has not yet been completed.

At the same time, Kommersant’s source in the Ministry of Defense, of which the 224th Flying Detachment is a subsidiary, claims that another person involved in this case is allegedly Dmitry Novitsky’s former boss, Konstantin Vartanov. He lost his position, along with his deputy, back in 2016 due to violations identified in the detachment’s activities, which later became part of a criminal case. According to some reports, we are talking about a multiple increase in prices for “logistics services” provided to Rosoboronexport. In particular, the detachment was engaged in the transportation of military and dual-use cargo to Vietnam, Syria, Algeria, Ethiopia, Cambodia and other countries. At the same time, the inflated prices allegedly occurred through the use of an intermediary company, which was controlled by the ex-management of the 224th flight detachment. The money received from Rosoboronexport, according to Kommersant’s source, was withdrawn from its accounts to several Middle Eastern banks. The Investigative Committee refused to comment on the progress of the investigation. A preventive measure for Konstantin Vartanov, who disappeared from the sight of law enforcement agencies after the start of the investigation, has not yet been chosen. It should be noted that in July 2015, Konstantin Vartanov was brought to administrative responsibility for the fact that the flight squad he led provided services for training aviation specialists without having a license for educational activities. Then the magistrate court imposed a fine of 30 thousand rubles on Konstantin Vartanov. According to SPARK data, in the same 2015, the revenue of the 224th flight detachment amounted to about 2 billion rubles, and net profit - 42 million rubles.

The 224th flight detachment was founded back in 1979. In particular, it provided the transportation of cargo and personnel during the war in Afghanistan. At that time, pilots were formally assigned to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. In 1993, a reorganization took place: by order of the President of Russia, the 224th flight detachment was repurposed for air transport on the instructions of the head of state, as well as various government agencies, including the transportation of motorcades of the country's top officials. However, commercial transportation remained an important activity, which was then supposed to replenish the Air Force budget. Now the detachment uses Il-76MD and An-124-100 aircraft from several military transport aviation regiments based at airfields in the European part of Russia.

It is curious that the office of the company itself is located in Sokolniki, literally a stone’s throw from the Matrosskaya Tishina pre-trial detention center. Perhaps this circumstance was the reason why the accused Novitsky was first assigned to the Medved pre-trial detention center, and then, when he did not admit guilt and refused to cooperate with the investigation, he was sent to the less comfortable Butyrka.

Dmitry Novitsky's lawyer refrained from commenting, citing the lack of consent of his client. Rosoboronexport, which is the injured party in the case, also refrained from commenting.

“This story does not directly concern me, so I don’t see any point in being interested in the fate of my predecessors,” the current general director of the 224th flight detachment, Vladimir Mikheychik, told Kommersant, in turn, confirming that documents were seized in the detachment.

224th Flying Detachment

Dossier

The history dates back to the 224th separate transport air squad created in 1979, which was engaged in the transportation of cargo during the war in Afghanistan. It has been operating as an airline since the 1990s. It specializes in air transportation in the Russian Federation and abroad of large-sized cargo: industrial and oil and gas equipment, military equipment, tracked vehicles, space industry products, etc. It has a license for cargo landing from low and extremely low altitudes.

The main customers on the airline's website are the administration of the President of the Russian Federation, the special flight squad "Russia", "Rosoboronexport" and RSK MIG. According to the Federal Air Transport Agency as of January 2018, the airline operates two An-124-100 Ruslan aircraft and 11 Il-76MD aircraft. According to SPARK-Interfax, OJSC 224 LO is 100% owned by JSC Garrison (formerly Oboronservis), controlled by the Ministry of Defense. According to the latest available data, revenue in 2015 was 1.9 billion rubles, net profit - 42 million rubles.

In 2013–2017, the company concluded 32 government contracts worth RUB 5.8 billion. The staff of OJSC 224 LO is 650 people. General Director - Vladimir Mikheychik.

A preventive measure for Konstantin Vartanov, who disappeared from the sight of law enforcement agencies after the start of the investigation, has not yet been chosen. It should be noted that in July 2015, Konstantin Vartanov was brought to administrative responsibility for the fact that the flight squad he led provided services for training aviation specialists without having a license for educational activities. Then the magistrate court imposed a fine of 30 thousand rubles on Konstantin Vartanov. According to SPARK data, in the same 2015, the revenue of the 224th flight detachment amounted to about 2 billion rubles, and net profit - 42 million rubles.

Dmitry Novitsky's lawyer refrained from commenting, citing the lack of consent of his client. Rosoboronexport, which is the injured party in the case, also refrained from commenting.

“This story doesn’t concern me directly, so I don’t see any point in being interested in the fate of my predecessors,” the current general director of the 224th flight detachment, Vladimir Mikheychik, told Kommersant, in turn, confirming that documents were seized in the detachment.

