News

The evidence gathered by the Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia was found by court to be sufficient to sentence former Deputy Prime Ministers of Astrakhan Region - finance minister of Astrakhan Region Vitaly Shvedov and Prime Minister of Astrakhan Region Rasul Sultanov. They were found guilty of committing of an offense under Part 3 of Article 285 of the Criminal Code of Russia (abuse of authority).

Investigation and the court established that in 2018 Shvedov and Sultanov in the absence of a real need, unreasonably attracted commercial loans in the amount of 6.2 billion rubles for the needs of the region, provided at rates of 7-8.5% per annum. At the same time, the regional budget had a significant balance left, and the said officials could use an opportunity to attract a state loan in the amount of over 2 billion rubles at a rate of 0.1% per annum. Their actions inflicted damage of over 405 million rubles to the budget of Astrakhan Region.

The illegal activities were suppressed by investigators of the Investigative Committee of Russia in cooperation with operative officers of units of the Federal Security Service of Russia.

The property of the accused was arrested in terms of preliminary investigation.

Shvedov and Sultanov were sentenced to 5.5 and 5 years of imprisonment in a general regime penal colony.