Roman Tsepov (Roman Igorevich Beilenson): biography, career rise and death

This influential person, who preferred not to be shown to the general public, is known as the "gray cardinal" of the Northern capital. Now Roman Tsepov for many is a real legend of "gangster Petersburg". His authority in the criminal and security structures of this city was very high. Few know that the real name of the entrepreneur was Beilenson.

Naturally, the news that Roman Tsepov was killed by ill-wishers, for many business representatives was a real shock, but the circumstances of his death were overgrown with speculation and rumors. How, then, did a man who worked as a simple locksmith in an enterprise producing road metal structures and welding electrodes could become a high-ranking figure who was solving the most important tasks on the scale of a large metropolis? Let's consider this issue in more detail.

Biographical information

Roman Tsepov is a native of Kolpino, which is considered a suburb of the Northern capital.

He was born on July 22, 1962. Even in school years, the future head of a large security company "Baltik-Export" showed interest in firing weapons. And he taught him to get into the "top ten" from the gun teacher-military. Soon Roman Tsepov, whose biography contains many dark spots, became the best shooter on the scale of the whole school.

Having received the certificate of maturity, the young man decided to enter the Leningrad State University. However, he was dissuaded: say, with your surname, the chances of becoming a student of this university are almost equal to zero. It was necessary for the young man to go to work on Izhora Plant as a locksmith. However, soon, Roman tired of smelling of engine oil and coming home almost every day smeared.

School of Ministry of Internal Affairs

He wants to enter political school for them. 60 years of the Komsomol MVD USSR. Surprisingly, Roman Tsepov successfully passes the entrance exams, and he is enrolled in this educational institution. After some time the young cadet is sent to serve in Valdai, then for the service he goes to Kingisepp.

In 1987, a young man is in trouble. Tsepov Roman Igorevich almost dies in an accident, he gets on a hospital bed. His mother looks after him, and the young man manages to restore his health in the district military hospital.

Change of priorities

Soon the cadet of the Ministry of Internal Affairs decides to leave the school. Career in the law enforcement agencies no longer appeals to him.

In the early 90's, Tsepov Roman Igorevich creates the structure of "Baltic Export", which deals exclusively with security activities. According to some sources, the idea to establish the above-mentioned enterprise belonged to a certain Victor Zolotov, who subsequently coordinated the activities of the private security cooperative, being a member of the active reserve. This man was the bodyguard of the then mayor of the northern capital Anatoly Sobchak. Zolotov provided every assistance to Roman Igorevich in the competent construction of commercial activities.

Business is booming

Having secured the support of the St. Petersburg mayor and his assistants, Beilenson soon became a monopolist in the security services market.

His staff provided protection to the stars of show business, large businessmen and officials who came to the North capital. Among the clients of Tsepov were influential people from the criminal environment, in particular, it is about Alexander Malyshev, who in the 90s was the leader of the largest criminal group. Roman Igorevich was also involved in escorting Neva-Trans cars, whose owners were affiliated with the Tambov OPG.

Naturally, not everyone liked that Beilenson's business is going uphill. The entrepreneur has many enemies who have made every effort to put an end to his business. In the mid-90's, he was first shot, and then attempted to blow up.

The criminal factor

Roman Tsepov does not differ in impeccable reputation, not only because he provided protection to criminal elements. There were rumors that he was collecting tribute paid by big businessmen for obtaining licenses in the gambling business.

Beilenson was first detained in 1994, when he was charged with illegal possession of weapons. As already stressed, success in the entrepreneurship of Tsepov caused some of the usual envy: his life was repeatedly endangered.

In the spring of 1998, the case against extortion of a large sum of money was brought against Roman Igorevich, and he was temporarily forced to hide from justice in the Czech Republic.

Life is getting better…

When Vladimir Putin became president, Tsepov began to gain considerable authority in the political and financial life of the Northern Capital. Roman Igorevich, according to rumors, very closely contacted the then Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliev, head of the presidential security service Viktor Zolotov, an assistant to the head of presidential administration Igor Sechin.

Beilenson himself said that he had, according to "knowledgeable people", a huge number of important responsibilities: the organization of elections, the control of criminal investigations, the development of the fuel business, personnel reshuffle, security and so on.

Noteworthy is the fact that shortly before his death, the owner of Baltik-Export, according to the presidential decree, was awarded the rank of Major-General of the militia, which even his relatives did not know. However, this information was kept in the strictest secrecy.

Personal life

Tsepov Roman Igorevich, whose family consisted of a wife and two children, had a reliable rear. Sources say that after the death of the "gray cardinal", one of his daughters formalized a marriage relationship with a Sudanese citizen and was forcibly taken away by her new husband to his homeland.

Circumstances of death

The murder of Roman Tsepov caused a huge number of rumors and rumors.

After performing intermediary services between federal officials and the company "YUKOS", Beilenson had health problems. He died on September 24, 2004. The detectives put forward the version that Roman Igorevich was poisoned. The doctors, in turn, suspected Tsepov of radiation sickness, and the newspapers then wrote that the symptoms of the illness in the head of "Baltik-Export" and Alexander Litvinenko largely coincide.

Buried Baylenson at the Seraphim Cemetery of St. Petersburg.