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The Novgorod Region investigating bodies of the Russia’s Investigative Committee have finished investigating a criminal case against deputy head of Novgorodavtodor, state-owned institution, Georgy Vishnyakov, expert Vyacheslav Samoylov and director of Veche, a state regional unitary enterprise, Oleg Orlov. Depending on the role of each one they are charged with crimes under part 4 of article 159 of the RF Penal Code, part 1 of article 285, paragraph “c” of part 2 of article 179, paragraph “a” of part 2 of article 178, part 1 of article 286, paragraph “c” of part 5 of article 290 (fraud, abuse of office, compelling to reject a deal, barring, limitation or elimination of competition, exceeding of official powers, bribery).

According to investigators, in 2012, in Novgorod Region first deputy head of administration of the region Arnold Shalmuyev set up an organized criminal group to systematically steal the large sums of money allocated to building, repair and maintenance of motorways in Novgorod Region. The group also included cofounder of OOO Magistral Anatoly Petrov, head of Novgorodavtodor Nikolai Zakaldayev, his deputy Georgy Vishnyakov and expert Vyacheslav Samoylov, director of Veche, a state regional unitary enterprise, Oleg Orlov, his deputy Alexander Belov and a number of businessmen - Konstantin Bekchev, Alexey Tutykin, Nato Natanov. According to the plan developed by the members of the group, the enterprise controlled by them – state regional unitary enterprise Veche was to win a tender on a state contract on executing a set of works on maintaining motor ways of regional and inter-municipal importance and artificial constructions on them in the second half of 2012 in the territory of the most districts in Novgorod Region. The initial maximum price of the contract was 357 million 475 thousand rubles. According to the plan a part of that sum, no less than 35 million rubles had to go to their pockets. To implement their criminal intention Orlov and Belov were appointed director and deputy director of Veche. In addition, in January-May 2012, members of the criminal group purchased OOO Magistral, with Anatoly Petrov as a cofounder and other members of the criminal group in the governance, through which they wanted to steal the money.

Contrary to their plans in June 2012 another organization won the open electronic tender offering the minimal price. After that the CEO of the company started receiving threats of material damage and spreading information discrediting his business reputation. As the result, the businessman realizing the reality of the threats of the members of the group, who occupied top positions, had to reject the contract and it was signed with Veche, after which 22 million rubles were transferred to the settlement account of OOO Magistal under forged accounting documents.

Arnold Shalmuyev, first deputy governor of Novgorod Region, has already been charged with two counts of the crime under part 4 of article 159 of the RF Penal Code, paragraph “c” of part 2 of article 179, part 1 of article 286 (swindling, forcing to refuse to conclude a transaction, exceeding official powers).

Vishnyakov, Orlov and Samoylov have admitted their guilt and concluded a pretrial cooperation deal, under which they have given detailed evidence. For that reason their criminal case has been severed in a separate lawsuit. The investigators have gathered enough evidence, therefore the criminal case with the approved indictment has been forwarded to court to be tried on the merits.

As for other six, including first deputy head of Novgorod Region administration, they and their lawyers continue studying the files of the criminal case which has over 180 volumes.