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The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia holds briefing

Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Alexander Bastrykin held a video conference briefing attended by the First Deputy and deputies of the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, heads of the Central Office departments, regional investigations directorates and educational institutions of the Investigative Committee of Russia. The briefing was mainly devoted to measures of securing housing rights of orphan children.

Before proceeding to the agenda, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia listened to reports of the heads of regional investigative departments on progress of a number of separate probes and procedural assessments.

The subordinates reported about initial results of pre-investigative probe into death of a 9th grade pupil of a school in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania and also on probes into damaging of Malaya Zemlya memorial complex in Novorossiysk; desecration of Soviet Warriors memorial in Kaliningrad Region; death of four children and their parents in a fire in Udmurt Republic. Alexander Bastrykin gave a number of specific instructions and assignments.

He also listened to a report on progress of investigation of a probe into a road accident in Stavropol Territory involving a bus that was carrying children to a competition from Volgograd to Cherkessk that took lives of 5 minors. The probe was previously referred to the Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for further investigation. Investigators have seized relevant documents and are carrying out other investigative actions aimed to establish all circumstances of the accident. The Chairman of the Investigative Committee once again pointed out the necessity to carefully examine all circumstances preceding the tragedy, including those related to the organization of the trip.

In Novosibirsk Region investigation of a probe into non-payment of wages at Tyazhstankogidropress plant continues. Alexander Bastrykin gave a number of instructions aimed at timely completion of the investigation.

The Chairman listened to a report of the Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia on progress of investigation of a probe into death of workers during clean-up activities in Rostov Region. The chief engineer of Taganrog Vodocanal Yury Polyakov has been arrested in terms of the probe. The Head of the Committee put the progress of investigation under supervision and indicated necessity to give legal assessment to actions of all persons involved in the tragic consequences.

The Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia Alexander Klaus reported on the progress of investigation of a probe into stealing of monetary funds from socially unprotected citizens. 8 suspects have been detained. The offenses were committed by means of telephone communication. Alexander Bastrykin underlined that the said method of committing offenses has become widespread. He noted that along with this, the problem of the prevalence of cybercrimes and crimes in the field of high technologies is extremely relevant. In this relation the Head of the Committee instructed to draw up a plan of joint work with other law enforcement bodies and to step up in the fight against cybercrime. 

Proceeding to the main subject, the Head of the Committee noted that the situation in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation with the exercise of the constitutional housing right by orphans remains acute: the number of persons who have reached the age of majority and have the right to receive housing continues to grow. The problematic situation is registered in the Kemerovo and Irkutsk Regions, where there are from 9 to 11 thousand people on the waiting list. The planned volumes of housing planned for allocation have decreased. The lowest coefficient of providing housing for orphans (less than 6%) is observed in the Republics of Mordovia, Ingushetia, Kalmykia, the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Altai and Zabaikalsky Territories, Omsk region, and some other subjects.

The problem of incomplete utilization of budget funds allocated for these purposes as a result of indiscriminateness, as well as official abuse, remains: violations during auctions; overestimation of the cost of residential premises; receiving remuneration for commissioning of uncomfortable housing and etc. In 2020, in order to intercept violations in this area, the Investigative Committee launched 244 probes into offenses related to violation of housing rights of orphan children; 88 more probes have been launched since the beginning of the current year. 38 probes have been already referred to courts, including those into a number of heads of local administration.

Reports during the briefing were presented by heads of investigative departments over Kemerovo Region - Kuzbass, Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Altai Territory and Kurgan Region. In these regions, the situation with the provision of housing for orphans remains stably unfavorable. Alexander Bastrykin remained unsatisfied by results of work of investigation of this category of probes, therefore the heads of the indicated regional units will be subject to disciplinary measures (reprimand).