News

In Smolensk, probe launched into negligence of district administration officials at allocation of houses for orphaned children

The Smolensk Regional Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened an investigation into an improper discharge of the duties in allocation of housing to orphaned children by officials of the Rudnya District Administration as an offence under Part 1 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code of Russia (negligence).

As reported earlier, in November 2018 an employee of the Smolensk Regional Investigations Directorate took part in a round table held upon results of a visit to Smolensk Region of Svetlana Kalinina, the coordinator of the Centre for Monitoring of Urban Environment Development and member of the Central Office of the All-Russia People’s Front.

During a discussion of a number of issues, including those of the quality of provision of housing to orphaned children and children left without parental care, the All-Russia People’s Front representative reported that officials of the Rudnya District Administration violated the rights and legitimate interests of orphaned children by providing them with housing unfit for living.

A probe was launched into the fact; it was proved that a 20-year-old girl was provided with housing, which did not meet the requirements set by the law in effect and was unfit for living - in particular, the glazing violated construction rules and regulations; there were no vents and the heating was substandard, which led to the walls’ accumulating moisture and hosting mould.

During the investigation, the investigators will give a legal assessment to actions (inaction) of all the officials in charge of this programme implementation. The criminal investigation is ongoing.