Wed Sep 18 13:21:46 UTC 2024: ## Deadly Shooting Rocks Wildberries Office in Moscow Amid Company Dispute
**MOSCOW** – A shooting at the Moscow office of Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, left two people dead and seven injured on Wednesday. The incident, which occurred just blocks from the Kremlin, appears to be a violent escalation of a dispute over the company’s future.
The shooting took place two months after Wildberries merged with another private firm, a deal reportedly overseen by the presidential administration. Wildberries founder and majority owner, Tatyana Bakalchuk, and her estranged husband, Vladislav, who held a smaller stake, blamed each other for the incident.
According to Wildberries and Tatyana, a group led by Vladislav attempted to force entry into the office with firearms. Vladislav, however, claims he and his representatives were unarmed and intended to discuss business matters. He alleges that security guards of the merged company, RVB, opened fire on him and his colleagues.
Russia’s Investigative Committee has launched a criminal investigation and confirmed that two police officers were among the injured. The company stated that one of the deceased was a Wildberries security guard.
Almost 30 individuals have been detained, according to Russian state news agency RIA. The identities of those involved have not been released.
The shooting comes amidst a power struggle surrounding the company’s future. Vladislav opposed the merger of Wildberries with smaller outdoor advertising firm Russ, which aimed to create a digital trading platform. Russian media reported that Maxim Oreshkin, deputy head of the presidential administration, was appointed to oversee the implementation of the merger, which reportedly received President Vladimir Putin’s support.
The incident has shaken the Russian business world and highlighted the potential for violence in high-stakes corporate disputes. The investigation is ongoing.
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