Full name - State Airline 224 Flight Detachment. This is a Russian aviation enterprise, which is a subsidiary of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The air carrier is engaged in air travel for government purposes. In addition, the 224th Flight Detachment irregularly carries out commercial cargo transportation throughout Russia and abroad.

The history of the 224th separate transport air squadron is connected with combat operations in Afghanistan. The unit was created to provide transportation between Afghanistan and the USSR. The detachment carried out this mission from 1979 to 1988.

The modern company was created already in 1993 on the basis of the 12th military transport aviation division. The company immediately began producing commercial transport, becoming an additional source of income for the Air Force.

The aircraft fleet of the airline consists of aircraft that are on the balance sheet of the Russian Air Force. The location of the company's fleet is Migalovo Airport.

Airline activities

The company's aircraft are used primarily for transportation related to the Office of the President. For example, it is this air carrier that delivers motorcades to transport the head of state to their destinations.

The aircraft of the 224th Flight Detachment, based at Seshcha Airport, specialize in transporting super-heavy and oversized cargo. They carry out transportation all over the world. It is these aircraft that transport “200 cargoes” from hot spots to Russia.

The carrier's aircraft can carry out parachute drops of both paratroopers and cargo. That is why these aircraft have been repeatedly involved in various types of military operations, for example, in joint exercises with NATO troops.

Commercial activities of the company

The double subordination of the 224th Flying Detachment carries with it a contradiction that has not yet been finally resolved. The fact is that the commercial transportation carried out by the company is at odds with Russian legislation, since it prohibits military personnel from carrying out any activity of a commercial nature.

Fleet size Headquarters Management

Vartanov Konstantin Gennadievich (director)

Website

In modern history, the State Airline "224th Flight Detachment" was created on the basis of the 12th Military Transport Aviation Division of the Russian Air Force in accordance with the order of the President of the Russian Federation dated January 15, 1993 No. 37-rp "On ensuring the activities of 223 and 224 flight units" detachments of the Russian Ministry of Defense" for air transport on assignments of the President of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (Ministry of Defense of Russia). This year, cargo transportation flights began using Il-76 and An-124 aircraft. In conditions of underfunding of the Armed Forces, the proceeds from transportation helped to somewhat improve the financial position of the Air Force.

Activity

The airline operates aircraft owned by the Russian Air Force. Flights in accordance with the flight training plan and tasks performed by the Air Force are carried out within the structure of the 6955th air base, in accordance with the regulations and documentation of the Russian Air Force. At the same time, in accordance with the constituent documents, under the “flag” of the 224th Flight Detachment, passenger and cargo transportation is carried out on domestic and international airlines to solve national economic problems in compliance with the requirements accepted in civil aviation, and under the control of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation . Also, the “flag” and call sign of the 224th flight detachment are periodically used for air transport abroad in the interests of the Air Force.

According to the airline's charter, its aircraft have the right to parachute drop cargo and paratroopers from the air.

