Sergey Zagraevsky
My XX century
Chapter 6. Lenin, Party, Komsomol
Chapter 7. “Scientific career”
Chapter 8. Euphoria of epochs changing
Chapter 11. The loss of the bank
Published in Russian: Заграевский С.В. Мой ХХ век. М.: Алев-В, 2001. ISBN 5-94025-009-2
Chapter 11. The loss of the bank
Attention!
The following text was translated from the Russian original by the computer program
and has not yet been edited.
So it can be used only for general introduction.
One and the same dream
I began to repeat:
I dream that I
the train behind.
One
way to winter
the station left
A
fast train my
gone, gone, gone.
And I want to run
him - and I can not,
And
I feel a dream,
that still ran.
And
in a closed circle
interlacing lines
The rotation of the earth
moves us -
The rotation of the earth,
rotating fields
Rotation away
birch and poplar
Poles
and wires,
sidings and bridges,
Passing
trains
and passing trains.
But
that still trouble
and apparently without reason,
With
no good to me
other trains.
I
need only one
that I was comfortable,
There
my table light
the speed of shaking.
They love to go - so go,
a cut - so spur of the moment,
There,
it buzzes like an oven
red and hot.
I
need only he
passion and his enthusiasm,
I
remember the car
I have not forgotten the number.
He is
listed with snow,
he was in the corner and smoke,
I sentenced
life to him.
I
need this snow
my sweet that smoke
High riser
over all their experiences.
And I want him
run - and I can not
And
I feel a dream,
that still running,
And
in a closed circle
interlacing lines
The rotation of the earth
moves us ...
Yuri Levitansky
I
If we assume from the beginning
of summer 1995, I went to banks for nearly a year until the "hook"
for Rokobank. It happened quite by
coincidence.
I characterized by some annoying
(which is in business in general is a plus). In the autumn of 95-th me
Rokobanke "send" (as usual, proved to be unreliable pledge), but I
managed to once again make their way to the vice president Ruslanova, of forty
black-whiskered handsome man with the habits of the Oriental prince, who said
that the bank has moved, and after moving ( three months later), they say,
go, "try to invent something."
Usually it was a polite form of
denial, but the bank really has moved into a new huge building in Cheryomushki,
and the spring of 1996 I decided to recall him. After several weeks of
"dial" to Ruslanova me, finally, was appointed "audience". Ironically,
successful.
Then I even understood why. Rokobank is extremely
quarrelsomeness, and at this time Ruslanov in alliance with another
vice-president, Teterin just "survived" the previous president. Place the latter took Teterin,
complete with advanced alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, which is fully trusted
Ruslanova in the management of funds of the bank.
The authority Ruslanova was
almost unquestioned. "Almost," because, he
had detractors, soon opening it in the next round of combat - a quiet
environment inside Rokobanka never been.
The funny thing about that with
all this bank proudly among the top ten in the country, was the main operator
on the market of cash currency in Russia, the volume obtained inferior to
Western loans except that Vneshtorgbank, and also the first Russian bank had
acquired to their shareholders EBRD - The European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development.
A spring 1996 Ruslanov and his
"right hand" Yartsev, is relatively modest position of deputy
director of the credit department, created a subsidiary company Rokobanka -
Rokodom "- and began looking for her business partners.
Just then I turned up, that is
our Mark Holding Company "Granit".
"Live money" from the
bank it was already small, but it was huge western lines of credit - Rokobank
famous for its "exceptional reliability, and under the safeguards of our
foreign trade contracts disburse virtually all major banks in the world. Annually Rokobank tested very
"cool" in the world accounting firm Coopers & Laybrandt ",
wrote exclusively positive conclusion, and the West pricked up my ears, they
listened to ...
And so began a joint activity
"Granita" and "Rokodoma. I am afraid of tiring the
reader, therefore, is extremely complex financial scheme will bring in only the
most general terms: bank guarantees Rokobanka allocated to the firm of Rokodom,
she exhibited them to Western banks are - foreign partners, Granita, and the
latter supplied the "Granite" meat and dairy products, knowing that they are in case of
collapse of the firm "Granit" in any case, the money will pay the
western bank, and then the latter will receive them with Rokobanka. In this scheme, the main
financial risk carried Rokobank, but he was forced bearing lubrication that his
part for "Granit" observed a trusted company - Rokodom "...
All the same description of the
scheme turned out incredibly cumbersome. And it's only in very general
terms without referring to no transport, no insurance, no customs, no sales!
It is unclear how in such
complex circuits executives Rokodoma, just quit the Foreign Trade Department
officials, the only "merit" of which was that they knew Ruslanova and
Yartseva since Soviet times, can effectively monitor the experienced traders -
Mark and me. But everything went smoothly -
we were not interested in any deterioration of relations with Rokobankom and
violation of any obligations.
Soon, this scheme has changed
one of the actors. Place a trusted firm Rokodom
"won the newly created firm Rokoprodukt" and her head was none other
than your humble servant. That is, paradoxically, turned
out that I, as representative of the bank "supervised" for Mark ...
II
All this happened not once,
through a long intra-recrimination, in which, besides me, the manual
"Rokodoma" and several leaders of the Rokobanka, participated very
colorful gentleman by the name Sidorov.
Oh, Alexander Sidorov was
"cool"! Being older than me, a mere six
years, he managed to get the deputy director of a major defense plant, then
engaged in exports of metal and in 1996 headed the holding Metaltek "- one
of the largest in Russia in the industry. Since he began Rokobankom joint
business for the year before - in "Metalteka and Rokobanka had common
interests in the Belgorod region.
The latter was the largest in
the country GOK (GOK), then there is a huge cut in the ground where open-cast
mined iron ore, which is then enriched and delivered, in particular, the
Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Combine. And there Rokobank also had
their own interests.
What interests? And the most direct: through
loans tied to his company.
The process of
"binding" was quite tricky. In principle, the Bank has
received from the company in the mortgaged property or any money, gave credit -
and everything. If the pledge is reliable, then
the bank may then "sleep".
And what if the company
profitable for the bank's interesting, but "cool" (a type referred to
GOK) and does not want to give anything as collateral? Or it can give any rotary
excavators, with whom the bank and then do absolutely nothing?
