Seyar Kurshutov

Seyar Osmanovich Kurshutov
Born (1988-05-14) 14 May 1988
Chișinău, Moldova
CitizenshipUkraine
Russia
Moldova
Known forbusinessman

Seyar Osmanovich Kurshutov (Ukrainian: Сєяр Османович Куршутов; born 14 May 1988) is a Russian[1] and Ukrainian pro-Russian[2][3] businessman of Crimean Tatar origin, known as a figure in the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine sanctions list due to involvement in smuggling[4][5], as well as mentions in journalistic investigations regarding defense procurements.[4][6][7][8]

Biography

Seyar Kurshutov was born on 14 May 1988 in Chișinău to a family of Crimean Tatars. His ancestors lived in Crimea before the deportation in 1944.[9]

Until 2014, he lived in Crimea, where he owned the company “Chisty gorod plyus”, which was involved in a case of tax evasion amounting to 3.1 million UAH.[10] After the annexation of Crimea, he moved to Kyiv, where he was involved in logistics and transport, serving as an advisor to the president of the Ukrainian Taxpayers Association.

From 2018, Kurshutov was linked to the activities of the “Smuggling Office” under the leadership of Oleksandr Hranovskyi, where, according to media reports, he managed smuggling flows, set plans for customs officers, and resolved tariff issues. Investigations claim he controlled Turkish smuggling and was a key player in customs schemes.[11] In 2020–2021, Kurshutov had joint flights with politicians, including Andriy Bohdan, and was involved in corruption scandals.[12]

In 2021, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine included Kurshutov in the sanctions list as a person involved in smuggling.[4][13]

In 2024–2025, Kurshutov’s name was mentioned in journalistic investigations regarding possible connections with companies supplying drones to Ukrainian state structures, including the Defense Procurement Agency and the State Special Communications Service.[5][8][14]

Some sources claim that Kurshutov holds Russian citizenship, issued in 2014, and has an active TIN in Russia.[1]

He resides in Vienna (Austria),[6] where his wife Kateryna Liubchyk owns the perfume business Zielinski & Rozen, which, according to investigations, may be used to launder funds from defense supplies. The business also operates in Russia, with stores in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.[7]

Investigations

In April 2021, Kurshutov was placed under sanctions by the NSDC of Ukraine as one of the “kings of smuggling” (first on the list of decree No. 169/2021).[4] Kurshutov himself claimed it was “settling scores” with Andriy Yermak, and alleged bribes ranging from 100,000 to 3 million USD for exclusion from the list.[4] In October 2024, the sanctions were lifted, which drew criticism from the media.[4]

According to an investigation by Dzerkalo Tyzhnia[4], Kurshutov holds a Russian citizenship since 2014, and his father Amet Kurshutov runs a business in Crimea (clinic “Five Principles”), where he received an award from the occupation authorities in 2024.[15][16] Kurshutov denies this, providing documents showing no Russian citizenship, and claims Moldovan citizenship since 2022.[17]

In December 2025, the Bureau of Economic Security (BES), under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General, initiated an investigation into violations in the procurement of drones for the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) and the State Special Communications Service.[5][6][7] According to journalists, a network of companies (LLC “Euro Tunnels”, “Ares”, “Koliada KA”, “GE Technology”, “Flytech Ukraine”) with signs of joint management is linked to Kurshutov through his wife Kateryna Liubchyk and associate Hlib Lobov. The companies supply drones to the state but are involved in a BES criminal case for embezzlement. Journalists suggest the schemes launder funds through business in Vienna.[6][7]

In October 2025, media uncovered a smuggling back-office in the Parus Business Center (Kyiv), where Kurshutov, along with Mykola Bezzubenko, allegedly managed corrupt customs schemes.

Funding pro-Russian propaganda

According to media reports, Seyar Kurshutov is linked to funding the activities of former advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine Oleksii Arestovych, who, according to journalists and experts, spreads pro-Russian narratives.[18][19][20] Specifically, journalists claim that Kurshutov pays for Arestovych’s life, including flights, conferences, and accommodation in Vienna, positioning him as an “intellectual” to spread anti-Ukrainian narratives in Kurshutov’s interests.[18][19][20] Some sources also indicate the involvement of former head of the Office of the President Andriy Bohdan in funding Arestovych along with Kurshutov.

