Russian billionaire Valery Kustov detained in Moscow — chairman of the board ...

Russian billionaire Valery Kustov has been detained in Moscow — he is the chairman of the board of directors and the main shareholder of EFKO Group, a fats-and-oils industry company (maker of Sloboda mayonnaise). He is suspected of fraud on an especially large scale (Part 4 of Article 159 of the Russian Criminal Code). EFKO CEO Yevgeny Lyashenko was detained along with him, RBC writes, citing sources.

Earlier, the outlet’s sources say, within the framework of this same criminal case, EFKO Group deputy development director Yekaterina Kustova and Vladislav Romantsev, director for strategic development at the group’s management company, were detained. They are charged with fraud on an especially large scale; on July 29, Moscow’s Meshchansky District Court remanded them in custody.

According to RBC sources, the law enforcement claims are connected to the implementation of the Future Transport unmanned aerial systems project. As part of this same investigation, Future Transport CEO and former adviser to the governor of Samara Region Yury Kozarenko was previously arrested.

EFKO is one of the largest food producers in Russia, specializing in oil, mayonnaise, plant-based meat, food ingredients, egg products, soap products, and animal feed. The company was founded in 1994 on the basis of the Efirnoye essential oils enterprise in Alekseyevka, Belgorod Region; it produces goods under the Sloboda, Altero, DeOlio, Fresh and other brands. In September 2025, EFKO became the owner of vegetable oil producer Oleina, which had previously belonged to Exoil Group.

Valery Kustov ranks 144th in Forbes’s 2026 ranking of Russian billionaires. The magazine estimated his fortune at