Police uncovered a scheme in which a criminal group stole 150 apartments meant for veterans and soldiers, causing an estimated 1 billion rubles ($32 million) in damages to the Moscow region and Defense Ministry budget, the Interior Ministry said in a statement Thursday.
The mastermind is believed to be a senior aide to a former armed forces commander, Kommersant reported, citing police.
Valery Daniyelyan, an aide to Alexander Postnikov-Streltsov, former head of the Ground Forces, was detained by the police's anti-corruption unit on Wednesday along with a lawyer and three real estate agents who were also involved in the scheme.
The group began their illegal embezzlement in 2010, police say, when they offered their services in getting apartments to people — mostly former servicemen — who were not entitled to state housing, asking for between 100,000 and 200,000 rubles for each deal.
They forged the documentation required for the housing, police say, sometimes using phony identities to acquire rights to the apartments.
The five suspects each face up to 10 years in prison on charges of large-scale fraud.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.