This week, a photograph of a painting of Joseph Stalin and Vladimir Putin shaking hands went viral on social media. The image appeared on the facade of a cafe in the Belgorod region.
The local publication «Fonar», citing a waiter at the establishment, reported that the painting was hung by the cafe owner. As «Agency»** found out, the owner of the establishment, according to open source data, is entrepreneur Boris Alexandrovich Dedenev. His daughter, also an entrepreneur, Maria Dedeneva, advertised the opening of the cafe in local Telegram channels in December 2023.
Boris Dedenev is an associate of the founder of the large agricultural holding «Prioskolye», Gennady Bobritsky, who fled Russia after being accused of fraud. Alexei Navalny's headquarters*** in Belgorod, in its anti-corruption investigation in 2018, accused both of acquiring 39 hectares of forest on the shore of the Belgorod reservoir for a pittance, which residents planted in the post-war years. They paid only 1 million rubles for this plot, while its market value was 550 million, it was claimed in the investigation. Despite residents' protests, a cottage settlement appeared on this land.
In addition to the restaurant business, Dedenev is involved in construction, trade, and cleaning. According to «SPARK-Interfax», he is listed as the director and owner of Belgorod companies «Lesstroy», «Lira», and «Sosnovy Bor». Their total revenue for 2024 amounted to about 115 million rubles.
* Listed as a «terrorist and extremist».
** Recognized as a «foreign agent» in Russia.
*** Recognized as an «extremist» organization in Russia.
Photo: Fonar