Ashot Yegiazaryan, a State Duma deputy with the Liberal Democratic Party who was stripped of parliamentary immunity earlier this month, was placed on a federal wanted list, an Investigative Committee spokesman told RIA-Novosti on Wednesday.
Yegiazaryan, who now lives in Los Angeles, will also be placed on the international wanted list after the committee receives formal confirmation that he has left Russia, the spokesman said.
The deputy, who faces up to 10 years on charges of large-scale fraud over multimillion-dollar construction projects, has said he left the country because of death treats from his former business partners. He alleges that they fabricated the case and says he is willing to cooperate with investigators without leaving the United States.
(MT)
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.