Vladislav Bakalchuk Arrested for Murder After Armed Raid at Wildberries HQ Amid Divorce Dispute

On Thursday, Vladislav Bakalchuk, the estranged husband of Tatyana Bakalchuk, Russia’s wealthiest woman and CEO of the retail giant Wildberries, was arrested and charged with several serious offenses, including murder.

The arrest came in the wake of a violent armed raid at Wildberries’ central Moscow offices that resulted in the deaths of two people, including a security guard. This incident unfolded just a day after Tatyana Bakalchuk had publicly accused her husband of leading the attack.

In a tearful statement, Tatyana Bakalchuk claimed that Vladislav orchestrated the armed raid at the company’s headquarters as their divorce proceedings continued.

Her husband’s legal team, however, has disputed these claims, asserting that Vladislav was detained for 48 hours and is facing charges not only of murder but also attempted murder, assault of a law enforcement officer, and vigilantism. The situation has further escalated tensions, given the high-profile nature of the case and the involvement of significant stakeholders.

The violence at Wildberries’ offices occurred in close proximity to the Kremlin, which has drawn heightened attention to the case. The shooting incident took place shortly after a merger deal involving Wildberries was finalized, a deal that Vladislav had publicly criticized.

The merger deal had been a contentious issue, with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov also expressing strong opposition, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.

Vladislav Bakalchuk’s defense contends that he was en route to a pre-arranged meeting intended to resolve a corporate dispute and that the initial gunfire came from Wildberries’ staff.

This claim has been firmly rejected by Tatyana Bakalchuk, who described her husband’s allegations as “absurd” and denied any knowledge or agreement to such negotiations. This ongoing conflict between the Bakalchuks underscores the deep personal and professional rifts now at play.

Tatyana Bakalchuk, founder of Wildberries and a notable figure in global business, has built the company from a small online clothing reseller into Russia’s largest online retailer.

As of 2021, she was recognized as the 40th richest woman in the world and the first self-made female billionaire from Russia, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index. Despite holding a minor stake, Vladislav Bakalchuk’s actions and subsequent arrest have caused a dramatic disruption to both their personal lives and the company’s operations.