The Seventh Investigations Department of the main Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee based in the city of Rostov-on-Don has opened a criminal case against lawyer of the Rostov Region Board of lawyers Sayat Akopyan and Deputy Head of the Southern Operative Customs Yuri Rakov. They are suspected of a crime under part 4 of article 291.1 of the RF Penal Code (intermediacy in bribery committed by a group of people on a very large scale).

According to investigators, on 14 December 2015, Akopyan and Rakov received from a woman 15 million rubles to pass it on to the Rostov Region law enforcement officials. The money was intended for a bribe for assisting in reclassifying the actions of the woman’s husband from a felony to a minor offence, and to release the latter from custody.

The woman reported to the law-enforcement bodies and both middlemen were detained after the money had been received. Restraint is under discussion. The investigation is ongoing.