Russia’s richest woman to change name after deadly shooting
The founder and chief executive of Russia’s largest online retailer Wildberries, Tatyana Bakalchuk, has announced she has reverted to her maiden name after a dispute with her husband Vladislav Bakalchuk led to a deadly shooting last week.
Wildberries was co-founded in 2004 by the Bakalchuks, with Tatyana, a former English teacher and a mother of seven, serving as the company’s CEO.
Forbes has estimated that Tatyana Bakalchuk had a personal net worth of $7.9 billion, making her the richest woman and the 22nd richest person in Russia. She owns 99% of Wildberries.
For months the pair have bitterly disputed a merger with advertising giant Russ to which Vladislav Bakalchuk is resolutely opposed. He has claimed that his spouse is mismanaging the firm. In July, the pair confirmed that they were divorcing.
The move comes after a deadly shooting took place near the entrance to the e-commerce giant’s Moscow headquarters last week, leaving two people dead and several others injured. According to the businesswoman, on Wednesday her husband, who owns 1% of the company, led a group of men who tried to seize Wildberries headquarters in a “raid” under the guise of business negotiations.
“The best choice is to always remain yourself,” Tatyana, who is also Russia’s richest woman, wrote on Telegram Monday adding: “Your Tatyana (from today – again) Kim.”
Wildberries’ press service confirmed that “an official procedure of changing the surname has been launched” by the CEO.
Vladislav’s lawyers said last week he had been arrested on suspicion of murder and other crimes.
In July, Mr Bakalchuk denounced the merger claiming that Russ’ owners were illegally attempting to take over the assets of Wildberries.
Mrs Backalchuk has denied, however, that the merger was a “gangster-style takeover,” saying it was “a divorce.” She emphasized that initially “everything was agreed upon with Vladislav.”
