Bankruptcy declared by co-owner of previous waste export firm in Sverdlovsk region
In the Sverdlovsk region of Russia, the waste management company TBО "Ecoservice" and its co-owner, Anna Raspopova, are currently embroiled in financial and legal troubles. The Arbitration Court of the Sverdlovsk Region has declared Raspopova personally bankrupt, and the company has lost its status as a regional operator for waste management.
The court's decision to declare Raspopova bankrupt was due to her inability to repay a debt of 6.3 million rubles, despite an outstanding court decision ordering her to pay over 81 million rubles to TBО "Ecoservice" following allegations that she illegally transferred company funds through third parties to her own benefit [1][2][3].
The company's downfall began in summer 2024 when it was stripped of its status as a regional operator for waste management. This came after a severe waste collection crisis in 22 municipalities within the Sverdlovsk region, which led to the company losing its contract and regulatory authority amidst public and government scrutiny [2].
Investigations and court proceedings revealed that Raspopova had engaged in questionable financial dealings, including siphoning off funds collected from consumers through intermediaries. This prompted the legal claim by the company's co-owner, Mikhail Kopytov, who sought repayment of over 81 million rubles [2].
Despite the company's collapse and legal difficulties, the owners of TBО "Ecoservice" have attempted to regain access to the Sverdlovsk waste management market through the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services (MinZhKH). However, regional government officials have expressed strong opposition to allowing the company or Raspopova back into the market, citing past failures and risks [2].
In response to her declared personal bankruptcy, a debt restructuring procedure has been initiated for Raspopova, but she remains under intense legal and financial pressure given her company's downfall and the large sums involved [1][3].
The waste crisis caused by TBО "Ecoservice" has left a lasting impact on the region, with serious problems in waste removal still emerging in 22 cities across the region while the company was operating [4]. The current status of TBО "Ecoservice" and Anna Raspopova reflects significant financial and legal troubles tied to the company’s debt and operational issues.
References: [1] https://www.svpressa.ru/ekonomika/article/272696/ [2] https://www.svpressa.ru/ekonomika/article/272613/ [3] https://www.svpressa.ru/ekonomika/article/272614/ [4] https://www.svpressa.ru/ekonomika/article/272615/
The court's decision to declare Anna Raspopova bankrupt has raised concern within the local business sector, given her co-ownership of the struggling waste management company, TBО "Ecoservice". The financial and legal troubles of the company and Raspopova, stemming from allegations of illegal fund transfers, have cast a shadow over the industry's regulations and financial practices.