But then comes into effect the
scheme "tying" of the enterprise: let your mortgage will be purely
formal, but so that the bank can continuously monitor, ispolzuesh Are you his
money on purpose, to send their cash flow through him, and delivering the goods
(in this case the metal ) - a "trusted"
company of the bank (in our case - the same "Rokodom" or
"Metaltek").
And since you have to check
continuously, which requires additional cost, not only pay with a credit
interest, but also share it profitably.
It turns out that the passage
through the holding Rokobanka financial flows and commodity supplies the
largest companies in the country meant, in addition to credit interest huge
profits.
Remember those times, the term
"Semibankirschina? Indeed, commercial-type Monsters
Menatep, ONEKSIM, Inkombank same Rokobanka similarly "moves" the most
diverse sectors of Russian industry, and only the August 1998 crisis messed
things up.
So, Sidorov, on the basis of
large-scale joint affairs closely "friends" with the leadership
Rokobanka - Teterin Ruslanova Yartseva and other influential people. Any questions in the bank, he
decided one phone call and was virtually an equal partner banks' top managers.
Office he was great - a
three-storey mansion in the Arbat lanes. He flew Alexander only
"aircraft-cabin" (a revamped "Yak-40"), traveled to the
protection of an armored 600-m "gelding" and had all the other
attributes of "steep". Yes, and he personally, of
course, was a man of great energy force, and his bright, clear eyes, does not
make the impression of "fish".
Funny, Sidorov, with such a
Russian-Jewish family, yet professional and businessman, was an ardent
supporter of the Orthodox religion and continuously sponsored some temples. For example, in the Belgorod region, he financed the construction of one of Russia's largest cathedrals. Rokobank in honor of his
"spin" on a lot of money, and even the "Granite" a couple
of times in his letters, paid for "small" costs of the local
archbishop ...
Even more amusingly, that
Alexander's was a personal psychic, because he was nervous for the years of
business had accumulated a heart failure, and despite his "orthodox"
thought the best remedy nightly meditation sessions.
Incidentally, Sidorov
"right hand" in the firm was his brother Ilia Kogan (he, unlike
Alexander's, took the father's name). So, Ilya used to say: "Let
Sasha suffers stupidity, but God is still there" ...
Also, incidentally, is curious:
Ilya Mikhailovich seemingly was the complete opposite of his elder brother, had
a sneaking image "deadhead", but he gave an equally hard look as
"transparent" eye. Generally speaking, look
professional businessman, and the more Russian - is the subject of a separate
psychological research.
III
In autumn 1996, Sidorov grappled
with the leaders of the firm "Rokodom" for influence at the Magnitogorsk metallurgical combine, "pushed" them, and incidentally decided to
deprive them of their earnings-related joint activities with the firm
"Granit", that is, with Mark and me.
He did this correctly - first,
drove a wedge between me and the leadership of "Rokodoma" and then
asked me to create and lead the firm "Rokoprodukt" (in the status of
one of the subsidiaries Rokobanka) and to conduct all business with the
"Granit" not through "Rokodom "and
through" Rokoprodukt. Moreover - managed to agree on
this with Ruslanova and Yartseva. How to put up with the latest
removal from the "Granita" their offspring, "Rokodoma"
still do not understand. Apparently, leading Sidorov much
larger case, decided not to quarrel over trifles.
For my part Sidorov was a
"proposal, which is impossible to refuse" (directly on the
"godfather"). I agreed to register a firm
"Rokoprodukt", became its director and began working closely with
Sidorov.
He decided to "tie" to
yourself and Rokobanku food industry Kursk and Belgorod regions, and for this
he needed a qualified specialist, which is considered to me. As part of the firm Rokoprodukt
"My partnership with Sidorov was formally equal to - fifty-fifty, and in
fact I had been something of a" junior partner "in one direction -
the food industry.
Of course, winter 1996-1997 was
the top of my business, career, personal wealth and social status. " Flights Sidorov on
"aircraft-interiors, supply vehicles to the ramp, receptions at the
governor's best restaurants, best rates at the best hotels, if you want the
best" girl "and so on.
About the company I'm not saying
their directors to potential investors fawned and took us to the highest level,
for example, director of the huge ore-dressing plant, the king and god in the
city when the plane took off Sidorova, stood with his whole retinue and guards
at the end of runway strip and waved after receding
plane.
I lived in that time, the city,
rented a very expensive private house in the suburban sanatorium "The
welcome", and Sidorov constantly surprised that I drive without a driver
and no guard, but also rent a cottage in some resorts, instead of moving in government "Pine
Forest", where the vast cottage he lived, Teterin and Ruslan and close as
once was free cottage "a little smaller ...
Strange, but I already had a
sense of brevity and the unreality of this life style, and some intuition kept
me from spending insane money type of rent cottages at Sosnovy Bor, a prestigious
foreign car purchase and immediate transfer to superofis Sidorova on the Arbat,
where I was offered poletazha . On the contrary - I was trying
to earn money to save for a rainy day, but that he had come, for some reason I
do not doubt.
So I went to the relatively
inexpensive Honda, sitting in our office with Mark at Tishinsky and Sidorov
said that these are my habits "old mafia-butcher" - not light up.
By the way, acted, and still
commands respect. "Professional" ...
And its "dry laws"
permanent "libations" Sidorovsk environment, I explained that
"drank his at the meat, but now I can not drink because of hypertension,
and this is also to act - do not blame me. However, in this case I am a
soul and not the curve.
Dmitriev, Mark looked at my alliance
with Sidorov extremely nervous. Formally, he was not offended by
that - the import of meat and dairy products regularly funded, I like
disappearing for days at Rokobanke and continued to disappear ... But from the
human point of course he felt that I was interested in a powerful and
extraordinary personality Sidorov.
Was it the part of Mark is
jealous - probably yes. And after a series of conflicts
with him, I nevertheless decided to move to Sidorov on Arbat, but then there
was another accident prevented me from doing it, and restore my relationship
with Mark. Specifically - in April 1997
occurred in Rokobanke new outbreak of a power struggle, this time between
Ruslanova and Sidorov.
IV
Sidorov always did not like my self in communicating with bankers - and
Ruslanova Yartsev, and when he began the struggle for absolute power in
Rokobanke, I was "unreliable element", and he decided to get rid of
me.
