News

The Siberian Federal District Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case against former Governor of the Novosibirsk Region Vasily Yurchenko.

According to investigators, on 21 May 2012, Yurchenko stepped over the line of his authority as the Governor and signed an illegal order to transfer a piece of land, owned by the Russian Federation, with an ammunition depot located on it, from the category of defense and security lands to the category of agricultural ones. However, it is only the Government of the Russian Federation that has the right to transfer lands between categories. Those actions of Yurchenko caused material damage of at least 12 million rubles to a commercial organization, which under the contract with a firing ground, grew wheat for it. Additionally, the said order caused considerable violation of state interests regarding the country’s defense, which are protected by law.

At present investigative operations are under way to find all the circumstances of the crime. The investigation is ongoing.