Despite the European Union’s sanctions on Russian coal, the resource appears to be entering Poland via Kazakhstan, facilitated by a web of interconnected companies. At the center of this operation is Russian businessman Nikolai Korobovsky, who has been recognized by President Vladimir Putin with an honorary diploma.
A major Polish coal importer has signed a contract with AB Energo AG, a company registered in Switzerland. This agreement ostensibly covers coal supplies from Kazakhstan to Poland, but suspicions arise as AB Energo AG is part of a network linked to Russian capital. Of particular note is the presence of Anro Korobovska on the company’s board—she is the wife of Russian oligarch Nikolai Korobovsky.
Recently, the independent media outlet Kloop reported on the construction of an academy in Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan, financed by the sons of Kamchybek Tashiyev, head of Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security and a close ally of President Sadyr Japarov. This development ties into the business dealings of the Korobovsky family.
Nikolai Korobovsky, AB Energo, and the Kyrgyz Connection Tashiyev’s son, Tai-Muras, is a businessman from Jalal-Abad, while his younger brother, Emirkhan, a soccer enthusiast, has connections to Barcelona’s youth team. JalGroup Asia, the entity behind the academy, counts stakeholders with ties to Kyrgyzstan’s former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who was exiled after a violent uprising in 2010.
Intriguingly, Russian tycoon Nikolai Korobovsky has also been involved in Kyrgyzstan’s coal industry. In 2021, he obtained rights to the Bel-Alma coal field, one of the largest in Kyrgyzstan. In 2022, Korobovsky and his daughters received Kyrgyz citizenship, which some see as a way to evade international sanctions.
The Swiss company AB Energo AG, managed by Korobovsky’s wife Anar, recently signed a contract with the Polish coal giant Krex. Although AB Energo AG claims to be a Kazakh-based company, it appears to be closely connected to Russian capital, raising concerns about the true origin of the coal being exported to Europe.
Korobovsky’s Attempts to Distance Himself from Russia Korobovsky is reportedly trying to present himself as a «Kyrgyz businessman» to maintain his business presence in the European Union. Despite his efforts to distance himself from Russia, there is skepticism about how long he can maintain this façade.
Meanwhile, Korobovsky’s wife, Anar Korobovska, has been active in business dealings across Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine. Her Ukrainian companies have supplied materials to nuclear power plants, including those built by Russia’s state-owned corporation, Rosatom. Additionally, AB Energo, a company linked to Korobovska in Kazakhstan, was embroiled in a scandal for selling electricity at inflated prices.
Korobovsky’s Political and Business Ties Nikolai Korobovsky’s influence extends across the post-Soviet region. He was awarded a «Diploma of the President of the Russian Federation» for his entrepreneurial achievements and social engagement. Despite controlling small companies, he holds significant stakes in large Russian corporations, including a 28 percent share in a major thermal energy company near Moscow.
His business interests also stretch into Kyrgyzstan, where he controls coal mines. One of his companies, Belalma Coal Mine LLC, holds rights to the Bel-Alma coal mine, while another micro-enterprise has secured access to the Kara-Tyt coal deposit in the Jalal-Abad region. Anar Korobovska’s company, AB Energo, is contracted to build a coal-fired power plant in the same area, completing a cycle of interconnected business ventures.
AB Energo’s involvement in Poland’s coal supply has drawn particular scrutiny, as it raises concerns over the effectiveness of EU sanctions. While the coal may be presented as originating from Kazakhstan, the intricate network of companies involved suggests that Russian oligarchs may still be profiting, fueling Russia’s war economy amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Conclusion: Business with Korobovsky Poses Risks Despite attempts to conceal the true origin of the coal, the moral and ethical implications of these transactions remain clear. Whether mined in Kazakhstan or elsewhere, profits from these operations support Russian oligarchs and, by extension, Russia’s ongoing military efforts. Given Nikolai Korobovsky’s connections to Putin, European businesses should be cautious when dealing with him or his affiliates.