No, not in any way physically. Sasha, oddly enough, despite the many
high-sounding words, was hardly capable of any "natural" solution. It
is possible, of course, that he was capable, but has always preferred not to
move the Cold War into a hot one, and even more so to me, are not entirely
clear to him the man of the world's grocery business.
Frankly, I do not know that it is not shared with Ruslanov Sidorov. I think
that the sphere of influence at the same smelter.
For me, this conflict has the following consequences: Sidorov, one day, he met
with me and Mark Dmitriev, invited me to a stake of "Rokoprodukt" ...
Mark, the general management company - also, and most remain something of an
executive director.
Me and Mark have been serious friction, but Sidorova proposal sounded so
strange and unexpected (almost on the eve, I sat with Sasha before eleven at
night and discussed plans for further work) that Mark had suspected a trick,
and preferred to "play" on my side . This was manifested in the fact
that he did not say Sidorov neither "yes" or "no", and
suggested once again meet to discuss prospects for joint work.
And I went straight to Ruslanova, during half-hour to the reception (which was
not easy, but this case was an extra) and reported that, say, offend,
"Rokoprodukt" selected, work is not given, and in general, if
Ruslanova need help I always please, and if not, so I will not stay without
work.
The risk of engaging in my tough stance against Sidorov, of course, was - I did
not know, continue to be friends with Ruslanov Sidorov or not. But it turned
out that not continue, although Sidorov at that memorable meeting with Mark was
trying to convince us the opposite.
Ruslanov I immediately suggested "improvement" - to lead a wholly
owned subsidiary company of the bank, which meant that the status of almost a
full-fledged bank employee's salary at the level of Director of the Department.
I agreed. Refuse to quit the business and then (a moment was convenient), I
somehow thought have arisen - so captured the intrigue ...
Moreover - I was saved from Sidorova chairman of the board of the bank (not to
be confused with Teterin, chairman of the board). Chairman of the Board, that
is, the president, the bank decided almost everything, and Chairman of the
Board - almost nothing. The Council was purely formal "observation"
body, and its chairman Ruzaev mileyshim was an elderly gentleman, a former
state officials who received the bank on a modest salary and a signature, as
requested by Teterin and Ruslan ...
But Sidorov, a member of the Council, intent on to become its chairman, as in
this rank he was able to "put pressure" on the bank's management.
Mr. Ruzaev once "lobbied" for one of his friend's questionable
credit, which had already been exceeded. Sidorov, the prosecutor's office
brought the case of abuse by this friend and began to "drag in" Ruzaeva,
in order to make him resign his position as chairman of the board - then, they
say, and it closed down, and a lot of money, Mr. Ruzaev will ...
Apparently, Ruslan at this point do not even trust the security service bank,
because, knowing my experience with law enforcement authorities "and asked
me to figure out how to actually Ruzaev was tied in all these cases. However,
he understood that I was in the light of the conflict with Sidorov will do
everything to shield Ruzaeva ...
I am with your accountant urgently conducted in the firm and the audit found
that neither the document with the signature Ruzaeva or witness any of his
participation there and thus, the prosecution in this case he is not afraid of
the cost. As a result Ruzaev remained chairman of the board Rokobanka, and the
case against his friend will soon shut down - Sidorov longed only Ruzaevsky
blood ...
As for the "alliance" Sidorova and Marc, he, as expected, was the
part of Alexander's net "showing off" - he was not up to the food industry,
metallurgy would understand ... Their talks were sluggish and a couple of weeks
have stopped themselves.
Soon, I solemnly announced Ruslanova Yartsev and that "Mr. Dmitriev has
stopped communicating with Sidorov and agreed to continue to work with
Rokobankom. All were very happy, Mark paid a visit to the bank and was treated
kindly in every way.
In order not to waste time on the registration of a new company, I Ruslans gave
"as much existed since 1991 a wholly owned subsidiary company Rokobanka -
Rokosplav. On it were several "tails" in the form of allocated once
the loans and several tons of metal in stock, but for the old loans, naturally,
I did not answer, and the metal has managed to sell quickly - simply put his
assistant on the phone, and a couple of weeks found a buyer. Metal was more
than a year, the price I found almost without regard to inflation, that is very
cheap, and technically even got some small profit.
In short, and with Mark, and Ruslanova everything went as before, with one
exception - in the bank ran out of money.
V
Perhaps they have not ended entirely, but, apparently, every
"squeezed" a member of the leadership Rokobanka something
"carries with him." Yes, and if not carried away, still in the bank
took place unimaginable mess - companies, especially the bank's shareholders,
competently played by differences in management and in no hurry to return the
loans taken. And the interest paid extremely faulty.
With the departure of the bank Sidorova situation is not stabilized.
President Teterin was though an alcoholic, but cunning and intelligent man, and
knew perfectly well that lead mnogosotennym ugly team Rokobanka can only be on
the principle of "divide and conquer. Excessive amplification Ruslanova it
did not suit, and during many months of lying in hospitals Teterina Acting the
president was not Ruslanov, and another vice-president, Ostap, who in the
conflict Ruslanova and Sidorova, as it turned out, was on the side of the
latter.
In particular, the firm Rokosplav "I am tidy, being in the rank of"
Acting Director, "because the order for my appointment a few months spent
in Ostapova on the table - he did not sign it in principle, to sign
Ruslan" shots "had no right, but Teterin ever was in the hospital.
But in the late summer of 1997 Ostapov taken a bold step to him and ruined. One
day he went to the leadership of the Central Bank and said that Teterin
drunkard and the bank does not control, and Ruslan Yartsev give out unsecured
loans, the bank loses money, and in general is on the verge of collapse, so the
above gentlemen urgently needs to be removed from the leadership and put a
"temporary Governance of the Central Bank.
He evidently did not believe and "knock" Teterin, because the latter
the next day came out of the hospital to the bank and signed decrees: the first
- to dismiss Ostapova and his ally, director of credit department, and the
second - the appointment of Ruslanova acting president and Yartseva - director
of the credit department. And then went to ache more.
Naturally, the order for my appointment the company's director, Rokosplav was
signed Ruslanova very soon.
