The Moscow Region Main Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee has launched investigation against Head of Istra District Anna Shcherba suspected of an offense under part 2 of article 286 of the RF Penal Code (abuse of power).
According to investigators, in 2008, Shcherba illegally signed resolutions under which 4 pieces of land with a total area of over 88 thousand square meters in the east of the town of Istra, Moscow Region were withdrawn from federal ownership and transferred to the municipality. Shcherba knew that the said properties were residential lands in constant (unlimited) use by EH Bolshevik of the Russian Agricultural Academy and she had no legal right to dispose of them. After that she organized the sale of all the said properties to “Azimut” OOO. The plots of land were sold at a price of 650 thousand rubles while their market value was over 6.5 million rubles.
Despite the fact that in 2009 an Istra District Government member reported to Shcherba in written form that it was necessary to cancel those illegal resolutions, she did not do that.
The investigation against Shcherba has just begun and investigators have no legal right to draw final conclusions on whether she is guilty or not. Yet anti-corruption efforts remain among the priorities of the Investigative Committee. I would like to make a special mention of the fact that an official elected by people should realize that it is a huge responsibility. If he/she is involved in such a fraud, then it is not only a deceit of the state, but a betrayal of those people, who have voted for him/her, who trusted him/her.
Head of Media Relations V. Markin
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