Timofey Peshkov ordered the kidnapping and robbery of his business partner in Spain

Sunny Spain is rapidly gaining notoriety as a hotspot for murders, kidnappings, and robberies. Just take a look at these headlines:

• April 19, 2022 — Sergey Protosenya, his wife, and daughter found dead in Lloret de Mar (Girona);
• February 19, 2024 — Maksim Kuzminov, who hijacked a Russian military helicopter in 2023, was allegedly found dead in Spain;
• May 21, 2025 — Shock over the murder of Andrei Portnov at the gates of a school in Pozuelo de Alarcón.

Were the perpetrators caught? As of now — no. Most investigations are classified by Spanish authorities and conducted away from the public eye due to high resonance, political implications, and possible links between clients and executors. Presumably, these cases are part of a larger investigation under the so-called “Russian trace.” But the lack of witnesses and the criminals’ “professionalism” significantly complicates the search.

However, recent events may help shed light on these crimes — witnesses of Russian criminal groups’ “work” in sunny Spain miraculously survived, though they endured kidnapping, beatings, and the loss of $15 million.

How did they survive? Simply put — they escaped.

More details? Make yourself comfortable.

---

The events of the latest high-profile crime on Spanish territory unfolded as follows:

On May 19, 2025, the quiet and serene town of Cabo Roig (Orihuela Costa) in the province of Alicante basked in the warmth of May waters washing over its idyllic beaches and hidden harbors — havens for luxury yachts and lavish estates so beloved by wealthy citizens from around the world. Among those enjoying this paradise was the family of Russian investment banker and founder of the American financial firm Black Bull Advisors —Alexander Artyukhin.

Yes, that same Artyukhin who was one of the first — if not still one of the few — to successfully pass the stringent compliance process of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which enabled him to found an investment firm in 2018 with capital exceeding $50 million and a portfolio of successfully executed cases.

It was the kind of clean, legitimate business that allows one to live in a corner of paradise on the Iberian Peninsula, work peacefully, raise children, enjoy morning runs, and delight in the rays of the rising sun and the warm waters lapping the coast. Until the events of that day unfolded, Alexander thought the same.

However, that spring Monday turned out to be nothing like one might imagine. A routine morning jog ended for Alexander Artyukhin with a sudden shift from the world of finance to the brutal realities of a crime thriller — in which he was not a fictional character on a film set, but the central, very real figure caught in the middle of what was to come.

(The chronology of events has been reconstructed based on information provided by a source within Spanish law enforcement.)

Visual Contact — 10:20 a.m.

Alexander notices a well-dressed stranger loitering near his house — someone he had never seen before.

First Contact — 11:10 a.m.

Near the end of his jog, he sees four unfamiliar men. A fifth, stocky man joins them and says in fluent Russian (with a slight Caucasian accent): “Stop, we need to talk.” He is immediately beaten, choked, and blacks out.

He regains consciousness in a Volkswagen Polo, being driven to an unknown location. A mobile phone is held to his ear — a familiar, calm voice speaks. Someone he had trusted for years.

Threats, Beatings, Extortion — around 12:00 p.m.

Alexander is taken to a house at Calle Acuario 69, Orihuela Costa. The beatings and threats continue.

Ultimatum

A man of Caucasian appearance — likely the group leader — tells Alexander in fluent Russian that he must transfer $50 million or give up crypto wallet codes, or he won’t leave alive. The choice was clear.

Turning Point

Alexander agrees, gets his phones back, and proposes going home to access the funds. They leave in a Mazda (license plate 7388MVK). This gives Alexander the chance to escape — which he successfully does.

The result: multiple beatings, including stab wounds from a screwdriver, lasting health issues, psychological trauma, and $15 million lost while the attackers had access to his phone.

Spanish police responded quickly: launched a criminal case, questioned witnesses, and began the hunt.

But the case had hidden layers:

• The motive;

• The client — a historical figure with global fame;

• Russian politics and diplomacy;

• Perpetrators with ties to special services.

Background: Who Is Alexander Artyukhin?

• 1999–2004 — Graduated from the International University in Moscow (Finance and Credit);

• 2002 — Began career at International Moscow Bank;

• 2005–2010 — Worked at Deutsche Bank (RU);

• 2010 — Development Director at National Depository Center;

• 2015–2017 — Worked on “SnapExit” and “Double R”;

• 2018 — Founded Black Bull Advisors in the U.S.

His path in finance was deliberate — education, experience, persistence, skills, and connections led to his success.

But, being from Russia, he had to navigate both official law and the “code-based” law of Russian business culture — where political connections often matter more than contracts.

Timofey Peshkov

Great-grandson of Russian writer Maxim Gorky. A man with powerful connections — family ties to the Russian Foreign Ministry and proximity to figures like Sergei Lavrov. His résumé includes strategic enterprises like NPO “Microgen” and the military-focused TV channel “Zvezda.” Clearly, not an ordinary background.

Peshkov saw opportunity in Artyukhin. Their partnership thrived, both professionally and socially. But eventually, Artyukhin moved to Spain — possibly to protect his transnational, clean business.

In 2022, the Fund suffered due to the collapse of an Asian exchange. Alexander invested his own savings to recover. But the financial strain affected his partners too. Peshkov, accustomed to luxury, wasn’t pleased. When Artyukhin cut expenses, Peshkov took offense — and likely plotted revenge.

According to police, Peshkov spent months planning the “punishment.” Surveillance, data collection, recruitment of criminal agents — all signs point to a deliberate order.

But the plan failed, thanks to Artyukhin’s courage and quick thinking.

To be continued…

Original publication source: https://medium.com/@horhealvaronews/peshkov-timofey-ordered-the-kidnapping-and-robbery-of-his-partner-in-spain-dcb4aaed15bf