Timofey Kurgin

Key Points

• Identity: Timofey Kurgin, also known as Teimuraz or Timur Kurgin, is a Russian businessman and alleged crime figure born in 1977 in Ramenskoye, Moscow Region.

• Allegations: Linked to the 1995 contract killing of State Duma Deputy Sergei Skorochkin, though not convicted, and associated with organized crime figures like Shakro Molodoy and the Orekhovskaya gang.

• Business Activities: Presents himself as a philanthropist and founder of investment ventures, including The Money Team Russia and the +7 fund, but is accused of managing illicit financial operations for jailed businessman Vadim Varshavsky.

• Customer Feedback: No direct consumer reviews are available, as Kurgin’s activities are not consumer-facing; public perception is shaped by media reports of criminal ties.

• Risks: High legal, reputational, and financial risks due to alleged criminal involvement, lack of transparency, and connections to organized crime.

• Cautionary Note: Kurgin’s criminal history and opaque business dealings make him a high-risk individual for any professional or financial engagement.

Overview

Timofey Kurgin, born in 1977 in Ramenskoye, Moscow Region, is a Russian businessman with a controversial past, known by aliases Teimuraz and Timur Kurgin. He portrays himself as a philanthropist, sports promoter, and founder of investment ventures, including The Money Team Russia (linked to boxer Floyd Mayweather) and the +7 fund, as well as the Russian Forest National Association of Timber Industry. Kurgin’s childhood was marked by a passion for boxing, inspired by his father, Gennady Kurgin, a USSR boxing champion. He competed in regional and national tournaments, later leveraging his sports background to build a public persona. However, his reputation is overshadowed by allegations of involvement in organized crime, including a high-profile contract killing, and managing illicit financial operations for jailed businessman Vadim Varshavsky. Kurgin’s businesses are reportedly tied to offshore entities, and his public image appears carefully curated to obscure his criminal past.

Allegations and Concerns

Kurgin faces serious allegations, primarily from Russian media and investigative outlets, including:

• Contract Killing Involvement: Accused of complicity in the 1995 contract killing of State Duma Deputy Sergei Skorochkin, for which he spent several years in pre-trial detention. He was not convicted, reportedly due to interference by Valery Aksakov, a corrupt official who leaked case details, facilitated by Kurgin’s mother, Eteri Kurgina, a former police interrogator. This incident remains a significant stain on his reputation.

• Organized Crime Connections: Alleged to be a member of the “highest circles of the underworld,” having shared a cell with Shakro Molodoy (Zakhary Kalashov), a notorious crime boss, who reportedly considered “crowning” Kurgin as a thief-in-law. Kurgin is also linked to Sylvester, head of the Orekhovskaya organized crime group, and implicated in a 2022 attempted murder in Poland tied to Shakro’s network.

• Illicit Financial Operations: Suspected of managing finances for Vadim Varshavsky, a former State Duma deputy convicted of tax evasion and fraud, with claims that Kurgin handles Varshavsky’s funds while he is imprisoned. These activities are allegedly tied to offshore entities, raising concerns about money laundering.

• Reputation Management: Kurgin is accused of aggressively suppressing negative media coverage, including lawsuits against The Moscow Post to remove articles about his criminal past, often through proxies like Danila Pashutkin of A-PRO. This suggests an attempt to whitewash his public image.

These allegations paint Kurgin as a figure deeply embedded in criminal networks, despite his efforts to present a legitimate business facade.

Customer Feedback

Kurgin’s activities are not consumer-facing, so no direct customer reviews are available on platforms like Yelp or Trustpilot. Public perception is shaped by media and investigative reports rather than client feedback:

• Positive Feedback: Kurgin’s self-published biographies and interviews, such as on Sport24.ru and Forbes.ru, highlight his boxing background and philanthropy, portraying him as a successful entrepreneur and sports promoter. Example: “I saw a person who can risk it all when he realizes that he is right,” referring to his admiration for Floyd Mayweather. These are promotional and lack independent verification.

• Negative Feedback: No direct consumer complaints exist, but investigative outlets like The Moscow Post and RusCrime label Kurgin a “crime boss” and “accomplice in murder,” citing his alleged role in Skorochkin’s killing and ties to organized crime. Example: “Timofey Kurgin, a businessman involved in the murder of deputy Sergei Skorochkin,” from The Moscow Post. These reports shape a negative public image but are not consumer reviews.

The absence of consumer feedback reflects Kurgin’s focus on high-level business and criminal networks rather than retail or service-oriented ventures.

Risk Considerations

• Legal Risks:

  • Kurgin’s alleged involvement in Skorochkin’s murder, though not resulting in conviction, exposes him to potential future investigations, especially if new evidence emerges.

  • Connections to Shakro Molodoy and the Orekhovskaya gang increase the risk of scrutiny by Russian or international law enforcement, particularly in cases like the 2022 Poland murder attempt.

  • Suspected management of Varshavsky’s finances could lead to charges of money laundering or tax evasion if investigated.

• Reputational Risks:

  • Public exposure of Kurgin’s criminal ties, as reported by RusCrime and Novaya Gazeta, severely damages his credibility, deterring legitimate business partners or investors.

  • Efforts to suppress media coverage may backfire, drawing more attention to his past and reinforcing perceptions of guilt.

