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Probe into another accomplice of Alexey Kuznetsov, extradited from France, referred to court

The Main Directorate on Major Crimes Investigation has finished the probe into USA citizen Dmitry Kotlyarenko. He is charged in absentia with committing crimes under Part 4 of Article 159 (swindling) and Part 3 of Article 174.1 (legalization) of the Criminal Code of Russia.

The probe into the perpetrator was processed separately since he had fled from the investigation in the USA. Despite numerous extradition requests with the provision of relevant evidence, the relevant authorities of the indicated state refuse to extradite him due to a lack of a respective treaty between the two countries. Due to this, as provided for by the criminal procedural law, charges against Kotlyarenko were pressed in absentia, and the trial will be held in the same format.

According to the investigation, from 2005 to 2008, Kotlyarenko had entered an organized criminal group headed by former Deputy Chairman of Moscow Region Government Alexey Kuznetsov. During the stated period, Kotlyarenko had stolen the right to claim debts from Public Utilities companies to Moscow Region municipalities and assets of Moscow Region Investment Trust Company OJSC. The damage inflicted by the illegal actions of the convicts amounts to 11.8 billion rubles.

The money had been legalized via fake deals with various legal entities controlled by the organized group’s members, including Bullock, with accounts in MZB Bank also controlled by Kuznetsov, Nosov, and Bullock. After the conclusion of fake deals, the stolen money had been transferred to accounts of non-resident companies registered in the offshore zone of the Republic of Cyprus. Afterward, the money had been spent on luxury items and overseas property.

The criminal scheme was disclosed due to a thorough analysis of financial and accounting documents seized during search activities in RIGroup and other organizations controlled by the convicts. This revealed money stealing and legalization schemes. The investigation was also complicated by the necessity to obtain numerous documents from abroad. As a result of cooperation with foreign relevant authorities, the investigation managed to gather enough evidence including this to establish what the money obtained by illegal activities had been spent on.

The investigation gathered enough evidence; therefore, the criminal case with the approved indictment was sent to the court to be tried on the merits.

Three perpetrators had been sentenced earlier: Valery Nosov, Vladislav Telepnev, and Elena Kuznetsova. Janna Bullock was also found guilty of the same offences in absentia.

Moreover, the investigation into Alexey Kuznetsov extradited from France is on the final stage and in the nearest future he, his advocates, and victims will be granted access to the case files.