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"Former 'Crab King' Oleg Kan Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison Despite Death Reports; Legal Dispute Ensues"
The Primorsky Regional Court has delivered a 17-year prison sentence to former prominent figure in Russia's crab sector, Oleg Kan, on charges of orchestrating a murder-for-hire scheme, despite previous reports of his demise. Kan, once a major player in the industry with ties to companies like Primorskaya Rybolovnaya Kompaniya (PRK), Kurilskiy Universalniy Komplex (KUK), and Moneron, faced a decline in influence following investigative reports in 2018 linking him to alleged underreporting of catches and unauthorized sales to South Korea and Japan.
Reported as deceased in February 2023, Kan found himself convicted in absentia for the murder of businessman Valery Phidenko, another figure in the crab-fishing sector. Despite assertions from Kan's legal team regarding his demise, prosecutors argue that no official death registration has been filed with the state, leading them to contest the authenticity of his reported passing.
In addition to the lengthy prison term, the court imposed a fine of RUB 15 million (USD 163,400, EUR 151,700), to be distributed among five victims of Kan's purported crimes as compensation for moral damages.
Kan's defense maintains the validity of his death, citing a provided death certificate, yet encounters obstacles in officially registering it due to alleged refusal by registry offices. Meanwhile, the legal dispute persists amidst allegations of staged acts and unsubmitted death records.
This development unfolds amidst a backdrop of tensions between the Russian crab industry and the government, notably stemming from resistance to President Vladimir Putin's proposal to transition the country's crab quota allocation to an auction system. Reports linking Kan to negative industry practices emerged amid this discord, prompting renewed scrutiny and calls for regulatory changes.
Despite industry resistance, Russia proceeded with its inaugural crab auctions in 2019, with notable figures like Gleb Frank, formerly associated with Russian Fishery Company and Russian Crab Owner, acquiring significant portions of the quotas. However, Frank's subsequent divestment from these ventures, amidst U.S. sanctions, added further complexity to the industry landscape.
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