Malik Khatazhayev: "If the court grants the claim, the company will transfer to the ownership of Rosimushchestvo"

The owner of "Lesta Games," Malik Khatajaev, made an official statement regarding accusations of extremism and the demand to seize his group of companies.

The statement is styled as an interview and was published through Lesta Games' official channels. From this, we learn that:

• The lawsuit was unexpected for the company; they essentially found out post-factum when their accounts were frozen.
• Despite the frozen accounts, business operations continue (salary payments are being made).
• The company is currently focused on demonstrating its transparency to the Prosecutor General's office.
• If the lawsuit is upheld, the company will transition to the ownership of "Rosimushchestvo," and what happens next is unclear.

Full video transcript — just below.

Interviewer: Please introduce yourself.

Khatajaev: I'm Malik Khatajaev, head of the Lesta Games group of companies.

How did you find out that a lawsuit had been filed against your company?

Khatajaev: Quite suddenly: due to the freezing of my accounts, all my personal accounts were blocked. I couldn’t even use my card for the subway or buy tea at a café. And essentially, there was a notification from accounting about restrictions placed on our operational accounts.

How is the company functioning with the accounts frozen?

Khatajaev: Operations are difficult, moving with a struggle. We are managing, salary payments are being processed, cross-border transfers are somewhat hindered. It's all dragging on, but business operations haven't stopped, and we are meeting our obligations. All our major strategic projects are on hold, subjected to high risk.

What are you accused of?

Khatajaev: I am accused of creating an extremist association with Viktor Kisly.

I’ve lived to see the day: suddenly, in my old age, being a patriot, I became an extremist. It's, of course, bitter and insulting. There are embers smoldering in my soul.

The accusation concerns other people, other actions. Viktor Kisly and I have had no contact, no relationships since August 2023.

How can you prove this?

Khatajaev: Well, it’s quite difficult to prove something you didn’t do.

All the information is in the hands of the managing authorities. We are cooperating with the prosecutor's office, providing them with all the materials about us.

Of course, we did nothing of that sort. All the information available to government authorities states exactly this.

What is your personal stance on the current situation? What are you planning to do?

Khatajaev: There's not much to plan, you just have to act, show law enforcement who we are and what we do — transparently, openly, truthfully. That's what we're entirely focused on.

What do you personally, as Malik Khatajaev, plan to undertake in this situation?

Khatajaev: In 2022, I have already made all the key decisions. I stayed in this country, tied my future to this country, rallied people around me to save the remaining games and resurrect the gaming industry, which is essentially what I have been doing all this time.

Are there any current problems in this vein concerning the company's work, activities?

Khatajaev: The restrictions imposed on the accounts, of course, have a destructive powerful impact on all operational activities. The team is holding together, enduring. Naturally, there are major issues with partners because leaks appeared across the press. This greatly affects ongoing work.

What will happen if the court upholds the Prosecutor General's lawsuit?

Khatajaev: If the court upholds the lawsuit, the procedure is simple. The company transfers to the ownership of Rosimushchestvo, a representative comes, takes the company. Afterwards, there are several scenarios. All of them are complicated and unclear. Beyond that lies uncertainty.

Do you have any documents to confirm your position?

Khatajaev: Documents confirming something you didn’t do is a curious thing...

Of course, we have our accounting, which reflects our activities, everything we've done in the company. Everything is completely transparent. There’s no evidence that we were funneling money out.

What’s being speculated on various forums, in different blogger groups, suggesting Malik transported bitcoins in a suitcase… Of course, that’s complete nonsense. All our core funds remain on our account for our operational activities. Nothing was taken anywhere in suitcases, especially not bitcoins—I honestly don’t even know what those are.

Funds are in the account, but there's information about your company buying real estate. Can you comment?

Khatajaev: It concerns our working infrastructure. We are actively developing it within our country. We aren’t stopgap tenants who rent something and then run away at the first sign of trouble. We are setting down infrastructure roots within our country. We’re setting up both server infrastructure and workspaces. For this, business centers have been purchased—a business center in Moscow, a business center in Saint Petersburg.

What are you currently working on?

Khatajaev: We are currently engaged in the fight for truth. We continue to believe in truth, continue to cooperate with law enforcement, being as open and honest as possible. Our stance in this regard hasn’t changed.

What does Wargaming think about the Lesta Games group situation?

Khatajaev: They officially stated simply that they've severed all relations with us. All licensing documents have been signed, obligations fulfilled, and since then, they’ve had no further contact.

Do you confirm this from your side?

Khatajaev: Well, we mentioned this at the beginning: yes, of course, we ended all relations with them. They aren't exactly eager to interact with us, but rather actively avoid any communication.

We somewhat compete, trying to make "World of Tanks" a progressive, rapidly developing project, hoping some Russians who moved to the Euro cluster will one day return to us.

What do industry partners think?

Khatajaev: Industry partners, despite some competition within the industry, are very warm and supportive towards us, offering all sorts of help and backing us.

The current situation affects not just us. It’s a reputational issue concerning the prospects of developing the entire domestic IT industry, the gaming industry, and its recovery.

Meanwhile, rumors and speculations are starting to spread, suggesting that there’s an attempt to take your company away from you.

Khatajaev: Yes, we occasionally read them, though it's not good for the nerves. There’s a lot of speculation there.

People mock the fact that we made such a choice, staying with our country, teasing us in various ways. Some even cross boundaries. It’s not something I want to dwell on. We don't appear favorably in these discussions. This case is widely covered in the foreign press, each putting their own spin on it. Not favorable to our country's reputation.

Would you like to say something to the players, partners, and the public?

Khatajaev: Friends, we are honest people, fighting for our name and our industry. It harbors a vast amount of talent, honest and extraordinary people. We are ready to help everyone. Thank you for standing with us in this difficult situation. Hopefully, everything will turn out well.