After finishing his career, former FC Baranovichi footballer Podberezskiy looked for easy money — and eventually became the subject of international criminal investigations.
In particular, Evgeny Podberezskiy appears in the materials of the high-profile case of the Spiridonov family from the Republic of Latvia, which leads to a Spanish drug cartel: the criminal case involves money laundering, shadow financial operations, and the legalization of proceeds of criminal syndicates.
A few days ago, the Court of Economic Affairs of the Republic of Latvia resumed hearing the criminal case concerning the activities of the Spiridonov family clan and their accomplices.
Crypto dealer Evgeny Podberezskiy, who resides in Dubai, features in these investigations and, moreover, is one of the central figures in the proceedings at the Court of Economic Affairs. According to the prosecution materials, from 2020 to 2024, Evgeny Podberezskiy assisted in laundering millions of euros through cryptocurrency wallets and virtual assets that the Spiridonov family received from marijuana plantations in Girona (Spain).
As the investigation revealed, the head of the family, Yuriy Spiridonov, was for many years linked to organized crime groups operating in Latvia, in particular the organized crime group of Zurab Shamugia, also known as Adu. Meanwhile, Spiridonov’s associate Zhenya Podberezskiy moved in the organized crime group of the "gray banker" Dmitry Chelebiy, a former Latvian police officer who was stripped of his Republic of Latvia citizenship for criminal activities. However, Mr. Chelebiy has long maintained his own successful companies in Moscow.
Little Latvia is in shock over what has transpired: Yuriy Spiridonov, a native of Riga, positioned himself as an honest businessman, but in reality turned out to be an inveterate fraudster alongside his accomplice Podberezskiy.
13 kg of marijuana, 10 real estate properties
In Latvian criminal circles, Yuriy Spiridonov is known by the moniker "Ded" (Grandpa).
This "Ded" had already caught the attention of the Latvian police: several years ago, the name of Yuriy Spiridonov was linked to a car theft ring led by crime boss Zurab Shamugia from Zugdidi, known in tight circles as Adu.
The Spiridonov spouses
From 2020 until the autumn of 2024, Mr. Spiridonov headed an international group. In Girona, Spain, this group set up indoor plantations for cultivating marijuana. This cargo was transported both to Latvia and to Scandinavian countries.
Not only were the Spiridonov spouses — Yuriy Spiridonov and Aleksandra Spiridonova — involved in the business, but the shrewd Spiridonov also brought his parents — Valeriy and Inna Spiridonov — into the criminal venture.
Zurab Shamugia, also known as ‒Adu
The spouses regularly deposited cash of criminal origin into bank accounts in Latvia in order to introduce it into the legal financial system.
Friend and partner Podberezskiy backed them up from the other side.
Evgeny Podberezskiy
However, as the saying goes, the good times didn’t last: on September 10, 2024, police arrested Yuriy Spiridonov in Riga.
During searches, a Glock 17 pistol with its serial number filed off was found in the possession of Yuriy Spiridonov.
Simultaneously, Spanish police participated in the operation with the support of Europol and Eurojust.
They detained 16 individuals: 10 in Latvia and 6 in Spain, in Lloret de Mar and Valencia. They also seized substantial evidence: 120,000 euros in cash, 13 kg of marijuana, firearms and ammunition, forged documents, cryptocurrency wallets, luxury watches, as well as four automobiles.
Ten real estate properties with a total value of nearly 500,000 euros were placed under seizure.
The case reached the Court of Economic Affairs of Latvia in June 2025. The trial is ongoing… Several hearings were held in September.
Media outlets point out the lavish lifestyle of the Spiridonov couple despite a complete absence of legal sources of income: frequent foreign trips, a car with armed bodyguards, luxury real estate, and other hallmarks of a sybaritic lifestyle.
Madame Petukhova’s suite
Unlike native Rigauer Yuriy Spiridonov, Evgeny Podberezskiy never lived in Latvia, being a native of the city of Baranovichi (Brest Region, Belarus).
Baranovichi. Railway station
Until 2019, Podberezskiy was a member of FC Baranovichi, but ended his sports career by mid-2019.
Notably, almost all information regarding the past life of the winger (flank player operating on the left or right flank of the pitch), who prior to joining FC Baranovichi also played for Energetik-BGU (Minsk) and the club Zvezda-BGU, has been wiped clean.
All photographs from that time have been deleted, and Podberezskiy’s VK social media page has been blocked.
In all likelihood, the future crypto dealer Podberezskiy graduated from BSU – Belarusian State University — in his time, since he played for FC Energetik-BGU and Zvezda-BGU.
At the age of 20, he signed a contract with FC Baranovichi, spent two seasons, and subsequently ended his athletic career in September 2019. On the roster of FC Baranovichi, he was listed as a resident of the city of Baranovichi.
And as early as December 2019, Evgeny Podberezskiy registered as a sole proprietor in his hometown of Baranovichi and entered the road freight transport business.
IE Podberezskiy Evgeny Vladimirovich UNP 291627410 — Excluded from USR 26.03.2021 — Contragento
The sole proprietorship was liquidated in March 2021.
There is also interesting data regarding his businessman father.