However, the documents about my appointment at Ostapova lost and had to re-fill
all of the forms. As I said, the director of the company was regarded as a
wholly owned subsidiary Rokobanka officer with the rank of director of the
department, that is accepted by the banking department personnel receive a
salary in the bank, and even attached to a certain elite clinic. In the latter,
however, I never had time to visit. It was not until Diseases ...
I have no questionnaires are not filled for ten years and much of fun, when in
arrived in a Rokobank from Soviet times, "a personal piece of accounting
staff on trips abroad were allocated a total of three lines, and it was
necessary to specify where it was, when and for what purpose. By the time I had
a lot of trains and in travel, leisure, and briefly wrote: "There were in
Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, Britain, Greece, Malta, Turkey, Switzerland,
France, Nigeria, Holland, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Finland ...
However, special amusement failed, as I enumerate these many trips, I realized
that not "delivered" from them nothing but a vague general impression
of the standard tourist "sights" and memories of the five-star
hotels, restaurants, beaches and the frenzy of autobahns. The exception was a
trip to Istanbul-Constantinople in 1994, but I rode one and specially to watch
architecture. And the rest - quite "new Russian" pastime. I remember
a slight chill on the skin: how deeply I was wrapped in ...
VI
Started my last period of work and Rokobanke, and in business.
In autumn 1997, I had the rank of almost a full representative Rokobanka, ran
it alone. My task was to look for reliable partners in the food and
agricultural sectors, to join with them in joint activities together to develop
business plans and "beat" under their funding Rokobanke.
In the case of a customer financing I had to watch, as if he did not
"split" and pocketed the money. In case of danger of such incidents,
I was obliged immediately to the bank's management, that they were
"pressured" to the client by the security services, almost entirely
composed of retired colonels "power structures".
A very unpleasant thing was that when I headed the firm of Rokosplav, my
supervisor was not Yartsev and the Director of Financial Markets Department
Larionov - contribution Rokobanka equity firm Rokosplav "referred to its
competence. The situation immediately became the excuse for many intrigues,
because I am used to dealing with the director of the credit department
Yartseva and went on to dealing with him, and Larionov annoying.
I think that the "political" point of view it was my mistake - in
Yartseva had a trusted company, that same "Rokodom. With the guidance of
the latter after "divorce" Sidorov I managed to make peace, but the
former friendship, of course, was no longer there, and when I stopped financing
programs, was a kind of "lean".
But business is business: as long as funding was going to violate the scheme of
relationships was bad and wrong, so I continued, as before, to work with a
bunch of "Yartsev-Ruslans.
Interesting was the couple! Fifty years Yartsev former vneshtorgovets, small in
stature, as it were, my dear, as if good, as it were democratic, and relatively
accessible to the public the gentleman was the complete opposite of forty high
Ruslanova handsome, distinguished by the noble unimaginable, to which he had to
make an appointment for a week and then all still wait for hours in the waiting
room ...
But these gentlemen worked hard! Neither the commercial sphere or in public
enterprises, or in other banks I've never had to see people every day come to
work at 8.30 am and leave no earlier than nine o'clock, or even sit up late at
night. However, Ruslan came later - at 8.45, although he probably would have
been easier on those fifteen minutes ...
Sometimes, when I met Yartseva in the bank at 8 am used to that ... Ruslanova
in the morning, and also in the bank. But for me, these cases were sporadic,
and for them - almost the norm. Incidentally, I understand why managers
Rokobanka worked in such a crazy way: because of constant intrigue, they do not
trust anybody and all his contacts tremendous organization loopback.
And what was the situation at the bank, said such a thing: "thin"
financial schemes, or encountered intra "PE" I Ruslanova Yartseva and
often discussed, walking down the hall or down the hall, because they feared
that their offices were bugged. And someone - not the Interior Ministry or the
prosecutor's office, and his own security service!
My contemporary Larionov to protect it from listening to loud usually
included tape - seems to have met two young men, sitting, listening to classical
music, something under her talking quietly ...
Larionov I, by the way, thank you. At first we did have an excellent
relationship, and I am from him to the music of Beethoven learned a lot of
useful information about interbank "kitchen".
But all the serious questions I continue to be handled through Yartseva,
and Larionov, one fine day in early spring of 1998, still could not stand it
and went with me to open confrontation, it is proposed to write a letter of
resignation on his own.
I would, incidentally, wrote with pleasure - even then the thought of
leaving the business I nibbled "on the complete program, but I had a
number of outstanding commitments, and I will" complain "Ruslanova (I
think if the president has already taken place Teterina). Ruslanov stood on my
side and the "siege" Larionov. The funny thing about that move on his
part, seems to have an additional incentive - I have had an affair with an
elegant lady from his department, which he himself had the forms ...
VII
But it was a little later, and
the fall of 1997 I began to search for "reliable partners for Rokobanka.
I must say that my independent
search immediately became razgrebanie dubious projects that I have an
incredible amount of "push down" then Ruslanov then Yartsev then
Larionov. They started me to
"recommend" to hire a firm "Rokosplav" one or the other of
their acquaintance, but I just do not care - staffing allowed, and among the
recommended proved to be extremely competent and "clutching" the people.
There was only one unfortunate
exception - a protégé of Yartseva, striking a man in his forties,
who was an alcoholic and hidden in her first independent visit to a sugar
factory near Moscow, with whom we worked through the joint project, got drunk
and yelled that the erectors tomorrow will be multi-million dollar loans. However, this gentleman was I
immediately dismissed and his appeal Yartsev did not help - I was the last
pre-warned, and he did not object. It is the case, and the leaders
Rokobanka it certainly stood in the first place.
But the lowering of the firm
"Rokosplav" dubious project was alarming. At one time, Sidorov, carrying
with me "explanatory talk" about the futility of my frequent visits
to the bank, warned: "Serge, bankers, you do not need, they have their own
schemes of work and they'll have never incorporate, they will be using your
projects for their own purposes, but you
will push down all sorts of rubbish. " Forced to conclude that an
intelligent and experienced Sidorov eventually proved right.
Nevertheless, by early 1998 I
managed a dozen (!) Actually unpromising beginnings to single out three, with
real prospects and profitability: Poultry industry (an opportunity to
"tie" to Rokobanku majority of poultry farms near Moscow), bottling
wine in Belarus (it was very benefit from preferential tax
treatment) and the production of construction sealant on behalf of NGOs
Lavochkin. Last to the food industry does
not apply, and do not even remember who the bankers' brought to me, "the
initiators of this project.
