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The Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Court of Sakhalin Region has started today a preliminary hearing of a case 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 bribery under Parts 5 and 6 of Article 290 and money laundering under Article 174.1 of the RF Penal Code. Investigators of the Major Cases Directorate of the Investigative Committee revealed 10 counts.

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.

For example, in 2013-2014, Khoroshavin and his accomplices received 85 million rubles in cash as bribes from a businessman who was building roads in Sakhalin Region under a government contract. The sum of the bribes was 6 percent from the contract. In another case, a businessman who was building an educational facility in the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on budget funds, was forced to give the accused 10 percent of the allocated money. This way, in 2013-2015, Khoroshavin illegally got 125 million rubles. The accused guaranteed to another of the injured parties the support from the region in receiving subsidies provided by the law on the construction of a stock-raising complex. However, after the businessman invested considerable funds in the building, he was put in crushing terms as the accused demanded a bribe for the subsidy.

Khoroshavin laundered more than 77 million rubles by transferring it to bank cards and buying foreign currency.

He started with less significant suns. For example, in 2009-2010, together with Karepkin he took from a businessman 12 million rubles for issuing a fishing permit. But with time, his criminal revenues allowed him to live high.

The investigators found out that part of Khoroshavin’s property was not declared in due order. A court arrested a considerable number of expensive cars, some real estate, valuables and cash. Later, all that was passed over to the state. The arrested property included 4 flats with more than 240 million rubles, 6 parking spots worth over 2.9 million rubles, 6 cars worth at least 42.3 million rubles, including for instance a Mercedes Benz worth 11 million rubles, Bentley Continental GT and a Bentley Mulsanne worth over 23.3 million rubles, two Lexus cars worth at least 6 million rubles. There were also a house, a non-residential building, land properties, More than 700 million rubles in foreign currency and in rubles, jewelry and valuables.

It became obvious to the investigators that Khoroshavin was especially keen on expensive accessories. Apparently, the governor needed expensive watches most of all. His collection numbered to 195 items worth 602 million rubles. The most expensive watch cost 700 thousand US dollars. Before being caught, Khoroshavin had ordered another watch worth more than 36 million rubles.

The said figures must speak for themselves and negate allegation of the accused the he had no “untold wealth”. Hiding such amounts of property from tax authorities also says a lot. This is why the statements made by the defense were just lame attempts to mislead the public as to the actions of Khoroshavin and his accomplices. The investigators have not arrested the flat owned by the son of the former governor and located in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk where Khoroshavin was registered. So, his allegations that his family was deprived of their home were another lies and an attempt to manipulate the public opinion.

Some of the businessman reported giving bribes to Khoroshavin, after they learned that there was a bribe investigation ongoing against him. According to a comment to Article 291 of the RF Penal Code and considering their active cooperation they were reprieved.

The investigators have enough evidence so the criminal case with the signed indictment was referred to court.    

Acting Head of Media Relations                                                                                                         S.L. Petrenko