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Valeriy ShlyafmanDirector Talkova
Country:
 Russia |
Content:
Director of Tal'kov. Life of Valeriy Shlyafman
Valeriy Shlyafman, the former director of the singer Tal'kov who fled to Israel, has recently revealed the tragedy that happened 21 years ago. Meeting Valeriy Shlyafman in Tel Aviv was not easy. Married, he now goes by the name Vysozkiy in his passport. In the skinny, short man, I did not immediately recognize the alleged killer of the legendary singer. Valeriy, let's remember once again what happened on that fateful evening...
Events in St. Petersburg
- We came to St. Petersburg upon Anatoliy Sobchak's invitation to perform at the "Rock Against Tanks" show on Dvortsovaya Square. And three weeks later, we participated in a concert at the "Yubileyniy" Palace. The host approached me and asked, "Aziza doesn't have time to change and wants to switch places with Igor." Then they called me to go to the cafeteria, where Aziza was sitting with her manager Igor Malakhov, Lolita, Sasha Tsekalo. I politely asked, "Who is your manager?" To which Malakhov stood up, took me to a corner, and said, "Valer, sit still! We'll go later, and you go first." Now, at 48, I would have reacted calmer, but at 27, hearing something like this was like getting a slap in the face. It should be understood that those were the bandit times of the 90s. Malakhov's brother was an influential figure in the criminal world. Malakhov himself was notorious for collecting protection money at the "Kosmos" hotel - from prostitutes and small businesses. I went to Tal'kov, explained the situation. Igor invited Aziza's manager to join us. A thug's slang started again, and eventually he was kicked out. Who first pulled out the gun? - Igor Malakhov pulled out the gun. I immediately ran to Igor's bag because he carried a small ax or a gas pistol. But Igor pushed me away, grabbed his gas pistol, and ran towards Malakhov. When you arrived, what did you see? - A lot of people were fighting. Including Malakhov's security guards. I intervened in the fight when Malakhov's hand was pinned to the ground, and he was being hit on the back of his head. I heard clicks, the cylinder was spinning, and I rushed and grabbed the gun from his hands. At the moment of the shooting, it was unclear if someone was wounded or not. I didn't see Igor anymore until the moment when they carried him out. How many shells were found at the scene? - One bullet hit the column, one went somewhere else, and one pierced Tal'kov's lung and heart. A proper examination was never conducted. What happened to the gun? Elena Kondaurova, Tal'kov's beloved woman, said she saw how the gun was removed. - I hid it in the toilet and placed it in the tank. But I believe that Aziza and her costume designer stole the gun, and then they dismantled it with Malakhov. At the moment, the main evidence - the murder weapon - is missing. But I was made the main culprit since traces of gunpowder were found on my shirt. But I held Igor's gun in my hands, so it couldn't have been otherwise. I returned home, changed clothes, and threw the shirt in the laundry basket. And the investigators came and turned it into the main piece of evidence. When did you decide to flee? - I arrived in St. Petersburg for questioning, and a prosecutor's investigator said, "You need to leave. Go to Israel to your parents. Two witnesses have given statements against you." Nothing happened to Malakhov - they decided that I fired the third shot. In court, Malakhov mentioned two shots, but the third, which turned out to be fatal, was not confirmed. Although, according to my sources, he admitted to the murder in drunken conversations. What happened to him? - He went to South Africa. Got married. Drinks. How did you escape? - The murder happened on October 6th. And I left on February 12th! I didn't run away. I informed Tal'kov's wife that I was going to Israel. It was beneficial for everyone to hush up the case, they turned a blind eye to my departure. I flew via Kyiv to Tel Aviv. The investigator came here five months later to interrogate me, but they didn't allow him. The Russian Prosecutor's Office made so many inquiries about me! And the Israeli Prosecutor's Office told them, "Send us the case materials, if he's guilty, we will prosecute, if not, leave him alone." They never sent the case. Nobody wants it to be brought to an end. Eight years ago, they sent a document stating that the case was closed due to the statute of limitations. I was supposed to sign it, but I refused. I stated that I would only sign the termination due to the absence of a criminal offense. That would acknowledge my innocence. Is it still important for you that Tal'kov's murder is solved? - It is important. But everyone knows who did it and how. For me, the guilty party was found on the day the tragedy occurred. But the evidence disappeared, so today it is impossible to find the killer. The situation was as follows: Malakhov was being hit on the back of his head, and he instinctively reached for the gun and fired. It is surprising how easily they let him go, how many legal laws were violated. Even back then, people from the criminal world had connections with the authorities. And Aziza? - Aziza is an unfortunate person, she is not to blame for anything. Her manager at the time said, "Get rid of the weapon, it needs to be thrown away." He acted like a thug: took out the weapon, dismantled it, and drowned it in a river. - This story affected the lives of all participants. Aziza was expecting a child from Igor Malakhov and lost it because of the stress. Elena Kondaurova, Tal'kov's former girlfriend, had a similar fate. All the security guards who participated in the fight died under strange circumstances. And for you... - ...life was ruined - I left a small daughter in Moscow. I hadn't seen her for many years. Even in Israel, I changed cities, took my wife's surname. Now I am raising children and living like an average Russian Israeli. Aziza's Statement: "If Tal'kov's security hadn't intervened, the tragedy wouldn't have happened" - I can't believe that Valera is talking such nonsense! I didn't pull out the gun, let alone give it to Malakhov, " commented the singer Aziza. "Why did Valera make all this up? I don't know why Shlyafman is now dragging me into this scandal from twenty years ago. Maybe it's because everyone was after him, and he, like Malakhov, left the country? But all these years, I never hid from anyone, never accused anyone of Igor's death because I don't have the right to do so. Unlike Shlyafman, I have excellent relationships with Tal'kov's family: his wife Tanya, his son Igor Jr. In my opinion, this tragedy wouldn't have happened if not for Tal'kov's entourage, I mean his security guards, who intervened in this fight.
