The Major Directorate of the Investigative Committee has finished an investigation against Director of Construction Department of Far Eastern Federal District Andrei Poplavsky charged with 2 counts of a crime under Part 4 of Article 160 of the RF Penal Code (embezzlement) and 2 counts of a crime under Part 3 of Article 204 of the RF Penal Code (Bribery in a profit-making organization).
According to the investigation, Poplavsky with complicity of CEO of OOO scientific production association NPO Mostovik Shishov and CEO of ZAO Kosandra Alexander Kosyachenko embezzled over 1 billion rubles allocated to build Maritime Aquarium in Vladivostok. Besides, Poplavsky got a bribe from Kosyachenko and Shishov of over 145 million rubles for accepting the work carried out by the general contractor, pay for it and further financing of construction.
Despite the fact that Poplavsky has not admitted his guilt, the investigators have enough evidence confirming his involvement. This evidence includes the statement made by Shishov and his subordinates at OOO NPO Mostovik who were involved in passing the money on to Poplavsky and confirmed their statements during a confrontation. The case against Shishov who has concluded a cooperation deal, is being tried. The investigators also have received the evidence given by Kozyachenko, who both in person and via middlemen passed the money on to Poplavsky, which qualifies for giving a bribe. Along with that, the evidence is also confirmed by a statement of Poplavsky’s close proxy and driver Maksimov, who has said that he not only took the accused to the Moscow office of Mostovik firm, but personally, following Poplavsky’s order, took money there and them gave it to the accused. At present, people from among Poplavsky’s surroundings, including his girlfriend Yelena Makhno, are pressing Maksimov to retract his testimony against the accused.
The case against Poplavsky with the approved indictment has been sent to court to be tried on the merits. At the same time, the Investigative Committee continues an investigation into grand stealing during the construction of Maritime Aquarium in order to identify those involved in the crime and to prosecute them.
Head of Media Relations V.I. Markin
PDF version 
DOC version
