The Main Investigations Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has detained businessman Alexander Sabadash, who is the beneficial owner of the "Vyborg Cellulose" OAO. He is suspected of committing an offense under Part 3 of Article 30, Part 4 of Article 159 of the RF Criminal Code (attempted fraud). From 2003 to 2006 Sabadash was a member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Nenets Autonomous District.

According to investigators, in 2010 Sabadash set up an organized criminal group to steal money from the RF budget. By now investigators have identified five of its members, one of whom is now internationally wanted, the other members are being identified. The investigators believe that Vyborg Cellulose employed OOO Es-Contractstroy for construction worth 12 billion rubles. Later on the members of the group filed forged documents to Moscow tax inspectorate No 28 confirming that the construction had been fully executed, intending to illegally receive from the budget 1.8 billion rubles as VAT compensation. According to the investigators, the actual cost of the construction work was no 12, but 5 billion rubles, and was executed not by subcontractors, on behalf of whom the invoices were filed, but other persons, including migrants without labor contracts. The criminal intent was not accomplished, as the tax inspectorate No 28 rejected to compensate VAT based on the documents filed.

At the investigators’ request Sabadash has been placed in custody. The investigation is ongoing.

Head of Media Relations V.I. Markin