Yakutia lawmaker's private firms spark conflict-of-interest debate amid heating crisis
Viktor Fyodorov, a deputy in Yakutia’s Il Tumen parliament, has set up three private firms in the housing and utilities sector. Known for criticising the region’s ongoing heating crisis, he now faces scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest. The companies, he claims, are experimental projects to improve efficiency—but critics see a different motive. The three businesses—Hangalassstroy LLC, MK Teplostroy LLC, and Setteplostroy LLC—all specialise in heat production and boiler operations. Registered at the same Yakutsk address (20/1A Oktyabrskaya Street), they share a focus on the Khangalassky District, where Fyodorov has publicly debated utility reforms.
Fyodorov confirmed ownership but called the firms 'pilot projects' to showcase better heating solutions. He admitted none have won contracts or subsidies, labelling them 'empty legal entities with zero revenue'. To address concerns, he pledged to submit a disclosure to the Il Tumen Ethics Commission, insisting his intentions are honourable. Russian law does not ban lawmakers from running businesses, leaving room for overlap between Fyodorov’s advocacy and private ventures. Journalist Margarita Nifontova suggested the companies could be positioned to take over state utility operations—and profit from them. Fyodorov, a member of parliamentary working groups on industry reform, has yet to respond to these claims directly.
The deputy’s firms remain inactive but have already drawn attention to the blurred line between public advocacy and private gain. With no legal barrier to his business activities, the Ethics Commission’s review may determine whether Fyodorov’s projects serve reform—or personal opportunity.
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