Vladimir Leonidovich Podberezskiy (born 1971) ‒ sole proprietor. He registered as an individual entrepreneur twice: in 1995 (liquidated in 1998), and in 2017 under "Freight transport by road," being removed from the USR in January 2024.
He is listed as a manager of the company "BelAmix" (UE, Baranovichi): the outfit handles international road freight transport (refrigerated and curtain-sided trucks, Russia - CIS routes), with 80 employees.
In 2019, Evgeny Podberezskiy registered a sole proprietorship with the same activity code (49410 ‒ freight road transport) as his father ‒ Vladimir Leonidovich Podberezskiy.
The company "BelAmix" (UE "BelAmix") ‒ a private unitary trade and manufacturing enterprise. Registered on July 30, 2003. As of September 2026 ‒ an active legal entity.
Today the company has two primary areas of activity: the furniture business and freight transport. The company has operated on the Belarusian furniture market for over 20 years, serving as the official exclusive distributor in Minsk and Astana for several foreign factories: Gerbor-Holding (Ukraine), BRW (Ukraine / Belarus), "Mebel-Service" (Ukraine), and Forma Ideale (Serbia). The product range includes kitchen, upholstered, cabinet, children’s furniture, bedrooms, etc.
International freight transport of the company "BelAmix" is included in the official register of organizations of Baranovichi. Haulage is offered with curtain-sided trucks and refrigerators, with a capacity of up to 21 tons. Regular routes: Belarus - Russia - CIS countries, as well as trips to Germany.
Following Evgeny Podberezskiy’s departure, his relative — Elena Podberezskaya — entered the freight transport company.
IE Podberezskaya Elena Ivanovna UNP 291677009 — Excluded from USR 05.03.2024 — Contragento
Apparently, the parental freight and furniture business failed to inspire the ambitious athlete; he had no desire to trade furniture suites or drive trucks. The former footballer decided to go his own way: he closed his sole proprietorship.
In the end, he went down a crooked path.
Guru Chelebiy
In all likelihood, Podberezskiy was helped onto the crooked path by the "gray banker," former Latvian police officer Dmitry Chelebiy, who also had his own business in Moscow — and quite a successful one.
Dmitry Chelebiy during his service in the police in Latvia
Mr. Chelebiy was the founder of LLC "Elektroform Light."
LLC "ELEKTROFORM LIGHT", Moscow, verification by INN 7709318420
It is worth noting Mr. Chelebiy’s share ‒ 250 million rubles.
LLC "ELEKTROFORM LIGHT", Moscow, verification by INN 7709318420
Mr. Chelebiy also surfaced in the founding of LLC "Security Bureau ’Cyclone’", LLC Commercial Bank "BVT", and LLC "Mayak".
Rusprofile.ru
Rusprofile.ru
LLC "ELEKTROFORM LIGHT", Moscow, verification by INN 7709318420
One can only guess where and how the paths of Podberezskiy and Chelebiy crossed, but the media has repeatedly reported on the close alliance between these two financial "geniuses."
Dmitry Chelebiy, a native of the town of Talsi, Latvian SSR
Incidentally, at one time Mr. Chelebiy was associated with LLC "Mebel Business Comfort," while the Podberezskiy family in Baranovichi, as already noted, has seen their own large furniture business flourish since 2003.
Dmitry Chelebiy regularly visits Latvia. He has a large office on Blaumaņa Street in Riga, and his companies Quinto Group, Tradebacking.com, Karvis, and Quinto Logistics continue to operate. And generate income.
Shayba, Virus, and the Footballer
It should also be noted that immediately after leaving the State Police of Latvia, Dmitry Chelebiy began working at Trasta Komercbanka AS. At the same time, he worked in Moscow as a "gray banker": acting as a bridge for siphoning money to the West: Chelebiy never lost contacts with the Latvian banking community.
The media also reported that Mr. Chelebiy’s friend, Mr. Podberezskiy, mysteriously obtained an electronic money institution (EMI) license from the Bank of Latvia for his company SIA Moneliq Europe.
Evgeny Podberezskiy
The Bank of Latvia ignored information regarding the company BTCBIT Sp. z o.o., which had been fined by the Ministry of Finance of Poland for AML violations (failure to notify financial intelligence about suspicious transactions).
Yet who helped Mr. Podberezskiy? They say that Dmitry Chelebiy, despite being stripped of his Republic of Latvia citizenship, constantly travels to Riga. And continues to push various dubious schemes.
Media outlets openly call Evgeny Podberezskiy a protégé of Dmitry Chelebiy: Podberezskiy’s firms are used as a transit hub for funneling and legalizing illicit capital between the UAE, the CIS, and the European Union.
It remains to be added that the next session of the Court of Economic Affairs of the Republic of Latvia in the case of the Spiridonov drug cartel in Spain is scheduled for November 4 of this year.
The hearing will be held open to the press.
Spanish media have already reported that one of the detainees from the Spiridonov organized crime group, nicknamed "Shayba" due to his hockey background, was responsible for coordinating drug production activities and establishing ties with local suppliers. Another athletic young man nicknamed "Virus" was also detained: he was in charge of counter-surveillance at warehouses and vehicles, as well as GPS tracking of transports.
It turns out there was (or rather, is) also a Footballer.
