The Moscow Main Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal investigation against Deputy head of the Department for Licensing of Medical and Pharmaceutical Activity – Head of the department for licensing pharmaceutical activity and drug and psychotropic agent dealing of the Moscow Region Ministry of health on suspicion of crimes under parts 1 and 2 of article 290 of the RF Penal Code (bribery), paragraph “c” of part 5 of article 290 (bribery on a large scale).

According to investigators, on 11 August, 2015, the official got a total of 1 million rubles of bribes from several pharmaceutical companies for issuing licenses to them.

At the same time there are investigations ongoing against the bribers on suspicions of crimes under parts 1 and 2 of article 291 of the RF Penal Code (giving a bribe to an official), paragraph “b” of part 4 of article 291 (giving a bribe to an official on a large scale).

The official has been released on recognizance. The investigation is ongoing.