Investigative Committee says finishes probe into Abyzov case

MOSCOW, Aug 13 (PRIME) -- Russia’s Investigative Committee has finished its probe into the case of former Open Government Minister Mikhail Abyzov and 11 more people, who were finally accused, the authority said on Thursday.

The list of accusations includes bribery, building a criminal organization, large-scale fraud, money laundering and illegal business activity.

In March 2019, investigators opened a criminal case against Abyzov, detained him and pressed charges. Investigators believe that Abyzov embezzled 4 billion rubles from Siberian Energy Company and Regional Electric Grids, which produce and transmit electric power in the Novosibirsk Region, and sent the money abroad.

In August 2019, the second criminal case was opened. According to the investigation, the former minister earned 32 billion rubles as a result of illegal business activities. The investigation believes that Abyzov ran the companies belonging to him, while he served as minister.

In September 2019, the third case was initiated against Abyzov – about money laundering, fraud and the organization of a criminal group. All the assets arrested in the framework of this high-profile case are estimated by the investigation at 27 billion rubles.

Abyzov does not admit his guilt in the incriminated acts and believes that such large-scale arrests of property can be regarded as pressure on him.

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