Fleet

Incidents

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Abolished

An excerpt characterizing the 224th flight detachment

- Voyons, pas de betises! [Oh well! Don’t be stupid!] – he shouted.
Pierre was in that rapture of rage in which he remembered nothing and in which his strength increased tenfold. He rushed at the barefoot Frenchman and, before he could take out his cleaver, he had already knocked him down and was hammering at him with his fists. An approving cry from the surrounding crowd was heard, and at the same time a mounted patrol of French lancers appeared around the corner. The lancers trotted up to Pierre and the Frenchman and surrounded them. Pierre did not remember anything of what happened next. He remembered that he had beaten someone, he had been beaten, and that in the end he felt that his hands were tied, that a crowd of French soldiers was standing around him and searching his dress.
“Il a un poignard, lieutenant, [Lieutenant, he has a dagger,”] were the first words that Pierre understood.
- Ah, une arme! [Ah, weapons!] - said the officer and turned to the barefoot soldier who was taken with Pierre.
“C"est bon, vous direz tout cela au conseil de guerre, [Okay, okay, you’ll tell everything at the trial," said the officer. And after that he turned to Pierre: “Parlez vous francais vous?” [Do you speak French? ]
Pierre looked around him with bloodshot eyes and did not answer. His face probably seemed very scary, because the officer said something in a whisper, and four more lancers separated from the team and stood on both sides of Pierre.
– Parlez vous francais? – the officer repeated the question to him, staying away from him. - Faites venir l "interprete. [Call an interpreter.] - A small man in a Russian civilian dress came out from behind the rows. Pierre, by his attire and speech, immediately recognized him as a Frenchman from one of the Moscow shops.
“Il n"a pas l"air d"un homme du peuple, [He doesn’t look like a commoner," said the translator, looking at Pierre.
– Oh, oh! ca m"a bien l"air d"un des incendiaires," the officer blurred. "Demandez lui ce qu"il est? [Oh, oh! he looks a lot like an arsonist. Ask him who he is?] he added.
- Who are you? – asked the translator. “The authorities must answer,” he said.
– Je ne vous dirai pas qui je suis. Je suis votre prisonnier. Emmenez moi, [I won't tell you who I am. I am your prisoner. Take me away,” Pierre suddenly said in French.
- Ah, Ah! – the officer said, frowning. - Marchons!
A crowd gathered around the lancers. Closest to Pierre stood a pockmarked woman with a girl; When the detour started moving, she moved forward.
-Where are they taking you, my darling? - she said. - This girl, what am I going to do with this girl, if she’s not theirs! - the woman said.
- Qu"est ce qu"elle veut cette femme? [What does she want?] - asked the officer.
Pierre looked like he was drunk. His ecstatic state intensified even more at the sight of the girl he had saved.
“Ce qu"elle dit?” he said. “Elle m”apporte ma fille que je viens de sauver des flammes,” he said. - Adieu! [What does she want? She is carrying my daughter, whom I saved from the fire. Farewell!] - and he, not knowing how this aimless lie escaped him, walked with a decisive, solemn step among the French.
The French patrol was one of those that were sent by order of Duronel to various streets of Moscow to suppress looting and especially to capture the arsonists, who, according to the general opinion that emerged that day among the French of the highest ranks, were the cause of the fires. Having traveled around several streets, the patrol picked up five more suspicious Russians, one shopkeeper, two seminarians, a peasant and a servant, and several looters. But of all the suspicious people, Pierre seemed the most suspicious of all. When they were all brought to spend the night in a large house on Zubovsky Val, in which a guardhouse was established, Pierre was placed separately under strict guard.

In St. Petersburg at this time, in the highest circles, with greater fervor than ever, there was a complex struggle between the parties of Rumyantsev, the French, Maria Feodorovna, the Tsarevich and others, drowned out, as always, by the trumpeting of the court drones. But calm, luxurious, concerned only with ghosts, reflections of life, St. Petersburg life went on as before; and because of the course of this life, it was necessary to make great efforts to recognize the danger and the difficult situation in which the Russian people found themselves. There were the same exits, balls, the same French theater, the same interests of the courts, the same interests of service and intrigue. Only in the highest circles were efforts made to recall the difficulty of the present situation. It was told in whispers how the two empresses acted opposite to each other in such difficult circumstances. Empress Maria Feodorovna, concerned about the welfare of the charitable and educational institutions under her jurisdiction, made an order to send all institutions to Kazan, and the things of these institutions were already packed. Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna, when asked what orders she wanted to make, with her characteristic Russian patriotism, deigned to answer that she could not make orders about state institutions, since this concerned the sovereign; about the same thing that personally depends on her, she deigned to say that she will be the last to leave St. Petersburg.
Anna Pavlovna had an evening on August 26, the very day of the Battle of Borodino, the flower of which was to be the reading of the letter from the Eminence, written when sending the image of the venerable saint Sergius to the sovereign. This letter was revered as an example of patriotic spiritual eloquence. It was to be read by Prince Vasily himself, famous for his art of reading. (He also read for the Empress.) The art of reading was considered to consist in pouring out words loudly, melodiously, between a desperate howl and a gentle murmur, completely regardless of their meaning, so that, quite by chance, a howl fell on one word and a murmur on others. This reading, like all Anna Pavlovna’s evenings, had political significance. At this evening there were to be several important persons who had to be shamed for their trips to the French theater and encouraged into a patriotic mood. Quite a lot of people had already gathered, but Anna Pavlovna had not yet seen all the people she needed in the living room, and therefore, without starting to read yet, she started general conversations.
The news of the day that day in St. Petersburg was the illness of Countess Bezukhova. A few days ago the Countess unexpectedly fell ill, missed several meetings of which she was an adornment, and it was heard that she did not see anyone and that instead of the famous St. Petersburg doctors who usually treated her, she entrusted herself to some Italian doctor who treated her with some new and in an extraordinary way.
Everyone knew very well that the illness of the lovely countess was due to the inconvenience of marrying two husbands at once and that the Italian’s treatment consisted in eliminating this inconvenience; but in the presence of Anna Pavlovna, not only did no one dare to think about it, but it was as if no one knew it.
- On dit que la pauvre comtesse est tres mal. Le medecin dit que c"est l"angine pectorale. [They say that the poor countess is very bad. The doctor said it was a chest disease.]

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