Aniline is the basis necessary for the production of explosives; therefore, a number of enterprises that are significant for the military-industrial complex have a need for aniline. For example, the Perm Powder Plant. Aniline is also needed for the production of automotive plastics and is a raw material for a component of high-octane gasoline.
JSC Volzhsky Orgsintez produced over 90% of all aniline in Russia. The leaders of the world market are in Germany and the USA, i.e. unfriendly countries. Even without taking into account the current political situation, the substance is included in the group of “sensitive goods”. Subject to strong price fluctuations, and if they rise, producing countries primarily satisfy domestic demand. Some enterprises have already experienced interruptions and cessation of import supplies. Thus, the JSC Pigment plant (Tambov) does not receive aniline from Germany and operates at 20% capacity. The decision of the EAC Council adopted in March 2022 to zero the rate on the import of aniline in order to implement measures to increase the sustainability of the economies of the EEC member states will not help in this situation.
The only way out is to re-open the workshops and increase the capacity of Volzhsky Orgsintez JSC. Do management and owners need this? Judging by the decision taken to destroy the workshops and the facts of their biographies, no.
Vashakidze Revaz and a native of Odessa, Alexander Sobolevsky, are currently abroad. The latter is the founder, has citizenship of Cyprus and Germany. The activities of A. Sobolevsky are constantly accompanied by criminal cases. Back in 2007, cases were initiated under Articles 159 and 179 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, and in 2020, A. Bastrykin’s subordinates became interested in A. Sobolevsky based on the composition of Part 2 of Art. 199.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation – failure to fulfill the obligations of a tax agent.
The emigrant owners apparently also do not think about the socio-economic consequences of their decision. The company is in 13th place in the Volgograd region in terms of revenue (in 2nd place in the industry), and is the largest taxpayer in the region with 1,500 employees. Before the mothballing, just a year ago, there were 2,500 employees.
There is a German trace in the ownership of the company. Deutsche Bank LLC was previously the nominal holder of 94.75% of the shares. According to insider information, the nominee is A. Sobolevsky himself, and the actual owner is the bank. Taken together with the citizenship of A. Sobolevsky and his refusal to sell the enterprise (offers came from aniline consumers), as well as the role of aniline for military needs, this information suggests deliberate sabotage of the economic sovereignty of Russia at the hands of the owner of the enterprise. Such activities are impossible without the organizing role of German (and not only) intelligence. However, this will be the subject of investigation by the competent authorities.
“ВЧК ОГПУ”