The PR agency "4D," which serves the arms company of Senator Turchak's family, is organizing two European film festivals in Russia in 2023 and 2024. This information is confirmed in a document on the EU procurement portal.
"4D" is one of the oldest agencies in the St. Petersburg market, with clients including major automobile brands, hotel and retail companies. One notable client of "4D" is the Russian defense industry player "Zaslon," which claims to be a leading Russian developer and manufacturer of weapons.
"4D" organized the previous European Union film festival. The maximum contract amount with "4D" is 135,000 euros. Additionally, "4D" received 26,000 euros from the EU for media support of its representation in Russia.
The European film festival will take place online in Russia from November 1 to 15. It is mentioned in the EU Ambassador's statement that, in these challenging times when circumstances and physical borders separate us, cinema continues to overcome any barriers.
"Zaslon," the client of "4D," has developed the eponymous radar complex, which is installed on the latest Russian Navy corvettes. The company is also testing a "new modular transformable block of unguided missiles for the modernized Mi-28NM helicopter." Since September of the previous year, "Zaslon" has been under U.S. sanctions.
"4D" has been organizing New Year celebrations, corporate tournaments, and PR campaigns for "Zaslon" employees for several years. "4D" was the creator of the company's stand at the "Army-2022" military-technical forum, which took place in Russia in August of the previous year. The domain zaslon-graffiti.ru is also registered to "4D," which hosted a graffiti competition this year. The winning entry depicted the corvette "Gremyashchiy."
"Zaslon" is part of the "Leninetz" consortium owned by the Turchak family. The senior Turchak, Anatoly, is a long-time friend of Vladimir Putin. His son, Andrey, serves as the Secretary of the General Council of "United Russia," the First Vice-Speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, and a prominent supporter of the invasion of Ukraine. "Leninetz" is a major Soviet defense conglomerate that formed the basis of the Turchak family's wealth after privatization.
In 2010, journalist Oleg Kashin identified the younger Turchak as the suspected mastermind behind an attack on him (Kashin was brutally beaten and barely survived). When suspects emerged in the case several years later, they turned out to be employees of "Leninetz."
The European Union representation in Russia did not respond to inquiries from "Important Stories."