News

The Kalmykia Office of the Investigative Committee has initiated criminal proceedings against first vice-prime minister of the Kalmykia’s government Pyotr Lantsanov.

According to investigators, in 2011, he abused his office when gave an order to employees of the Kalmykia’s Agriculture Ministry to force more than 400 farmers to transfer part of the subsidies they got to the account of Marbled Meat of Kalmykia Holding Company. One part of that money was then stolen, while the other was misused.

Lantsanov’s residence and office have been searched. The investigators have received information that Kalmykia’s deputy minister of agriculture Erdni Kektyshev might have been involved in the crime, so they have detained him as well.

A court has ruled to place both men in custody pending trial. Lantsanov has been charged with abuse of authority under Part 2 of Article 285 and fraud under Part 4 of Article 159 of the RF Criminal Code. Kektyshev is expected to be charged soon. The investigation continues.

Official spokesperson for the RF Investigative Committee                                                                  Svetlana Petrenko