News

Alexander Bastrykin holds a briefing on issues of investigation by territorial investigative departments of offenses related to non-payment of wages

The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia Alexander Bastrykin held a video-conference briefing on issues of investigation by territorial investigative departments of the Investigative Committee of Russia of offenses related to non-payment of wages. It was attended by the First Deputy and deputies of the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, heads of several Central Office departments, regional investigations directorates and educational institutions of the Investigative Committee of Russia.

Before proceeding to the agenda, the participants of the paid tribute to defenders of the Fatherland and civilians fallen in the years of the Great Patriotic War by a minute of silence.

Talking about the issue of planning, Alexander Bastrykin noted that the topic stays relevant and indicated regions with the largest wage arrears to workers. They include the Republic of Bashkortostan, Khakassia and Tatarstan, Bryansk Region and Krasnoyarsk Territory. Separate statistics data characterizing the work in this area were also provided. Thus, during 5 months of 2021 the investigative departments of the Investigative Committee of Russia launched 896 probes into non-payment of wages and other payments. 819 probes were finished, which is by 29% more than during the same period of the past year, 328 probes have been referred to courts, 347 probes were finished due to effective regret and compensation of damage.

A damage of 2 billion rubles was determined during investigation of the probes. Damage of 1 billion 600 million rubles was compensated at the stage of investigation. Apart from that, property of the accused worth 1 billion 600 million rubles was arrested.

The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia appreciated the work in this area of investigative departments in the Republic of Dagestan, Krasnodar Territory, Kirov and Kostroma Regions. Along with that, a number of flaws were noted in the performance of a number of territorial departments. "The amount of voluntarily reimbursed and seized property in the Udmurt Republic, the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, the Astrakhan, Kaliningrad and Sverdlovsk Regions will not allow to fully repay the damage in cases sent to the court," the head of the Committee stated.

The Chairman also noted that since the beginning of the current year the Central Office of the Investigative Committee of Russia received over a thousand complaints requesting decisions on facts of non-payment of wages. "That's bad that nothing moves until people contact the Center", the Head of the Investigative Committee of Russia added. "Why there is such an attitude towards workers? The people must feel the state care through you..."

Addressing the subordinates, Alexander Bastrykin demanded to further take active measures aimed at increasing the efficiency of work to protect the violated rights of employees. "It is necessary to carry out the work for prompt repayment of debts more efficiently and for this it is necessary to be in constant contact with working collectives and local authorities... to monitor the situation in this field, regularly verify information on overdue payments with labor inspections", he said. The heads of investigative departments were assigned to strengthen the penal measures of criminal law aimed at protecting the labor rights of citizens in cooperation with the operational-search bodies. The Head of the Committee underlined that the decisions are to be taken quickly, efficiently and without delaying the investigation.

During the briefing the head of the Committee listened to reports of the head of the Sverdlovsk Regional Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia Mikhail Boginsky, acting head of the Novgorod Regional Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia Nikolay Suprun, head of the Kaliningrad Regional Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia Dmitry Bocharov, and the head of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia over the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania Valery Ustov. The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia criticized the performance of the said departments in the area under discussion and named as flaws the unsatisfactory work on compensation for damage caused to the victims, as well as untimely measures to protect the rights of citizens who have not received their due wages.

After listening to the speakers, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia gave a number of instructions and assignments aimed to improve performance in the said area. A comprehensive assessment was arranged in the Kaliningrad regional investigative department.

In terms of the briefing, Alexander Bastrykin listened to a report of the Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia Sergey Goryainov on current epidemiological situation in relation to Covid-19. An intensive increase in morbidity was registered again. To protect the health of students, it was decided to transfer them to distance learning; graduation events will also be held in a remote form. The Chairman instructed to strengthen control over the observance of organizational and preventive measures. Apart from that, the head of the Committee instructed his deputy to work out the issue of the possibility of transition of unvaccinated and titerless employees to the remote mode. Also, upon instruction the Chairman, employees of the Social and Medical Support Department will continue outreach work with the employees of the Committee in order to increase the awareness of employees about the consequences of the disease and the positive impact of vaccination in the face of emerging more aggressive strains of coronavirus infection. The head of the Investigative Committee of Russia instructed the said department to work out the issue of prompt vaccination of employees in territorial investigation departments with minimal time costs for moving to the place of vaccination and waiting for the administration of its components.