The former mayor of Angarsk, a town in the Irkutsk region, was apprehended in Belarus after having allegedly taken advantage of his heart problems to flee an embezzlement probe.
Vladimir Zhukov was detained in Belarus on June 6, more than a month after having been placed on a wanted list by investigators, a statement on the website of the Investigative Committee's Irkutsk branch said Monday.
Officials are currently in the process of facilitating his extradition to Russia, the statement said.
During a search of Zhukov's office in March, investigators discovered 600,000 rubles in cash lying around, Lenta.ru reported.
That same day, Zhukov was hospitalized for a heart attack. Although he checked out four days later, his heart problems soon gave rise to a second hospital stay, followed by what appeared to be a stay in a rehabilitation clinic to recover from surgery.
Investigators later determined, however, that he may have been playing hooky: Despite supposedly undergoing rehabilitation, he managed to fly to Crimea, where he allegedly concluded a partnership deal with the city administration of Alushta, Lenta.ru reported.
Following his second hospital release on May 7, his whereabouts remained unknown until police located him in Belarus.
If convicted of embezzlement, Zhukov could face up to six years behind bars.
See also:
Yaroslavl Mayor Who Quit United Russia Arrested on Bribery Charges
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.
![paiment methods](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/contribute/payment_icons.png)
Remind me later.