[1] In 1989, Kazakov started working as the chief engineer and Deputy General Director of the Kuibyshevneft.

In 1998, he was appointed vice president of the oil company YUKSI – a result of the merger of Yukos and Sibneft.

[2] However, the merger was soon annulated, and Kazakov became a board member of directors of the Eastern Oil Company.

[1][3][4] In 2016, Kazakov appeared on the list of potential recipients of a bribe in the amount of $2 billion in the Yukos shareholders v. Russia case.

According to the case files, Yukos shareholders (among which was Kazakov) made payments to government officials who helped acquire the company's shares.