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Another Sergey Pugachev’s crime revealed during investigation in stealing over 28 billion rubles from Mezhprombank

The Main Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee continues investigation in deliberate bankruptcy of ZAO International Industrial Bank (hereinafter the Bank) and wrong acts during its bankruptcy and in stealing of money from the Bank on a very large scale.

According to investigators, in 2008-2009, over 28 billion rubles allocated by the Bank of Russia as bond-free loans was misappropriated and stolen. An organized group of people led by Sergey Pugachev was involved in the crime. He was charged with a crime under part 3 of article 33, part 4 of article 160 of the RF Penal Code (misappropriation, that is stealing on a very large scale), and he was put on an international wanted list. In January 2015, documents were sent to extradite Pugachev from Great Britain.

Preliminary investigation revealed another crime committed by Pugachev. In 2009, the Bank issued 120 64-billion-worth loans to organizations controlled by Pugachev. Pledge agreements on 100% shares of Mining Limited (Cyprus) were concluded as a security. Mining Limited (Cyprus) basically owned ZAO Eniseysk Industrial Corporation engaged in developing Elegyost coal deposit. The pledge agreements were annulled in 2010, following orders of Pugachev, who was well aware that no loans were going to be paid. Such actions gave Pugachev a free hand in dealing with the assets and make it impossible for the Bank to exact money from him.

On 1 June 2015, a new warrant was issued to prosecute Pugachev as the accused. Besides misappropriation he is charged with a crime under part 3 of article 33, part 2 of article 201 of the RF Penal Code (abuse of authority).

The investigators are looking for other accomplices in the crime.

Head of Media Relations                                                                                                                         V.I. Markin