Russian official suspected of USD 43mn fraud
The Russian Deputy Finance Minister is suspected of attempting to embezzle more than USD 43mn in state funds.
Monday, 19.11.2007.
18:15
The Russian Deputy Finance Minister is suspected of attempting to embezzle more than USD 43mn in state funds. Police detained Sergei Storchak, Russia's top Paris Club debt negotiator, on Thursday along with Viktor Zakharov, head of the firm Sodexim, and the chairman of Moscow's Interregional Investment Bank (MIB), Vadim Volkov. Russian official suspected of USD 43mn fraud They have not been formally charged with any crime. But the investigation committee at the Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement the three men were suspected of "having created an organized group to embezzle budget funds under the pretext of covering expenses for Sodexim". "The sum in question is USD 43.4mn." Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, a close associate of Storchak, said on Sunday he did not understand the arrest of his deputy, who oversees a USD 148bn oil stabilization fund that collects revenues from Russia's booming oil exports. But the investigation committee said Storchak had been detained to prevent the destruction of evidence. "The investigation possesses evidence that if Storchak had been left a free man, he could escape the investigation and the trial, engage in criminal activities, threaten witnesses... and destroy evidence," the committee said. Storchak was not available for comment and it was not clear if he had retained legal representation. Kudrin said he struggled to understand the accusations against Storchak, who he said had "fought for years for every kopeck, every cent defending Russia's interests in all debt talks." Various sources have suggested the detention of Storchak could be part of a campaign against his influential boss Kudrin ahead of next month's parliamentary election. Kudrin, Russia's top economic policy maker, has close ties with President Vladimir Putin and is described by analysts as a strong figure in the liberal wing of the president's entourage, which is engaged in on-and-off feuds with the conservative camp. Storchak, 53, negotiated Russia's repayment of its USD 22.5bn debt to the Paris Club of creditor nations last year. He was also closely involved in negotiations over other countries' debts to the Soviet Union, which often involved barter deals or a possibility for Russian companies to take part in lucrative projects.
Russian official suspected of USD 43mn fraud
They have not been formally charged with any crime.But the investigation committee at the Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement the three men were suspected of "having created an organized group to embezzle budget funds under the pretext of covering expenses for Sodexim".
"The sum in question is USD 43.4mn."
Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, a close associate of Storchak, said on Sunday he did not understand the arrest of his deputy, who oversees a USD 148bn oil stabilization fund that collects revenues from Russia's booming oil exports.
But the investigation committee said Storchak had been detained to prevent the destruction of evidence.
"The investigation possesses evidence that if Storchak had been left a free man, he could escape the investigation and the trial, engage in criminal activities, threaten witnesses... and destroy evidence," the committee said.
Storchak was not available for comment and it was not clear if he had retained legal representation.
Kudrin said he struggled to understand the accusations against Storchak, who he said had "fought for years for every kopeck, every cent defending Russia's interests in all debt talks."
Various sources have suggested the detention of Storchak could be part of a campaign against his influential boss Kudrin ahead of next month's parliamentary election.
Kudrin, Russia's top economic policy maker, has close ties with President Vladimir Putin and is described by analysts as a strong figure in the liberal wing of the president's entourage, which is engaged in on-and-off feuds with the conservative camp.
Storchak, 53, negotiated Russia's repayment of its USD 22.5bn debt to the Paris Club of creditor nations last year.
He was also closely involved in negotiations over other countries' debts to the Soviet Union, which often involved barter deals or a possibility for Russian companies to take part in lucrative projects.
0 Komentari
Možda vas zanima
Zakazan sastanak: Sprema se kraj rata?
Savetnici za nacionalnu bezbednost i visoki zvaničnici iz celog sveta spremaju se za sastanak koji će ovog vikenda biti održan u katarskoj prestonici Dohi.
15:07
25.4.2024.
1 d
Stiže novi "pakao"; Spremite se
Kao u prvih 15 dana aprila, ovaj mesec će se završiti natprosečnim temperaturama. Prema najavi RHMZ u nedelju i do prve polovine naredne sedmice temperature će dostići letnje vrednosti.
7:21
26.4.2024.
18 h
Rat – dan 792: Novi udarac za Zelenskog; Žestoke borbe, na hiljade mrtvih; Stigla osveta
Rat u Ukrajini – 792. dan. Udari ukrajinskih dronova na ruska skladišta goriva i čeličanu.
23:38
25.4.2024.
1 d
"Poslali su 120.000 vojnika na našu granicu; Oni su narkomani..."
Predsednik Belorusije Aleksandar Lukašenko izjavio da je Ukrajina koncentrisala grupu od 120.000 vojnika u blizini beloruske granice.
14:49
25.4.2024.
1 d
Stigle nove cene goriva: Evo koliko ćemo plaćati dizel
Stigle su nove cene goriva, tako da će od danas od 15 časova, na pumpama u Srbiji litar evro dizela koštati 206 dinara, a litar benzina evropremijum BMB biće 198 dinara.
11:48
26.4.2024.
13 h
Komentari 0