Crimea’s Gas Station Mogul Arrested in Major Fraud Investigation

The president and co-owner of Crimea’s largest network of gas stations has been arrested on allegations of significant fraud, as reported by the RBC news website on Thursday, citing two sources familiar with the situation.

Sergei Beym, who heads the fuel distribution company TPP, was apprehended by law enforcement earlier this week.

From 2014 to 2015, he was the leader of the Ukrainian state oil and gas firm Chernomorneftegaz and also served as a deputy in the Supreme Council of Crimea from 2006 to 2010.

One source informed RBC that Beym is implicated in a criminal investigation concerning extensive fraud, a charge that could result in a prison sentence of up to a decade.

Maria Pyatkova, the head of Avrora, a company that shares the same registration address as TPP, was also reportedly detained in connection with the same case.

Founded in 1992 by Beym’s father, Gennady Beym, TPP claims to operate the largest gas station network in Crimea, as outlined on the company’s website.

The group owns oil storage facilities, a fleet of fuel tankers, and a terminal for liquefied gas and oil products.

Additionally, its business activities span the hospitality and food service sectors, which include a local hotel and a chain of fast-food cafes.

In 2024, TPP Group reported revenues of 18 billion rubles (approximately $225 million) and a net profit of 130 million rubles (around $1.7 million).