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The Major Cases Directorate of the Investigative Committee has finished investigative operations against former governor of Sakhalin Region Aleksandr Khoroshavin, vice-chairman of the Sakhalin Region Government Sergei Karepkin, advisor to Sakhalin Region Governor Andrei Ikramov, minister of agriculture, trade and food of Sakhalin Region Nikolai Borisov charged with 9 counts of bribery (Parts 5 and 6 of Article 290 of the RF Penal Code) and 1 count of money laundering (Article 174.1). The accused and their lawyers have started reading the case files.

According to investigators, in 2009, Khoroshavin set up an organized criminal group which included Karepkin and Ikramov. Between 2009 and 2015, the members of the criminal group led by Khoroshavin received from 8 businessmen engaged in fishing, agriculture, transport communications and constructions bribes for general patronage, actions which were within their power already and for assisting to get such actions from other officials of Sakhalin Region executive authorities. The total sum of bribes is over 522 million rubles. Most of the bribes were taken from businessmen who executed government contracts paid by budget funds and those who received subsidies. In one case Khoroshavin involved Borisov to take a bribe, though he was not a member of the group and knew nothing about its activity. Borisov took a bribe of 4 million rubles in several parts and then gave it to Karepkin so that he passed it on to Khoroshavin. On his part he did what was his official duty in the interest of the businessman concerning provision of subsidies.

Khoroshavin laundered 77 million rubles of the bribes by transferring it to bank cards and by buying foreign currency.

Some of the businessmen willingly gave information that they had given bribes to Khoroshavin, after they learnt that there was an ongoing investigation against him.

One of the accomplices, Nikolai Borisov admitted his guilt and testified against Khoroshavin and Karepkin. The rest of the accused are denying the charges, however their involvement is confirmed by a bulk of evidence.

To guarantee confiscation and punishment, a lot of expensive vehicles, real estates, valuables and funds have been arrested.

A case against another one of the accomplices has been severed to form a separate lawsuit as he made a co-operation deal. The investigation against this man is ongoing.

Head of Media Relations                                                                                                                            V.I. Markin