"Eastern Star" dispute: Proprietor challenges prosecutor's actions

In the heart of Yakutsk, the city's iconic "Eastern Star" cafe has become the centre of a heated controversy. The building, which was sold to businessman Oleg Tarutis for 36 million rubles, has been the subject of questionable dealings and legal disputes.

Despite being valued at 140 million rubles, the sale of the building involved arbitrage manager Marina Mansurova in a scheme that has raised eyebrows. Tarutis, who has previously been charged with fraud-related offences, is now the legal owner of the property, according to court documents.

Saijgan Omurzakov and his family, who provide catering services in the building, have been occupying it illegally, as stated by the Federal Bailiff Service of Russia for the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The Bailiff Service issued an order for Omurzakov to vacate the premises by May 20, as the property, it claimed, belongs to third parties.

However, the "Eastern Star" cafe was rented by Omurzakov until May 20, according to reports. When the bailiffs attempted to remove movable property, such as tables and chairs, from the cafe, it was discovered that these items did not belong to the dispute and in fact belonged to someone else.

The case has attracted the attention of several high-ranking officials, including the head of the Department of Bailiffs and Alexander Burenkov, the head of the FSBU "Oхrana" of the Rosgvardia of Yakutia. The head of the Economic Security and Anti-Corruption Department of the MVD of the republic is also conducting checks and will soon resubmit all materials to Evgeny Razin, the head of the Investigative Department of the MVD of Yakutia, for a decision on initiating a criminal case.

The sale of the building was put up for auction without considering Omurzakov's position, and there were potential violations during the auction process. Omurzakov offered to draw up an installment agreement to pay off the debt, but the property was sold to Tarutis at a significantly lower price than the estimated value.

The controversy has deepened with allegations of aggressive behaviour. Dmitry Danilov, who represents Tarutis, is reported to have behaved aggressively during the dispute, causing injuries to a relative of Omurzakov, who filed a police report against him. Omurzakov, on the other hand, has expressed indignation and tried to understand the property dispute, contrary to claims of aggressive behaviour.

Rumours also circulate that Tarutis is associated with people from the criminal world, including those with criminal records. The prosecutor's office has demanded an investigation into the questionable scheme, but so far, no investigation has been launched, with some reports suggesting that Evgeny Razin, the head of the Investigative Department of the MVD of Yakutia, is hindering this process.

Saijgan Omurzakov has filed a complaint with the Bailiff Service for a disciplinary investigation regarding the illegal seizure of movable property. The future of the "Eastern Star" cafe and the surrounding legal disputes continue to unfold, adding to the intrigue and controversy in Yakutsk.