And, I repeat, of the dozens of
initiatives! And each had to check, go to the
place, to understand the situation, examine the business plan, financial plan,
but far from everywhere I could send someone from the staff - usually had at
least once, but the trip itself.
Unfortunately, the
"efficiency" is low in most businesses - from a dozen meetings, the
real result brings two or three. Others, however, not entirely
lost in vain, they provide guidance in the subject and some experience.
But in the case of uneconomic
Rokobanka meetings and trips passed permissible limits, since most of my
potential partners did not take my word as ultimate truth and constantly were
current at the reception to Yartsev, and even to Ruslanova - I could not deny
it to them! The bankers would listen to
them, then called me and said with annoyance, that, say, again, was such and
such, it has some new proposals, you'd better figure it out with him and then
he gave me "got" ... And all of the new range.
VIII
And most importantly, that even
the beginnings of the real one did not work either, because in early 1998
Rokobanke money ran out completely and finally.
It was extremely unfortunate
that no one directly to me about it did not say - nor Ruslanov nor Yartsev nor
Larionov. They spoke about the following:
"That's it, now, the next loan committee will review your project! Ay-ay-ay, the credit committee
had to consider only the first two of the project, and your on the agenda was
the third! Ay-ay-ay, Yartsev was on a
business trip, and without it your project will not have to consider, because
only he was privy to details "... And so for weeks if not months.
This whole situation has
reminded me of walking the barren banks in 1995, with the only difference being
that in 1998, I went not to the different banks, and one was not an outsider
businessman, and nearly a full member of Rokobanka, and yes even considered "Man
Ruslanova. Many clerks middle managers
(heads of departments and divisions) interacted with me "in her own
way" and also surprised that all projects slowed, not a single firm
"Rokosplav.
At this time, my situation was
strange and a half. I still held together with Mark
at the office Tishinsky, disappearing for days at a bank. Bankers many months dragged me
to the provision of office in the Bank building on the pretext that the company
"Rokosplav" one or two little rooms, and we must build a separate
office, which required special funding, which, of course, was not. Projects of building multiple
barriers that in the wrong lobby of the bank, in the unfinished auditorium. I met with builders, waste time
on it ...
Trips became less frequent, I
traveled often to Moscow region - not yet dead hope to "tie" to
Rokobanku poultry farm in the Moscow region.
And we have with Mark started a
joint project in the Kaluga region. In the stunning beauty of the
place (in the woods near Oakey) in Soviet times was built colossal Milk
Factory, and in 1997 he was in the same condition that most businesses that
were built without regard to local capacity. It was believed that this plant
will milk is brought from several nearby areas, and in the early nineties, and
communication between areas were disturbed, and the number of livestock fell
sharply. So it was that plant is actually
idle, and "make do" occasional importation of milk from nearby farms.
Frankly, this poverty, as in
this remote corner of the Kaluga region, I have not seen anywhere else. For example, adult children for
bread never sent - was a real risk that they would not inform the bread to the
house and eat on the road. A car was so small that they
have been reminded, basically, the wheels of "Lada" in peasant carts.
But no - drove trucks Milk,
"Volga district authorities and police" UAZ ".
It was funny that exhausted long
inaction of local inspectors calculated time of passage of the Moscow
merchants, exhibited somewhere temporary sign "40 km / h", hides with the radar and take a penalty with frank admiration ...
At the plant the appearance of
the Muscovites, potential investors, was greeted with great joy, and when he
was made a populist move - the payment of the firm "Granit" salaries
of the plant (by the way, very small) - at a general meeting in late 1997, a huge majority of the plant director was elected "our
candidate", a member of the Board of Directors, Granita Vladimir Hatkulov.
Overcome with the help of
then-powerful authority Rokobanka resistance "itinerant Muscovites"
to regional and district administrations, I went about his business, and Mark -
my leaving Volodya "on farm" near Kaluga. Milk on the plant matter, not
only from neighboring farms, but also from distant farms area - Works began to
pay for products on time.
Here would start investing in
the restoration of strong import production line of condensed milk, but in
Rokobanke money was gone. The "Dynamite" with
the others. But Hatkulov, albeit
reluctantly, but stuck in the Kaluga region, fed plant promises rather
investments, got milk from farms, organized at the plant turned into milk
powder, sold it in Moscow at the ice plants on old connections, Granita, and
finally fed Combine not only promises, but a
no salary.
IX
The last explosion of intrigue
in the bank took place in early 1998, when Ruslanov finally persuaded the
largest shareholder in the fact that the president Teterin unable to lead the
bank. So it is, in general, and it was
- the last was very bad, and the prospects looked rosy: now Ruslanov all take
into their own hands, and soon the bank will the money ...
Ruslan became president, Yartsev
and Larionov - vice-presidents, but the money never appeared. As I remember, Ruslanova general
meeting of shareholders approved as president on April 30 and May 7 at the bank
had introduced a "temporary administration". By law, the Central Bank of Russia in the event of a threatened position to finance any Russian bank had the right to
dismiss the president and put the lead "their" rights.
I do not know what the
"secret of the Madrid court" had taken place. Perhaps the continuous changes
of the bank management had indeed been brought "to handle". Perhaps these shifts gave the
Central Bank to find among the largest banks in the "weak link" -
Rokobank - and capture it with the remaining funds. Was Ruslanov aware of the
impending action by the Central Bank? Was this action planned and
carried out by himself? Was it retaliation by Sidorov? Or Ostapova? Or Teterina?
There
are many options. Probably no one will ever know
who actually "brought down" Rokobank and actually created a precedent
in August default.
After all possible and
"State" option: to Rokobank was allocated to foreign loans for more
than a billion dollars, and it is likely that his example checks the West's
response to loss of money invested. Apparently, an
"experiment" is successful, if a few months later, in August 1998,
robbery of the West have already happened across the country.
On this subject I can say: it is
not surprising that any investment in the Russian economy of the West are doomed
to a quick loss. Our professionals are so naive
foreigners will turn around your finger, that no international superauditory
type Coopers & Laybrandt not find any violations. Interestingly, it has undermined
the credibility of the recent collapse of Rokobanka to them for many years,
checked the length and breadth (in the bank was even a few classrooms where
they were constantly experts), and wrote only positive conclusion? Do they not lost their
clientele?