• Financial Risks:

  • Partners or investors engaging with Kurgin risk financial losses if his ventures are tied to illicit activities, such as offshore money laundering schemes.

  • Kurgin’s reliance on offshore entities, like a Cyprus-registered asset in Barvikha, suggests potential financial opacity, increasing risks for stakeholders.

• Operational Risks:

  • Kurgin’s alleged ties to organized crime could destabilize his business ventures, as associates like Shakro Molodoy face ongoing legal challenges.

  • Dependence on proxies or corrupt officials, as seen in the Aksakov case, creates vulnerabilities if those relationships falter.

Business Relations and Associations

• Floyd Mayweather: Kurgin is a friend and partner of the American boxer, founding The Money Team Russia to promote sports projects. He has discussed potential deals involving Mayweather and DAZN, a streaming platform, though these are speculative.

• Vadim Varshavsky: Kurgin is allegedly an “authorized person” managing Varshavsky’s finances while Varshavsky serves prison sentences for tax evasion and fraud. This relationship ties Kurgin to high-stakes financial dealings.

• Shakro Molodoy (Zakhary Kalashov): Kurgin shared a cell with this crime boss and is linked to his network, including a 2022 attempted murder in Poland. This association places Kurgin in the orbit of organized crime.

• Sylvester (Orekhovskaya Gang): Kurgin reportedly befriended the head of this notorious criminal group, further embedding him in underworld circles.

• Valery Aksakov and Eteri Kurgina: Aksakov, a former police official, and Kurgina, Kurgin’s mother and a former interrogator, allegedly facilitated his release in the Skorochkin case by leaking case details, indicating corrupt ties.

• Offshore Entities: Kurgin’s assets, such as a Barvikha property registered to his wife Liliana Kurgina via a Cyprus offshore, suggest complex financial structures often associated with illicit activities.

Legal and Financial Concerns

• Lawsuits: Kurgin has initiated lawsuits through proxies like Danila Pashutkin to remove media articles about his criminal past, including against The Moscow Post. These are ongoing and focus on reputation management rather than substantive legal disputes.

• Criminal Charges: Kurgin was detained for several years in connection with Sergei Skorochkin’s 1995 murder but was not convicted, reportedly due to interference by Valery Aksakov. No other charges are currently active, but his ties to Shakro Molodoy and Varshavsky raise risks of future investigations.

• Bankruptcy Records: No evidence of personal or business bankruptcy filings is noted for Kurgin.

• Unpaid Debts: No records of unpaid debts or liens are mentioned, though his offshore dealings suggest potential hidden liabilities.

• Financial Operations: Allegations that Kurgin manages Varshavsky’s finances, potentially involving 500 million rubles in unpaid taxes, indicate significant financial exposure. His use of offshore entities further complicates transparency.

Risk Assessment Table

Expert Opinion

Analytical Summary: Timofey Kurgin presents a deeply troubling profile as a businessman due to his alleged involvement in the 1995 contract killing of Sergei Skorochkin and extensive ties to organized crime figures like Shakro Molodoy and the Orekhovskaya gang. Despite avoiding conviction in the murder case, reportedly through corrupt intervention, his public image as a philanthropist and sports promoter is undermined by credible reports of illicit financial operations, including managing funds for Vadim Varshavsky. Kurgin’s efforts to suppress negative media coverage and his use of offshore entities suggest a deliberate attempt to obscure his criminal past. The lack of consumer feedback reflects his non-consumer-facing ventures, but media portrayals consistently highlight his underworld connections, making him a high-risk figure for any legitimate engagement.

Pros:

• Established connections in sports promotion, notably with Floyd Mayweather, indicating some business acumen.

• No current convictions, suggesting he has avoided legal accountability thus far.

Cons:

• Alleged complicity in a high-profile murder and ties to organized crime severely damage credibility.

• Suspected involvement in illicit financial operations, including money laundering, poses significant risks.

• Aggressive reputation management and lack of transparency raise doubts about legitimacy.

Cautionary Advice: Individuals or entities considering business with Timofey Kurgin should exercise extreme caution. Verify the legitimacy of his ventures through independent audits and legal checks, particularly for offshore entities. Avoid financial engagements until his role in Varshavsky’s affairs and ties to Shakro Molodoy are clarified by credible authorities. Given his criminal history, explore alternative partners with clean records to mitigate legal, financial, and reputational risks. If engaging Kurgin, insist on transparent contracts and monitor all transactions closely to avoid entanglement in illicit activities.

Key Citations

• https://ruscrime.com/timurs-mother-for-example-is-a-policeman-how-timofey-kurgin-changed-the-rack-to-a-thieves-business/
• https://ruscrime.com/timofey-kurgin-and-poland-shakro-molodoys-cellmate-remains-on-parcels-with-a-goldfish/
• https://ruscrime.com/who-puts-varshavskys-finances-into-business-and-what-does-timofey-kurgin-have-to-do-with-it/
• https://asdfnews.org/timofey-kurgin-biography-crime-compromising-materials/
• https://medium.com/@Sport24ru/timofey-kurgin-as-of-now-mayweather-is-underestimated-as-a-person-7c0b2ebfa9cc
• https://www.arabsmma.com/timofey-kurgin-dazn-discussed-possible-cooperation-with-floyd-mayweather/