The Ivanovo Region Office of the Investigative Committee have opened criminal cases against former mayor of the city of Ivanovo, who is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Ivanovo Region Duma, Vyacheslav Sverchkov and a deputy of the Ivanovo City Duma Sarraf Mamedov. Depending on the role of each one of the, they are suspected of crimes under Part 6 of Article 290 of the RF Criminal Code (taking a bribe) and Part 5 of Article 291 (giving a bribe).

According to investigators, in 2014, mayor of Ivanovo, Sverchkov received from businessman Mamedov a bribe of a total of 12 million rubles. The bribe was given to him for assisting to influence the land use and construction commission of the Ivanovo city administration so that they consider applications submitted by the firms controlled by Mamedov and consent to give on lease 37 pieces of land in Ivanovo so that bus stations with shops could be constructed there. The assistance also meant that in future the City Duma would decide to transfer the leased lands from the category of property meant for construction and maintenance of motorways to the category of those for trade activity.

The crime was revealed by the Ivanovo Region Office of the Federal Security Service.

At present, the investigators are gathering the evidence and consolidate it, to find out the reasons and conditions that contributed to the crime. The investigation is ongoing.