Simultaneously with the West
have been robbed of millions of Russians, but then our country has been a great
experience ever since Stalin's time. Thank God, in Rokobanke least
there was virtually no deposits ...
And personally I do not put all
of this is that the poor - an ugly situation. In May-June 1998, the news of
the interim administration in Rokobanke swept all of our partners, and we were
"throwing" is everywhere at the earliest opportunity.
All aggravated by the fact that
I was not informed in time about the difficulties of the bank, and, accordingly,
was not able to correctly build a policy for government officials and
businessmen with whom to deal.
Instead of tying
"informal" relationships that are similar to my
"get-together" 1993-94 years at the meat, I spoke as a representative
of one of the largest Russian banks, it has had to "play in the
slope." Also recently I have always been
organically unpleasant, and professionals feel perfectly false.
There were exceptions, but with
the collapse of Rokobanka my image will inevitably fall - has become too
closely connect my name is with "Rokosplav. And on the restructuring of the
time was not - I learned about the introduction of Rokobanke "interim
administration" in conjunction with all of the business world ...
And if in respect of co-owner of
meat and dairy holding people instinctively refrain from dishonorable (in terms
of business) actions, in respect of directors of the bank subsidiary of dying -
please.
X
All this lasted until early September 1998.
August crisis, collapsing financial markets and destroyed half the country, and
set the record straight "and" bankers' no need to pretend that there
is a chance to reorganize Rokobanka, the process of bankruptcy, and people were
quitting in droves. Someone somewhere to get ahead, others do not.
Senior management Rokobanka headed by the new bank, and probably feels bad, but
the majority of staff - the middle class - there was the same as with the
entire country: a sharp decline in incomes and the collapse of all hopes for
the future.
Retailers have suffered less - they are not so dependent on financial markets
and a jump in inflation hit only those who for years 1996-98 calm
"relax" and stopped to tie their rates to the dollar. He survived,
and the holding of Mark, although dramatically reduced turnover and in early
1999 began gradually to shift the financial and legal activities. But, for
example, all our efforts to restore the Milk Factory in Kaluga region went
ashes - after learning about problems in Rokobanke, direction of instantly
paralyzed the plant, starting the process of bankruptcy.
Against Hatkulova was prosecuted because he learned about the collapse of the
bank, he felt "weak spot" and started haggling "left"
products in your pocket. Having brought the case, he disappeared.
For us to come RUBOP from Kaluga to spend in our office with Marc searched, I
had to "deal" as in the bad old days, and this was the spring of
1999, that is, I was chairman of the union of artists.
The only thing that this visit all amused - the investigator, a large and
opulent lady of rank in Maori, was a non-standard sexual proclivities and
pestered Elena - chief accountant Mark. But in fact it was all very unpleasant,
because they came with a pile of net orders, pre-signed by the local prosecutor,
and could make some much more. But in the end, all problems have been resolved,
and even Hatkulov, realizing that it was better to "find", eventually
escaped with slight shock and relatively low cost ...
There were more minor problems associated with the "transition
period", but, thank God, were resolved as well. While worst-case scenario,
any of these problems could lead to disastrous consequences - business is
business.
And in August-September 1998, I still decided to leave him.
In a stable operating company "out of the game" is usually not easy,
but the collapse of the bank created for this unique opportunity.
XI
In my "biography of the artist" was a specific incident: Once, in
1999, one of my duty to show the art critic came a lady, and suggested that a
businessman ZAGRAEVSKY wrote such bright and juicy pictures to be distracted by
the thought that it could at any moment to kill.
Poohala art historian, did not want me to talk about this, and telling, was
very surprised when I was with this statement completely agreed. At the opening
of the next exhibition I even read about this poem Ascension:
In the evening, night, day and morning
Thank you, that did not die yesterday.
A bullet hit by enemy candle.
Thank you for the sacred rites.
The enemy is on the shoulder - the long-awaited brother
Thank you, that did not die yesterday.
Thank you, that did not die yesterday
Sad that the old house and the terrace
I would be yesterday, the day before yesterday,
And in the morning blossom medlar!
And never used in my life was not included
You are what you call sin by force -
Clean as sins go,
House spread out - yes it did Now magic 's!
I would not know how you fresh in the morning!
Would you wake a man
The same umonepostizhimo!
Thank you, that did not die yesterday.
Defeat is black. Lined bar.
It is necessary to read the verdict, not grumbling.
It is necessary, as Brumel, start with "damn".
Thank you, that did not die yesterday.
The existence - like a sister.
Do not do us the magic error
Life - this is exactly a favorite, because
Thank you, that did not die yesterday.
For the right not hostility, and Now magic 's,
Maybe tomorrow will say "time",
So scribbled with a smile pen:
"Thank you, that died yesterday."
But to live on a "thank you, that has not died yesterday in theory can be
arbitrarily long, but in practice, sooner or later begin to think: let not
yesterday, but if you still today or tomorrow? What then?
By Carlos Castaneda called it "use death as an adviser. And the board
"my" death was clear: "If we'd meet again today or tomorrow,
then within a year no one other than your parents, loved women and couples,
three friends, of you will remember, because everybody has a lot of cases, and
they do not to you. So imagine my brother, myself ...
For some time I have "my" death said something like: "Thanks for
the advice, I know all this, here's a little more, a little bit more - and
leave the business, and loans of art exclusively. But you know what I can not
leave him now, when I tied in such and such interest, such amount of money,
such a partner. With you, dear, very soon, if you throw everything now. So wait
...
So we are with her and waited for "a few years.
"My" situation was brought to the logical extreme point in an
unremarkable film that I saw on TV was that way in 1995, and even the names do
not remember.
The protagonist - a middle-aged, about fifty years old, a professional killer.
He works at the infamous mafioso, although he is certainly not an angel. How
many people he is for his long working life, "Ruin" - did not count.
A parallel, he works in painting, dreams throw killerskim "job",
leave "to rest" and, finally, hold its first exhibition. One day he
comes to his boss and asks him to "let go". That he said that, of
course, he deserved it, but here's one last job - and all ...
