Russia: Krasnoyarsk minister detained over misuse of funds VIDEO

In Krasnoyarsk Krai, the Minister of Construction and Housing, Mikhail Zaskalko, has been detained over allegations of exceeding his official powers.

According to the Investigative Committee, Zaskalko was aware that a residential building constructed in 2022 for orphans had been declared unsafe, but failed to take action to cancel the contract and recover an advance of over 23 million rubles ($299,000) from the contractor.

He is also accused of illegally instructing his deputy and a company director to organise the construction of a new orphanage and the preparation of design and cost documentation worth around 2 million rubles ($26,000).

The new building could not be commissioned due to non-compliance with the project and budget.

The alleged damage to the regional budget is estimated at approximately 25 million rubles ($325,000). Zaskalko is currently under house arrest, and a criminal case has been opened against him. 

By Aghakazim Guliyev