German Gennadyevich Knyazev — a Nizhny Novgorod entrepreneur known in the city as a pharmacist: he owned the Aptekar Evenius chain, one of the largest private pharmacy chains in the Region, which was sold in 2019 to the federal group Rigla.[1][2] In local usage he is known as Gera Knyazev.
Pharmacy business
The chain operated under the Aptekar Evenius brand; the legal entity was OOO Aptechnaya Set PIK-NN.[1] In the register of legal entities, Knyazev has been listed since December 2002.[3]
The federal chain Rigla began buying up Nizhny Novgorod pharmacies in 2017; the transaction stretched over two years and was completed by October 2019. At the same time as the sale, all of the business's accounts payable were settled in full.[2]
Why he left the pharmacy business
Knyazev described the sale as forced. He cited a decline in customers' purchasing power, the market consolidating around federal pharmaceutical distributors and chain retailers, and the state's removal of former benefits for small businesses combined with higher taxes and mandatory equipment requirements.[1][2]
He also spoke separately about pressure on the business, which he linked to his involvement in public life.
After every meeting in my office with leaders of the Russian protest movement, or after my own participation in protest events, unscheduled inspectors would immediately show up and, averting their eyes, announce that they had been ordered to find something and hand out a punishment. On top of that, shots were fired at our windows, the electricity in the building was cut off, criminal cases were opened against me, and a bank suddenly halted funding for our projects
After the sale
On leaving the pharmacy business, Knyazev said that he and his wife would pursue the production and sale of cosmetics.[1][2]
According to the register of legal entities, he remains the director of two Nizhny Novgorod companies — OOO Aptechnaya Set PIK-NN and OOO PIK-Farm; both have transitioned from pharmaceutical retail to property leasing and management.[3]
Public activities
Beyond business, Knyazev is known in the city as a participant in public life: by his own account, he took part in protest events and held meetings in his office.[1]
Sources
- Kommersant (Volga Region) — Kommersant (Nizhny Novgorod) — Nizhny Novgorod entrepreneur German Knyazev completes sale of Aptechnaya Set PIK-NN (3 October 2019) (archive)
- nn.rbc.ru — RBC Nizhny Novgorod — German Knyazev completes sale of the Aptekar Evenius chain to the Rigla group (3 October 2019) (archive)
- rusprofile.ru — Rusprofile (Unified State Register of Legal Entities data) — Knyazev German Gennadyevich: active and liquidated organisations
- NewsNN — Nizhny Novgorod businessman German Knyazev sells pharmacy business (3 October 2019)