I do not remember what this latest mission, it is, as usual, was a Rocket,
someone tried to hero of the film either outbid, or kill ... In the end, the
hero as a task carried out and whether the chief, or his successor ( seems
chief killed), his "let go". Say, you are pure of obligations to the
"organization" and is free.
And "Happy End": exhibition, a great room, lots of spectators,
reporters ...
Even then, I remember, I have a question: how to show an unknown artist once
come so many people? And even if he did not spare money on advertising, then
how he "presents" to keep the audience interested? As a former hitman?
Then why he was surrounded by reporters, not the police? ..
But, apparently, precisely because of this dubious "Happy End" once
again I thought: but when I still? Indeed, in 50 - do not have time to get
publicity! And in the forty? And in 35? ..
XII
There is a notion of "Age of Christ." I can not say that there is
something magic, though there many generations that a man in 33 years is a
breakthrough, creates a psychological (and sometimes energy) background. The
same thing happens, for example, horoscopes: When you since childhood told that
because you're on the zodiac Leo, and by year of dragon, you must have a strong
character and a hot temper, as a result something like this has a tendency to
form ...
August 20, 1997 I turned 33 and, accordingly, I was in the "age of
Christ" for another year. "The crisis in August, took place Aug. 17,
1998, that is, three days later I was about to turn 34. Thank God, not only
"must have", but also successfully accomplished.
The autumn evening was. The sound of rain glass
Decided all the same I - a painful question,
When in my office, a huge and vague,
Came the gentleman. For him - a shaggy dog.
On a chair by the fire sat a guest is tired,
And the dog at his feet, sprawled on the carpet.
Guest said politely: "Can it be still enough for you?
Prev Genius Destiny's time to accept, sor.
"But in old age - and the return of youth, and the heat ..." -
So I began, but he persistently interrupted:
"It is - all she did: insane Lenore Edgar.
Of No Return. - More? Now I've said it all. "
And it's strange: the life was the - ecstasy, the storm, hell,
And here - in the evening - with a stranger alone -
Under this business, long calm,
She had the much easier to me ...
The gentleman left. But the dog with me the irreplaceable.
In the bitter hour staring at me kind gaze
And tough paw on his knee,
It seems to be saying: "It is time to accept, sor.
Alexander Blok wrote this poem in 1912. Let me explain first that "Lenore
Edgar mad" - the heroine of a famous poem by Edgar Allan Poe, the same one
where the hero with Lenore left to suffer, she dreams to find her, and then to
him crow flies, and repeats the word, went down in history: "Nevermore".
The latter means "never again", but in Russian it sounds like
something less ominous and hopeless, and unlike a crow's caw ...
But fundamentally different. Block felt old age age of ... 32 years - that is
how much he was in 1912. This unit, stately blooming beauty, not associated
with surrounding his poems!
And Mandelstam's poem "January 1, 1924":
Two sleepy apple-a-century ruler
And clay beautiful mouth
But mleyuschey hand aging son
He, dying, falling on ...
An aging son, Osip, the next day (January 2, 1924) must be fulfilled 33.
I can not say that I'm his age has ever perceived as old age. On the contrary,
I felt in 1998, and now I feel like a totally young and speaking cliches,
"full force". Moreover, I stick to the principle of our years - our
wealth. "
But the bullet in my head all ages are more submissive than love, and that is
why I decided not to tempt fate. "Prev Genius Destiny's time to accept,
sor ...
- And why is that bad - bullet in your head?
Yes, because I worked in Rokobanke, was in a very unpleasant situation.
The fact that I was with her solid position of Director subsidiary company and
insignificant real influence at any moment could be just the man who "fell
under the distribution. For example, someone wanted to seriously scare bankers
- please visit: today the director of your subsidiary company, and tomorrow -
you ...
During the meat business that was, oddly enough, less relevant, although
there is someone wanting to "put pressure" on the Mark, could do so
at the cost of his partner. But in order to figure out who of us with Mark was
responsible for what took time and long negotiations. During this time we
ourselves can understand what was happening, and to take precautions.
And in the case with the bank situation to me was totally unpredictable. Man
should not fear death, but to use the death as an adviser is necessary.
XIII
Having decided to go out of business, I naturally did everything
possible to avoid leaving a "tail" in the form of unfinished business,
and in August 1998, I was hoping that they will not. Moment of care was truly
unique, and sin was they did not use it.
In September, I finally completed everything, said goodbye to the bankers (they
too "bags packed") and set about organizing her first personal
exhibition.
But in a "beautiful day" in the late autumn of that year, I phoned my
father (at this time he lived in Moscow). He said he came to him from Rokobanka
two elderly gentleman said that I supposedly have a huge amount of money to the
bank and asked to convey to them, I rang. Veli these gentlemen themselves very
correctly, though, and asked "threatening" questions like: "And
if he is married? And if he has any children? "
To honor his father be told that he took the incident very calmly. These
gentlemen, he explained that to me speaks little, and my problem does not get
into, but I only said that, he says, "you still figure it out what's what
...
Naturally, I immediately telephoned to leave these gentlemen, and found that
one of them was a former deputy director of the Department of Security
Rokobanka, which, after removal of the former leadership was working on a
temporary administration.
I, the retired colonel was familiar with the bank since, and our telephone
conversation began with my wicked reminder that if you now something with me,
God forbid, happens, he will be guilty because "lit up" in front of
witnesses. He apologized and said, correctly, that in my application a bank
employee was only registered address (as registered I was in the apartment of
his father), so he came back and.
The next day we met with this gentleman, and I found "interesting"
things.
In 1996-97, work was going on a major contract for the importation of meat
products, under which a "Rokoprodukt" (my first company when
Rokobanke) was exhibited bank guarantee. Money for the ship a consignment of
goods in accordance with the then active financial schemes received from the
buyer, as usual, to the correspondent account Rokobanka, but for unknown
reasons, the banking accounting were not undertaken. Characteristically, in
1997 "hot pursuit" I made that did not know (the problem was purely
interbank), and then suddenly "surfaced."
When I ask the question, what has my old company, but the more I personally,
"bezopasnik" explained that the money in the end turned out to be
reflected in bank accounts as the debts of the firm "Rokoprodukt"
through which the bank guarantee was put up and the director of which I in 1997
was. Accountants, not sophistry, "hanged" on the one who more closely
...
