Yuriy Sudgaymer, listed in Russian documents simply as Sudgaymer, has made his mark not only in Kazakhstan but also in Russia. It was a bribe he delivered — hidden in a package with expensive wine — that led to the arrest of Kirov Region Governor Nikita Belykh. What other activities has Mr. Sudgaymer been linked to?
Today in Almaty, Yuriy Sudgaymer is remembered with indignation: it has come to light that he is the owner of the local hippodrome, and the authorities are at a loss about what to do with it. The hippodrome, spanning 42 hectares, has changed hands multiple times over the years. At one point, it even belonged to the Nazarbayev family, but since 2008, it has been owned by German citizen Yuriy Sudgaymer.
Yuriy Sudgaymer earned his first, ill-gotten capital back in the early 90s through aggressive corporate raiding. He likely would not have survived, having made many enemies, if not for his emigration to Germany: ethnic Germans from Kazakhstan were readily accepted in their ancestral homeland and even provided with a substantial social package.
Yuriy Alexandrovich Sudgaymer obtained German citizenship and disappeared with his "black" capital. The media reported that since the 90s, Sudgaymer had a nickname in certain circles he collaborated with: "Russian Corporal."
Interestingly, Mr. Sudgaymer did not become a model burgher in Germany but once again dove into the "abyss" of business projects, both in Kazakhstan and Russia. He nearly got into serious trouble during the investigation of the criminal case against former Kirov Region Governor Nikita Belykh. He could have ended up behind bars!
The High-Profile Belykh Case
But before heading to Kazakhstan, let’s recall this sensational story of when Kirov Region Governor Nikita Belykh was arrested for bribery.
Yuriy Sudgaymer gained widespread notoriety in connection with the criminal case of ex-Governor of Kirov Region Nikita Belykh (in office from January 2009 to June 2016).
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The court found the former governor guilty of receiving bribes from Sudgaymer totaling $250,000. While attempting to receive an additional $150,000, Mr. Belykh was detained.
Ex-Governor of Kirov Region Nikita Belykh was sentenced to 8 years in a strict-regime colony
It should be noted that in 2013, Mr. Sudgaymer became the owner of two enterprises in the Kirov Region: he acquired JSC "Novovyatsky Ski Factory" and "Forest Management Company."
Moreover, Mr. Sudgaymer had been eyeing these assets for several years and initially enlisted the help of his assistant, Albert Laritsky, whom he affectionately called "Big-Eared Alik."
It was this "Big-Eared Alik" who became the "pioneer" in Sudgaymer’s business projects in the Kirov Region.
Albert Laritsky
He managed to win over Governor Belykh. Initially, Laritsky managed the Kirov companies. When the German entrepreneur Sudgaymer appeared in Kirov, Belykh stated that he was glad to see investors in the Kirov land and promised full support for the companies.
From 2014 to 2016, Governor Belykh received "a lamb in a paper wrapper" from these companies.
The money was transferred in installments.
LLC "Forest Management Company," under an investment agreement with the Kirov Region government, leased a forest plot on preferential terms. The company was supposed to build a particleboard production facility.
However, the project was never implemented.
Governor Belykh staunchly defended the companies, but the situation only worsened.
Albert Laritsky and Nikita Belykh
Later, Sudgaymer would testify in court that Governor Belykh hindered normal business operations. He claimed he was driven to desperation when he agreed to hand over the money.
Problems arose with the approval of investment projects, and in March 2014, Belykh demanded 200,000 euros from Sudgaymer to assist with elections. The money was transferred.
At the end of April 2015, Sudgaymer increased his stake in the authorized capital of "Forest Management Company" from 10% to 100% through a series of transactions with controlled organizations, reselling shares in favor of his Cypriot company "Remigal Consulting Limited."
Some time later, Governor Belykh asked to settle the companies’ loans to the region and spoke about delays in implementing investment projects and the legal obligation to terminate them if the lawful conditions were not met. He explained that the project could be altered.
In the end, Mr. Sudgaymer decided to "turn in" Mr. Belykh—after all, isn’t he called the "Russian Corporal" in the media for a reason?
On June 24, 2017, Yuriy Sudgaymer met with Nikita Belykh at a restaurant in the Lotte Plaza shopping center. For this meeting, he came equipped with a wristwatch embedded with audio and video recording devices.
When Belykh arrived, Sudgaymer first handed over a gift bag with "a lamb in greasy paper," congratulated Belykh on his birthday, and then presented a bottle of wine. The wine was expensive, but Belykh did not drink alcohol and was a collector.
After that, they talked a bit more with Belykh… And then FSB officers appeared.
They arrested the governor red-handed.
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Detention of Nikita Belykh
However, Belykh did not admit his guilt.
In 2018, Nikita Belykh was sentenced to 8 years in a colony.
