Law enforcement authorities in the Moscow region have arrested a police general, two senior officers and several corporate executives at a local gas station network accused of stealing fuel designated for police vehicles, Russia’s Interior Ministry said Monday.
Major General Sergei Malkov, who managed logistics as deputy head of the Moscow region’s Interior Ministry branch, allegedly oversaw the criminal scheme alongside Igor Martyshov, board chairman of EuroTrans, a major gas station operator.
Malkov and two of his subordinates, Colonel Alexei Suyarov and Lieutenant Colonel Anna Levina, were fired from the Interior Ministry following their arrests. Investigators have asked a judge to place them in pre-trial detention.
Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk said three other EuroTrans executives have been placed in pre-trial detention. All seven individuals face charges of large-scale embezzlement, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The arrests come after antitrust authorities in June accused EuroTrans, which operates 57 gas stations in and around Moscow, of price gouging as Ukrainian drone strikes against oil refineries triggered widespread fuel shortages.
Following the news of the arrests, EuroTrans shares dropped 6% on the Moscow Exchange, according to Interfax.
Russian gasoline production plummeted to roughly 70% of domestic consumption levels by late August following months of oil refinery attacks, Reuters reported.
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.
