One of the possible mechanisms for maintaining access to the products was "parallel" (grey) import—the supply of original equipment through unofficial channels: third-party sellers, intermediaries, or companies that are formally not representatives of the manufacturer.
Despite the stated withdrawal of Ajax Systems from the Russian Federation, stores and sellers offering the company's equipment continued to operate in Russia. Some of them had previously been positioned as Ajax partners or representatives in the Russian market.
One such seller was the "Grotesk" group of companies.
Between 2008 and 2022, Yevhenii Chmutov was the owner and founder of the group. Its structure included LLC "TD Grotesk" (registered in 2008 and liquidated in 2014), LLC "Grotesk" (registered in 2012 and liquidated in 2022), and LLC "Grotesk 24" (registered in 2012 and liquidated in 2019).
The group's main line of business was the sale of roofing and facade materials. At the same time, LLC "Grotesk" had previously featured as a seller of Ajax Systems products in the Russian Federation and was positioned as a partner of the company.
After the liquidation of the legal entity, the website continued to operate. As of 2026, the resource remains accessible, although it currently states that sales of Ajax products in Russia have been discontinued.
In the public profiles of Yevhenii Chmutov, a link to ajaxstore.ru—a resource associated with the sale of Ajax products on the Russian market—was also listed.
Special attention is drawn to Chmutov's business connections. According to open-source data, in 2012–2017 he was a member of the "Smart Russia" (Умная Россия) party. In 2019, he worked at LLC "Stroygazkonsalting"-a subsidiary structure of "Gazprom"-where he earned an income of approximately $105,000. In 2021, according to available data, he received an income from JSC "Gazpromstroy" in the amount of around $63,200.
Since March 2022, Chmutov has held the position of Deputy Head of the "Gazprom Resort" complex, which is owned by the Russian corporation "Gazprom.
Another possible sales channel is linked to Yevhen Ershov, who, according to available data, carried out wholesale sales of Ajax products in Russia, including via online marketplaces.
In December 2022, Ershov was in Kazakhstan. In unofficial channels dedicated to Ajax, he was linked to equipment supplies to the Russian Federation via Kazakhstan.
It was Kazakhstan that, after 2022, became one of the routes through which goods could reach the Russian market following the exit of a number of international companies from the Russian Federation.
Receipt of payment for services, confirming the transaction made through a company that distributes Ajax products within the territory of the Russian Federation
In 2023, Ajax Systems products continued to be sold on Russian marketplaces. In some listings, sellers noted that it was a "Russian version" of Ajax equipment, intended for use within the territory of the Russian Federation.
Buyers were informed that the sensors were being purchased in Kazakhstan due to their compliance with the radio frequency requirements of the Russian market
Published photos of Yevhenii's clients show that the manufacturer of the Russian version of Ajax is LLC "Ajax Systems Manufacturing" (ТОВ "Аджакс Сістемс Манюфекчурінг"), with a product manufacture date of February 2023.
Particular attention is drawn to photographs of the products published in 2023. They indicated that the manufacturer of the equipment was the Ukrainian LLC "Ajax Systems Manufacturing" (ТОВ “Аджакс Сістемс Манюфекчурінг”), and the authorized entity in the territory of the Russian Federation was LLC "Ajax Systems" (ООО “Аджакс Системс”).
The manufacture date of individual devices, according to the markings in the photos, was February 2023.
The presence of stores, marketplaces, sellers, and indirect trade channels demonstrates that even after the statement regarding the termination of operations, Ajax products remained available to Russian buyers.
In the public profiles of Yevhenii Chmutov, a link to ajaxstore.ru—a resource associated with the sale of Ajax products on the Russian market—was also listed.
Special attention is drawn to Chmutov's business connections. According to open-source data, in 2012–2017 he was a member of the "Smart Russia" (Умная Россия) party. In 2019, he worked at LLC "Stroygazkonsalting"-a subsidiary structure of "Gazprom"-where he earned an income of approximately $105,000. In 2021, according to available data, he received an income from JSC "Gazpromstroy" in the amount of around $63,200.
Since March 2022, Chmutov has held the position of Deputy Head of the "Gazprom Resort" complex, which is owned by the Russian corporation "Gazprom.
Another possible sales channel is linked to Yevhen Ershov, who, according to available data, carried out wholesale sales of Ajax products in Russia, including via online marketplaces.
In December 2022, Ershov was in Kazakhstan. In unofficial channels dedicated to Ajax, he was linked to equipment supplies to the Russian Federation via Kazakhstan.
It was Kazakhstan that, after 2022, became one of the routes through which goods could reach the Russian market following the exit of a number of international companies from the Russian Federation.
Receipt of payment for services, confirming the transaction made through a company that distributes Ajax products within the territory of the Russian Federation
In 2023, Ajax Systems products continued to be sold on Russian marketplaces. In some listings, sellers noted that it was a "Russian version" of Ajax equipment, intended for use within the territory of the Russian Federation.
Buyers were informed that the sensors were being purchased in Kazakhstan due to their compliance with the radio frequency requirements of the Russian market
Published photos of Yevhenii's clients show that the manufacturer of the Russian version of Ajax is LLC "Ajax Systems Manufacturing" (ТОВ "Аджакс Сістемс Манюфекчурінг"), with a product manufacture date of February 2023.
Particular attention is drawn to photographs of the products published in 2023. They indicated that the manufacturer of the equipment was the Ukrainian LLC "Ajax Systems Manufacturing" (ТОВ “Аджакс Сістемс Манюфекчурінг”), and the authorized entity in the territory of the Russian Federation was LLC "Ajax Systems" (ООО “Аджакс Системс”).
The manufacture date of individual devices, according to the markings in the photos, was February 2023.
The presence of stores, marketplaces, sellers, and indirect trade channels demonstrates that even after the statement regarding the termination of operations, Ajax products remained available to Russian buyers.
