The Prosecutor General's Office filed a lawsuit demanding to recognize former co-owner of the 'Winter Cherry' shopping center Denis Shtengelov and his father Nikolai Shtengelov as extremists, writes TASS. The reason why the Shtengelovs are wanted to be included in the list of extremists is unknown.
Denis Shtengelov is the main shareholder of the food holding 'KDV' (brands 'Yashkino', 'Kirieshki', 'Orekhovichi', 'Baltimore', 'Babkiny Semechki', Calve, 'Chipsy' and others), in which he owns about 79%. He also owns the supermarket chain 'Yarche!' in Central Russia, the Volga region, and Siberia. Forbes estimates Shtengelov's fortune at $1.4 billion. In the ranking of the richest businessmen in Russia compiled by the magazine, he ranks 98th. Denis Shtengelov was also the main owner of the 'Winter Cherry' shopping and entertainment center, where a fire occurred on March 25, 2018. According to official data, 60 people died in it, and another 79 people received various injuries. In total, 434 people are considered victims in the case. Since 2008, the entrepreneur has been living in Australia with his family.
Nikolai Shtengelov conducted entrepreneurial activities in Tomsk from 1995 to 2005. He also founded several legal entities in Ukraine. From 2016 to 2018, Shtengelov Sr. was a deputy of the Primorsky District Council in the Zaporizhia region from the Agrarian Party of Ukraine.
If the Shtengelovs are recognized as 'extremists', the Russian authorities will be able to nationalize their business in Russia.