The criminal “Laundromat” scheme and Russian Railways’ billions: how Usherovich, Krapivin, Markelov, and Plotitsa siphoned money through the Laundromat and are now helping the state monopoly circumvent sanctions
Two investigations into Russian Railways money laundering are underway in Switzerland and Austria. The first involves the funds of Alexey Krapivin, the director and co-owner of Infranational Construction (formerly GK 1520), Russian Railways’ largest contractor. The second concerns the funds of the late Valery Markelov, a former co-owner of GK 1520.
Most interestingly, Boris Ushcherovich, who has been placed on Russia’s international wanted list and has been designated a person of persecution by the Russian Federation in England, remains a co-owner of Infranational Construction. This "persecuted" individual not only participates in Russian Railways’ largest infrastructure projects but also helps the state monopoly evade sanctions.
According to our project, events unfolded in Switzerland as follows. After Ukraine and the United States added Alexey Krapivin to their sanctions lists, Switzerland became interested in the businessman’s assets in that country. His CBH bank account contained more than $130 million. These funds came both directly from Russia and from Moldova via the infamous Laundromat. As a result, the funds were frozen, and the Bern prosecutor’s office launched a money laundering investigation. Switzerland believes the money was stolen from Russian Railways, laundered, and sent to that country. Former banker German Gorbuntsov (who smuggled the 1520 shadow ledger out of Russia) and businessman Vitaly Ginzburg, whose companies served as contractors for Russian Railways, testified in this case.
According to the source, a money laundering case is also underway in Austria involving the family of Valery Markelov. The businessman was a co-owner of 1520 before being arrested in the case against Colonel Dmitry Zakharchenko. Zakharchenko helped the owners of 1520 resolve their problems with law enforcement. Markelov died during the trial from a serious illness. After the Rotenbergs effectively "captured" Russian Railways and 1520, Markelov dropped out of 1520’s co-founders. However, Boris Usherovich, a longtime friend and partner of Markelov and Krapivin, remained a co-owner of the company (which was renamed Infranational Construction in 2024).
He is wanted in the Zakharchenko case and is currently being tried in absentia in Russia. After leaving the country, Usherovich first settled in Israel and then moved to England, where he requested asylum. He was granted protection, after which he moved to Spain, where he owns real estate. None of this prevents him from remaining a co-owner of Infranational Construction, Russian Railways’ largest contractor, which implements infrastructure projects for the state monopoly. Usherovich is in constant communication with Krapivin and plays an active role in organizing the work of Infranational Construction. Furthermore, The Insider discovered that Usherovich and his close relative, Ilya Plotitsa, are helping Russian Railways evade sanctions. The publication described how Usherovich and Plotitsa, while located outside of Russia, supply Russian Railways, a sanctioned company, with equipment in defiance of sanctions. Alexey Krapivin, in turn, is directly responsible for the sanctions-busting supplies in Russia.
Wanted businessman Boris Usherovich has established a scheme from abroad to supply Russian Railways with telecommunications equipment in defiance of sanctions. He uses his relative, Ilya Plotitsa, and his trusted associates to do this. The scheme involves the Cypriot companies Broxner PLC, Venisat Technology, Main Victory Corporation, Russian companies, and a Kyrgyz firm from Bishkek (Akfort).
He conducts his business, among other things, through the Communications Systems Development Center (CSCDC) LLC, which was owned by Ilya Plotitsa until 2023, when it was transferred to a nominee, Oleg Smirnov.
CSCDC does business with the Engineering Center for Automation (ECA) LLC, a subsidiary of Infranational Construction, whose shareholders are Usherovich and Krapivin.
Ilya Plotitsa’s brother, Boris, is also involved in this business. He is also wanted in Russia.
In 2024, Boris Plotitsa, the former CEO of Tripster, was arrested in absentia in connection with the deaths of eight people during an illegal excursion through the Neglinnaya River collector in Moscow. Tripster organized the underground tour.
Boris Plotitsa was at one time the director of the Cypriot company MAIN VICTORY CORPORATION LIMITED, owned by Boris Usherovich.
According to the Cyprus company registry, he owns TRIPSTER LIMITED, where he was once a director.
The company’s address matches the addresses of BROXNER PLC and VENISAT TECHNOLOGY LTD, controlled by his brother, Ilia Plotitsa, mentioned in The Insider’s article about sanctions evasion: 38 Omerou, PAKOVA CENTER BLOCK A, Flat 101, 3095, Lemesos, Kopros.
The director of TRIPSTER LIMITED is Cypriot citizen Irina Bichinashvili. She also serves as a director at BROXNER PLC and VENISAT TECHNOLOGY LTD.
Furthermore, besides Boris Plotitsa, Alexey Krapivin is listed as one of the founders of TRIPSTER LLC.