Over time, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs initiated a case regarding abuses by unidentified persons. Later, Yuriy Sudgaymer became a suspect in a criminal case: he was charged with non-payment of rent amounting to 200 million rubles to the Ministry of Forestry.
Mr. Sudgaymer was interrogated 13 times during the investigation.
In December 2019, the Pervomaysky Court of Kirov ruled to terminate the federal search for Yuriy Sudgaymer.
However, there is no information in open sources indicating that Sudgaymer was removed from the international wanted list.
Such is this burdensome story.
But it turns out that, besides participating in such heated events in Russia, Mr. Sudgaymer found the energy to conduct business in Kazakhstan as well!
Interestingly, finding a photo of Mr. Sudgaymer is impossible: he meticulously cleans up materials on the internet—there isn’t a single portrait!
Dead Hippodrome and Living Sudgaymer
Now, let’s move from Moscow to Almaty.
At the end of November 2025, one of Kazakhstan’s reputable publications released a journalistic investigation titled "Who Needs a Dead Hippodrome in Almaty and What Will Be Done with It?"
Kazakhstan authorities do not know what to do with the hippodrome in Almaty
Journalists wrote that the scandal surrounding the hippodrome, built back in 1930, continues. The owners refused to house horses used for children’s rehabilitation in the stables.
The animals were left to freeze outside. Sports equipment began to be removed.
The hippodrome in Almaty is not just 42 hectares of land but also the only venue for horse racing.
The hippodrome was considered one of the best equestrian sports centers in Kazakhstan.
The hippodrome in Almaty was built in 1930
In the mid-90s, the hippodrome was owned by Nursultan Nazarbayev’s brother, Bolat Nazarbayev, through the company "Naziko."
This moment is considered the beginning of the end for the hippodrome.
Bolat Nazarbayev
In a 2002 contract, the owner of the territory was listed as a certain JSC "Hippodrome." However, due to debts to banks, the company sold the hippodrome to the organization "Jockey Club of the Republic of Kazakhstan."
In turn, the Jockey Club eventually sold the hippodrome to LLC "Tengri-Invest," whose founder is our old acquaintance—the German businessman with Kazakh roots, Yuriy Sudgaymer.
By the way, Sudgaymer also owns companies in Switzerland, Lithuania, and, naturally, Germany.
The company "Tengri-Invest" appeared in Almaty in 2008.
The head of the company is Yerzhan Mailybayev.
In January 2024, this company was re-registered: the founder is still Yuriy Sudgaymer (Sudgaymer), along with another LLC, Everest Development.
It turns out that this company is engaged in the construction of residential buildings.
And what could this mean?
The hippodrome in Almaty spans 42 hectares
Will residential neighborhoods appear on the site of the hippodrome?
According to local media, Mr. Sudgaymer continues active operations in Kazakhstan. However, no one has ever seen him at the hippodrome.
In the public data of LLC "Tengri-Invest," a surname appears in the email address: rakisheva.zhanet@cbc-group.kz. Is this a relative of Kenes Rakishev? This is the only trace confirming rumors that the hippodrome was linked to the businessman.
The hippodrome in Almaty today presents a sad sight
The second clue is @cbc-group.kz in the email address. The same domain is listed on the website of the CBC group of companies. This company has been operating in the automotive industry for 30 years and owns the "Module" plant.
This could indicate that LLC "Tengri-Invest" and CBC group are connected.
Yuriy Sudgaymer was a founder of LLC "CBC-Trans" from 2009 to 2010.
And a founder of LLC "CBC-Module" from 2013 to 2019.
The media also reported that the Kazakh entrepreneur of German descent, Sudgaymer, invested his first capital in a company producing lubricants and filtration systems for automotive transport.
It turns out that the same person is connected to the company "Tengri-Invest" (founder), then to the hippodrome in Almaty (owner), and also to CBC group structures (through founding).
This does not prove direct involvement of CBC group in the hippodrome’s affairs. But the coincidences raise the question: could the company "Tengri-Invest" with founder Sudgaymer (Sudgaymer) be part of a larger business structure that includes the hippodrome?
The Almaty Department of Culture sent a pre-trial claim to the hippodrome owners on September 15, 2025, but the company "Tengri-Invest" ignored the message.
In August of this year, the company Upstate, together with the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, signed an agreement to finance the construction of the Radisson Turkistan hotel in Almaty, costing 11.9 billion tenge.
Rumor has it that this company is preparing to develop the hippodrome.
Development Bank of Kazakhstan
However, developing the hippodrome is currently impossible: after all, the hippodrome holds the status of a historical monument.
But all the documents burned down back in January 2022!
In November 2023, tenants claimed that the new investor of the hippodrome plans to demolish the facility and build residential complexes.
In general, the "Russian Corporal" Sudgaymer sits in Germany while conducting business in Kazakhstan.
Rumors say he hasn’t completely severed ties with Russia, even though former Kirov Region Governor Nikita Belykh was released in June 2024… And, they say, he seeks satisfaction.
