Russia's former anti-corruption chief has been jailed for 22 years after being found guilty of running an extortion racket.
Denis Sugrobov, the former head of the Directorate for Economic Security and Anti-Corruption at Russia's Interior Ministry, was arrested in February 2014.
Prosecutors told the court that Sugrobov and his deputy, Boris Kolesnikov, had attempted to frame a Russian security agent by posing as businessmen willing to pay for his “protection.” They then planned to extort $10,000 from the agent by threatening to expose his illegal protection racket.
Police ultimately seized an estimated 300 million rubles ($4.1 million) from the pair, Russia's Novaya Gazeta newspaper reported.
Sugrobov's was eventually charged with exceeding his official authority and establishing a criminal organization.
His lawyer has already announced that he intends to appeal the verdict.
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.
