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In Moscow Region, probe launched into swindling during construction of apartment buildings

Following an additional pre-investigative probe carried out upon request of Balashikha citizens made during personal reception of Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia Alexander Bastrykin, the Moscow Regional Main Investigations Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia has launched an investigation into swindling during the construction of apartment buildings in 2005-2012 (Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of Russia).

According to the investigation, in 2003, former Head of Balashikha District Vladimir Samodelov had decided to declare 15 Balashikha houses unfit for living, relocate their citizens, and build new houses by construction company Mosoblkapstroy OJSC.

Under the concluded contract, Mosoblkapstroy OJSC had received a land plot of 0.6155 ha with the cadastral value of over 45 million rubles for the construction of six residential buildings. From 2005 to March 2012, Mosoblkapstroy OJSC had developed and approved a project and then built and launched the apartment building on the said site.

Under the contract between the Administration and Mosoblkapstroy OJSC, the construction company was supposed to hand over to the Administration from 12 to 50 percent of apartments in the six houses built by the company. However, in fact, the construction company built only one residential building and sold all the flats on the real estate market. Mosoblkapstroy failed to commence the construction of five more residential buildings under the contract.

To date, Mosoblkapstroy OJSC has not handed over to the Administration 12 percent of the residential space of the indicated building for resettlement of the tenants of the substandard housing stock. This inflicted damage of at least 63 million rubles to the state represented by the Balashikha Municipal Administration.

At present, investigators are carrying out a set of immediate investigative activities. The Forensics Directorate of the Main Investigations Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia will inspect the houses declared unfit for living in 2003. During the investigation, the actions of Mosoblkapstroy OJSC direction and authorities of the Balashikha District Administration will be given a legal assessment.