In Russia, I was a lawyer and a member of Russian Bar Association. Together with my sister, we launched a publishing house, located in a building owned by the Office of the President. Our business was thriving and profitable until the me moment Vladimir Putin became a significant player in the Russian politics.
Soon after Putin became President of Russia in 2000, the business atmosphere in the country changed. It became very difficult to run a private business, corruption and racketeering became the norm, and our business became a target. On a number of occasions we found our business locked with chains and padlocks preventing us from entering our office. I was able to use legal knowledge to challenge the pressures being brought against our business and managed to keep control of our business until 2007, but ultimately we lost it.
Besides publishing, I was expanding my portfolio and researching investment opportunities in real estate. I took part in several regional tenders and won a project to restore a midsize two-stories building in Moscow’s historical centre. I signed a contract with an Italian designer, and began renovations. Midway through the project, without any warning, we were informed that the requirements had changed and we now had to build a 15-story building . In the end, the project was financed through third-party investments and a $78 million bank loan, and we built an elegant building the centre of Russian capital. Soon upon completion of the project the same corrupted elements began attempting to remove me as owner of 10 flats in this elite building, so that ownership could be transferred to the city of Moscow. I fought and disputed this official corruption and fraud for two years before being forced out . During this time my witnesses’ statements were not taken into account; police records were modified in order to undermine my standing.
Also during this time it became known that I was an aide to Boris Nemtsov (a famous Russian opposition leader, since murdered in 2015 ). I advised him during his dispute with the wife of mayor of Moscow, as well as with other issues.
Soon we discovered that our phones were being tampered, frequently our phone lines were cut. We would often see strange vehicles appearing next to our office and homes.
One day, I was warned that my office would be searched the next morning at 6am. As soon as I learnt of this upcoming inquest, fearing false evidence and prosecution, I bought the first ticket abroad, the destination country didn’t matter, I was desperate to escape.
For some time I and my family stayed in Lithuania and then Finland, where we started preparing our documents for an asylum case. Upon arrival to the US, with tourist visas, I contacted and met with Irina Last who reviewed my documents, selected the relevant evidence and reassured me that we had a very strong case. In fact, our case was so well prepared that the judge didn’t have any questions. It didn’t take long to get our asylum petition approved. We were granted green cards.
I bought a house and managed to help my children with their education. Now I am preparing for becoming a US citizen.