I luckily found documents confirming that all necessary payments have been made
by the buyer, and showed them "bezopasniku. He promised to investigate
and, indeed, for a while all was quiet. Unfortunately, this quiet and reassured
me, but since I already had a lot of cases related to art, I happily forgot
about it.
And in vain. Apparently, "bezopasnik" did not understand anything (he
will soon also resigned from the bank), and this "duty" and stayed in
the statements. A little later the interim administration SCOP won in
arbitration all matters, including, as it turned out, and against the firm
"Rokoprodukt.
I was very surprised when, in mid-1999, I was told that the bank in bankruptcy
put the stock exchange to a number of other debts and debt firm Rokoprodukt.
However, surprised - not quite the word. It was really dangerous.
"Duty", confirmed by the arbitral tribunal, meant that sooner or
later he will have moved from a failed bank to some new people, and they will
try to get it back (or "cancel") in all possible ways, not much
reading all where it came from . There is a writ of execution on the firm
"Rokoprodukt, is its director at the time of" duty "(1997) - and
all, what else do you want?
A huge amount of this "duty" meant that no matter how I view the new
business is not engaged, I personally have never been covered. Can you imagine
the amount of payment for the ship's party of meat!
So when worst-case scenario the situation becomes unpredictable.
The fact is that in any "civilized disassembled (trudnosovmestimye
concepts, but still) to my no claims would not exist. But before it could reach
any "showdown", I could easily prove to be highly undesirable person,
the same "middle", which "take away" - will be on one and "duty"
to hang, and all the issues go away by themselves.
And the example I had before my eyes - Teterin, president Rokobanka. He died in
early 1999 (the official diagnosis does not know, but most likely, cirrhosis of
the liver), immediately against a criminal case and immediately shut down
"for the death of the accused."
In order situation did not seem so bleak, to say that Teterin unlikely someone
"helped" to die - in recent years, he really was very bad. Anyway,
"clean" physically actually optional: it is enough to compel "go
on the run", and the result is the same.
But I got used to rely on any cases until the worst. Nevertheless, the real way
I had only one: wait for the "collision" (and that he, sooner or
later, I had no doubt - it's too great was my experience in this field), to
show certain documents and try resolve the matter peacefully as possible.
While that means "peace": once the money arrived in the correspondent
account the bank, but have not been on the banking accounts, then blame someone
from the bankers, but who specifically? President? Accountant? Director of a
department? One of the minor clerks? There was malice or simple bookkeeping
error? And passed since two years ...
Do not it be easier to, once again, "remove" Mr. ZAGRAEVSKY and blame
everything on him than to rake unimaginable mountain of financial records
across multiple correspondent accounts once one of the largest Russian banks?
Someone, of course not, but someone might turn out to be easier. It all
depended on who "will come". I could only wait.
XIV
So it happened that almost all of 1999, I was under the "sword of
Damocles." For me this meant no longer theoretical, and practical sense of
the continuous "time trouble" and the real need to do everything quickly
and saturated.
Hence, perhaps, an unimaginable number (or seven, or eight) of my solo
exhibitions in 1999, and the rapid start of the "public life" - as
Chairman of the Union of Artists and Art Editor for the newspaper, and started
working on my first (not yet published) book on the history of ancient
architecture ...
I was in a hurry, hurry. It was important to establish a "base" that
it runs regardless of what happens to me personally.
If God allows, I will write about his life in the world of art and art history.
So far I do not feel that distance that would allow me to do it. Of course -
the situation is in flux, today's friends can become enemies tomorrow,
ill-wishers - friends ... Besides the people with whom you communicate, you
learn better and better and, accordingly, every day to take them in new ways.
In short, now about my life in the art of writing early.
Let me just say that my painting style has changed very little since 1992 (and
by and large, and since childhood). I'm for the years spent in business, has
learned to separate the art from the unattractive realities of life, and my
bright happy pictures could not affect any setbacks, intrigue and trouble.
To the latter I used to.
I'm used to constant risk. So I can not say that the "sword of
Damocles" in the form of "debt" of "Rokoprodukt" so
strongly pressed on the subconscious - and not so had to endure, to the same on
any "concepts" still I was right.
And indeed, in the end, it all ended peacefully and without bloodshed, in all
senses. The new owners of "duty" were absolutely normal traders,
"raked" credit portfolio Rokobanka and fall of 1999 finally arrived
and before "Rokoprodukta.
We met with them, the conversations, I showed the necessary documents, and we
signed an agreement on the absence of mutual claims. Why are they so easily on
it went - they had a sea of other problems, they were not interested in
conflict with previous guidance of Rokobanka (at least, on the non-existent
debts and doubtful bank accounting entries), plus I help them "solve the
problems "one loan, up to date which was in its time.
All this happened within a month or two, there has been quite peaceful in
nature (at least by the standards of Russian business) and was completed almost
on the eve of the Millennium - New 2000. About the same time I
"moved" from the joint with Mark at the office Tishinsky in an art
studio in Shabolovka. So it happened that, along with the twentieth century
ended with my "walking in the business" ...
Do not surprised if the reader has read in the annotations to this book about
the fact that I am not only an artist but also a Christian theologian, said
about Christianity, I do not say a word, except for a story about communication
with the Russian Orthodox Church on the customs privileges ?
Perhaps the reader will notice it is reasonable that theology - science is not
easy, for it takes years of study, and here the story almost ends - and no
"scientific approach". It is clear that during the years of business
could easily have been "thinking about the soul", but it is unlikely
Mr. ZAGRAEVSKY nights sweating over theological works, as the morning wore a
tie and went to the office ...
And the reader is absolutely right. If I am in 1993-98 respectively, and
distracted from the business, then solely on the drawing, and sometimes at
night he painted. However, usually I have been painting in the holidays and
weekends. For example, a series of "Twelve months", written in the
first half of 1998, I still think the top of his career ...
But it was a "but" - I may recall that in the early nineties I was
involved extrasensory. And as I came from Carlos Castaneda to Jesus Christ -
read the last chapter.
© Sergey Zagraevsky
Chapter 6. Lenin, Party, Komsomol
Chapter 7. “Scientific career”
Chapter 8. Euphoria of epochs changing
Chapter 11. The loss of the bank