A lawmaker with the ruling United Russia party who told poor Russians to deal with the economic crisis by eating less must immediately pay off a debt of 196 million rubles ($3.7 million), according to the Federal Court Marshals Service's website on Tuesday.
Ilya Gaffner, a member of the regional legislative assembly in Russia's fourth-largest city Yekaterinburg, owes the debt to Russian lender Rosselkhozbank because two companies he controlled borrowed the money and failed to pay it back, according to a court ruling cited by local news site Novy Region.
The Federal Court Marshals Service, which is responsible for ensuring that court rulings are enforced, is now trying to get Gaffner to pay off the debt. Marshal Yulia Kryukova told Novy Region that property belonging to Gaffner, such as real estate and vehicles, will be seized if the debt is not paid.
In January, Gaffner said in a televised interview at a supermarket that local residents should control their appetites, as the region struggled with food price inflation estimated at 25 percent year-on-year. He later justified the comment by saying it is healthier to eat less.
A representative at Gaffner's office on Tuesday afternoon said he was unavailable for comment.
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.
