The video, which features anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny, centers around an investigation into the North Caucasus region of Russia. Navalny was sent a video titled "DIY plasterboard dropped ceiling" and noticed his name mentioned in the comments. The video, made by a construction master from Rostov-on-Don, led Navalny and his team to uncover a massive corruption scheme in Karachay-Cherkessia, a poor republic in the North Caucasus.
The investigation revealed that a luxurious 2000 sq m house was being built, seemingly for a young man named Ansar Kaitov, who was still a student at the time. Navalny's team estimated that the house, with its high-end features, would cost about 6 billion rubles ($90 million). However, the land on which it was being built was free, suggesting that the cost was being covered by other means.
The house was owned by Ali Kaitov, a former deputy and influential person in the republic. His son-in-law, the son of Karachay-Cherkessia's former president, was the registered owner of the house. Ali Kaitov had a criminal past, having been sentenced to 17 years in prison for a massacre during a birthday party in 2004. However, he was released after less than 10 years due to a "generous reduction of a sentence."
The video also revealed that Ali Kaitov's son Aslan, who was 19 at the time of the investigation, was driving a Bentley Mulsanne worth over 20 million rubles ($300,000). Aslan had previously been the head of Complex Public Utilities Holding, a company co-founded by the wife and daughter of Cherkessk's mayor.
The investigation also highlighted the corruption of other officials in the region. For instance, the head of the republic, Rashid Temrezov, was seen posing with Ali Kaitov's son Aslan, who referred to him as "dear uncle." Temrezov had previously been a CEO at Kaitov's electrical energy empire.
The video concludes with Navalny urging viewers to support independent media and bloggers in Karachay-Cherkessia who continue to expose the corruption schemes. He also calls for an end to the release of murderers from prison and the support of corrupt clans.
1. Navalny was asked to investigate the Caucasus region multiple times.
2. He was sent numerous links to a video about renovations in the region.
3. The video, titled "DIY plasterboard dropped ceiling", was commented on with phrases like "Navalny’s going to come here soon".
4. Navalny was shocked when he found out that the house in the video was his own.
5. The house, located in Cherkessk, was built by a construction master from Rostov-on-Don named Ruvim.
6. The house is a 2000 sq m mansion with a huge land plot and a number of design features.
7. The house is located right next to the city’s main park.
8. The house was built without any apparent cost, as the land was assumed to be free.
9. The house was built with a ceiling height of 12 m and plasterwork materials weighing almost 2 tons in each room.
10. The house was owned by Ansar Kaitov, who is very young but already famous.
11. The house was actually given to Ansar Kaitov by his father, Ali Kaitov, who is a very influential person in the region.
12. Ali Kaitov was married to the daughter of the former president of Karachay-Cherkessia, making their son the president’s grandson.
13. Ali Kaitov was sentenced to 17 years in prison for a mass murder during a birthday party, but was released after less than 10 years due to a reduction of his sentence.
14. Ali Kaitov's family controls the entire electrical energy system of the region.
15. Ali Kaitov's son, Aslan, drives a Bentley Bentayga SUV worth 15 million rubles ($225,000) bought in 2017.
16. Ali Kaitov became the head of Complex Public Utilities Holding after his release from prison.
17. The co-founders of this company are the wife and daughter of Cherkessk mayor.
18. The head of the republic, Rashid Temrezov, is seen posing for the camera with Ali Kaitov's son Aslan.
19. Temrezov, who is formally responsible for what is going on in the republic, is seen hugging Aslan.
20. Temrezov, who officially earns 74,000 rubles ($1100), wears a watch for 4 million rubles ($60,000).
21. Temrezov is seen with multiple expensive watches, including a Patek Philippe for 4 million, a golden Tourbillon for 2 million ($30,000), a watch costing 5-6 million ($75-90 thousand), and a black watch worth 2.5 million ($37,500).
22. Navalny calls for not supporting the clans that rob everyone, not releasing murderers from prison, and for investing in the development of North Caucasus republics.
23. Navalny thanks those few independent Karachay-Cherkes mass media and bloggers who continue to write about the clans and the disgusting Arashukovs, Kaitovs and Temrezovs.
24. Navalny encourages his audience to subscribe to his channel, where they tell the truth.