In July 2024, information appeared on the Telegram channel Vidsich that Kurshutov also funds the pro-Russian website Strana.ua.[3]

Kurshutov is also linked to funding Telegram channels (“Joker”) and media attacks.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b "Сеяр Куршутов має діюче російське громадянство". DSnews.ua. 2025-12-25.
  2. ^ "Проросійську партію Арестовича фінансують Сеяр Куршутов та Андрій Богдан" (in Ukrainian). izvestia.kiev.ua. 2025-01-16.
  3. ^ a b "Проросійський сайт «Страна.юа» фінансує Сєяр Куршутов". Інформатор (in Ukrainian). 2024-07-09.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Here Comes Smuggling: Why Did Zelenskyy Exempt Most Smugglers from Sanctions?". ZN.ua. Дзеркало тижня.
  5. ^ a b c Yulia Boyko (2026-01-30). "Дрони, санкції та оборонка: історія закупівель Сєяра Куршутова". rbc.ua. RBC Ukraine.
  6. ^ a b c d "Бизнес или финансовая схема? Что известно о компании семьи Куршутова в Вене". РБК-Україна. 2026-01-13.
  7. ^ a b c d "Media Uncovered a "Legal Bridge" from Kurshutov to Scandalous Drone Procurements: What His Wife with a Belarusian Passport Has to Do with It". Ukranews.com. Українські Новини. 2025-12-24.
  8. ^ a b "Сеяр Куршутов бизнесмен, связанный с оборонными закупками беспилотников". OBOZ.UA. 2025-12-17.
  9. ^ "Сеяр Куршутов: «голый король» украинской контрабанды или агент ФСБ?".
  10. ^ "Хто є «королями» контрабанди в Україні". KNPartners.com.ua (in Ukrainian). Адвокатське об’єднання «Кравець і Партнери». 2021-08-26.
  11. ^ "Контрабандиста Куршутова про санкції СНБО: людей Грановського нібито попередили заздалегідь". Bagnet.org (in Ukrainian). Багнет. 2021-04-27.
  12. ^ "Заступник голови ОП разом з контрабандистом із списку РНБО 4 рази разом літав за кордон — ЗМІ". DSnews.ua (in Ukrainian). 2021-07-06.
  13. ^ "Фигурант санкционного списка контрабандистов Сеяр Куршутов вошел в оборонные закупки". Українські Новини. 2025-12-18.
  14. ^ "«Лесопильщики» Куршутова: как подсанкционный бизнесмен заходит в оборонные закупки". Comments.ua. 2025-12-17.
  15. ^ "Контрабандист Сєяр Куршутов має російський паспорт та родинний бізнес у Криму — ЗМІ". ukranews.com (in Ukrainian). Українські Новини. 2025.
  16. ^ "Виведений з-під санкцій Сєяр Куршутов з 2014 року має російський паспорт, а його родина веде бізнес у Криму". fakty.ua (in Ukrainian). Факти і коментарі. 2024-11-04.
  17. ^ "The Vienna Division: How "Joker" Got Off Military Registry While Being Abroad". kurshutov.net. 2025-12-29.
  18. ^ a b "Партія Арестовича. Експерт пояснив, хто може бути дотичний до фінансування". РБК-Україна (in Ukrainian). 2025-01-16.
  19. ^ a b "«Працює з американськими лобістами». Забеліна — про політичні амбіції Арестовича, його спонсорів й небезпечні для України меседжі". NV.ua (in Ukrainian). New Voice. 2024-12-28.
  20. ^ a b "Арестович створює опозиційну «Зеленському» політсилу за гроші контрабандиста Куршутова — ЗМІ". Обозреватель (in Ukrainian). 2025-01-16.
  21. ^ "«Віденський підрозділ»: як Джокер знявся з військового обліку, перебуваючи за кордоном". hromadske.ua (in Ukrainian). Громадське. 2024-11-20.
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