The Moscow Region Main Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee continue investigation against CEO of ZAO NPO Spetsneftegaz Viktor Kanaykin suspected of a crime under paragraph “b” of part 2 of article 199 of the RF Penal Code (evasion of paying corporate taxes and duties on a very large scale). The crime was revealed by the Moscow Region largest taxpayers inter-district inspection of the Federal Tax Service.

According to investigators, in the period between January 2011 and December 2012, the CEO of the company in order to not to pay corporate income tax concluded fictitious deals with sham firms he controlled, and transferred to their accounts over 542 million rubles. In reality there was no business running between Spetsneftegaz and sham firms. Moreover, tax authorities have information that firms, contracts with which were concluded, were food selling firms, while Spetsneftegaz specialized in diagnosis and technical service of gas mains, including those of Gazprom. This way, the tax check found signs if fictitious data of the firms.

However, after the investigation had been opened the debt of Spetsneftegaz to the budget of the Russian Federation was fully paid, that is 787 million 645 thousand rubles.

This way, thanks to coherent and constructive cooperation of tax authorities and Investigative Committee, it was possible to return to the state budget a considerable sum of 787 million 645 thousand rubles.

What I would like to note is that only a few years ago to open an investigation in tax crimes we needed a court decision, which significantly slowed down and impede the investigation and compensation of damage to the state. However, not so long ago the procedure has been changed, and a legislator allowed opening criminal investigations without court decisions based on tax reports. I would also stress that reimbursement of the damage and return of stolen funds to the state is one of the main tasks of investigations in economic crimes.

Head of Media Relations                                                                                                                                V.I. Markin