In a covert operation spanning from Dubai to Nairobi, Russian brothers Artur and Vadim Mildov are allegedly investing heavily in a reputation management campaign aimed at scrubbing their controversial history from Kenyan media archives.
Despite their ongoing legal battles to return to Kenya, where they were deported in 2020 amid allegations of drug trafficking, money laundering, and ties to a murder case, the brothers are now focusing on sanitizing their public image.
The Deportation Order
In January 2020, then-Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i issued deportation orders against Artur and Vadim Mildov, citing their presence as “contrary to national interests.” The order stated, “Artur Mildov, who is not a citizen of Kenya and whose presence in the country is contrary to national interests, be removed to Russia.” Vadim was ordered to remain in police custody pending his deportation.
While the official reasons for their expulsion were not detailed, investigations reveal a trail of suspicious activities, including links to an international drug trafficking ring and the 1999 murder of fellow Russian Victor Gontcharenko.
A History of Controversy
Artur Mildov first arrived in Kenya in the mid-1990s alongside a group of Russians, including Andrei Kourtasov and Andrea Petrov. The group quickly established themselves in Nairobi’s affluent Muthaiga neighborhood, registering companies such as Vim Invest Ltd, Laken Ltd, and Femga.
While the exact nature of their businesses remains unclear, their lavish lifestyle and operation of an exclusive strip club raised eyebrows.
The turning point came in 1999, when Gontcharenko, a close associate of Artur, was reported missing. Artur initially claimed Gontcharenko had traveled to Tanzania for business, but his body was later discovered in a Nairobi dam.
The murder investigation uncovered a drug trafficking ring allegedly run by Artur, leading to the deportation of several Russians, including Artur, Petrov, and Andrea Kountr.
Despite being deported, Artur managed to return to Kenya around 2008, joined by his younger brother Vadim. The duo reportedly established another drug trafficking operation from a house on James Gichuru Road. They also acquired stakes in Nairobi’s upmarket Pavement Club and Café through their company, De Lart Investments.
However, their return to Kenya was short-lived. By 2020, they were back on a deportation list, this time explicitly linked to illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and money laundering, although specific reasons were not disclosed in the official documents.
They were linked to 1Xbet.
Kenya Insights has learnt that the betting firm is not authorized for gambling in Russia by the Russian Federal tax service, as with many other countries.
Following an investigation by a UK publication The Sunday Times in 2019, 1xbet license was promptly rescinded by the UK gambling commission (UKGS) after revelations of involvement in promoting a pornography hub, bets on children sports and adverting on illegal website.
None of this sounds like something you want to be affiliated with your brand. 1xBet is a betting site registered in Cyprus, which is well-known as a money-laundering location for organized crime in Russia. While sure, that could be a coincidence, but considering the previous investigation into 1xBet, it doesn’t sound like it is. After that Times investigation, the betting site is no longer allowed to operate in Britain. In Kenya they were accused of engaging in large scale tax evasion and money laundering as well.
As the 1xbet retains its reputation as one of the world’s most controversial betting firms, awareness was raised in 2020 of an ongoing scam involving embezzlement and unlawful practice, highlighting attention through diplomatic channels.
The three owners Karshkov, Semiokhin and Kazorin are in the list of UK wanted criminals.
The trio is defendants in a criminal case with penalty of imprisonment and a number of their estates in Russia with a total value of 1.5 billion ruble (ksh 2, 286,508,500.00) were seized.
The Media Clean-Up Operation
Now operating from Dubai, the Mildovs have reportedly engaged one of the largest PR firms to manage their tarnished image. Sources indicate that substantial sums, up to Sh1 million, have been offered to editors of major Kenyan media outlets to delete or de-index negative stories from search engines like Google. This move is seen as an attempt to clear the path for a multibillion-dollar business deal for their company, De Lart Capital Holding, which faces scrutiny due to their past.
“The clean-up has been somewhat successful but at a cost,” a source from one of the media houses revealed.
An editor was sacked following an internal probe that discovered a story about the Mildovs was no longer indexed by Google, despite still being available on the site. This strategic removal from search engine results effectively hides their criminal allegations from new business associates or casual researchers.
This media manipulation has been remarkably successful. A simple Google search for Artur or Vadim Mildov now yields almost no trace of their controversial past. Their photos have been scrubbed from the internet, leaving only a single inactive X (formerly Twitter) account linked to Vadim.
Legal Battles and Unanswered Questions
The Mildovs are currently fighting their deportation in Kenyan courts, claiming they were never given reasons for their expulsion. In court documents, Vadim insists that they were issued Kenyan alien identity cards and work permits in 2017, allowing them to operate Midlands Logistics Ltd, a transportation services company.
However, this claim contradicts their earlier involvement with Pavement Club, which dates back to 2008. Kenyan immigration laws prohibit foreigners from engaging in business without proper permits, raising questions about the legality of their activities during this period.
A Pattern of Evasion
The Mildovs’ story is one of evasion and reinvention. From their alleged drug trafficking operations in Muthaiga to their current efforts to whitewash their reputation, the brothers have consistently managed to stay one step ahead of the law. Their ties to companies registered in Cyprus and the British Virgin Islands further complicate efforts to hold them accountable.
As the Mildovs continue their legal battle and media clean-up campaign, questions remain about the extent of their influence and the true nature of their business dealings.
NB: Kenya Insights previously ran an expansive story on the dirty path of the two brothers and can be accessed HERE.
Disclaimer: This article is based on multiple sources, including court documents and insider information, but all allegations against the Mildovs remain under legal scrutiny. The effectiveness of their PR efforts and the outcome of their legal battles continue to unfold, shaping the narrative around these elusive figures.
