Security personnel detained the chief of a department at the UAZ automobile plant amid revelations that a commercial entity paid a commission for supplying metal. This development is reported by 73online.ru.
The Investigative Committee, together with regional law enforcement from the Ulyanovsk region, arrested Andrey Bukin, 35, who led the economic security department at UAZ. Sources indicate that he accepted a cash payment of 160,000 rubles from business interests in return for facilitating metal deliveries to the plant. There are indications that similar schemes may operate at UAZ-Autocomponent LLC, a factory subsidiary where Bukin’s business associate serves as a commercial manager, suggesting a broader network of potential misconduct within the organization.
The leadership of the enterprise reportedly shifted under the new general manager, Alexei Spirin, who initiated personnel cuts. The arrest operation reportedly came after a tip from high-level security officials at the factory. Officials say Bukin admitted involvement in the scheme and has been released to his home as authorities continue the investigation. A criminal case has been opened, and a court will later determine the appropriate restraint measures to apply.
Previously, Bukin served with the Ulyanovsk police, heading the department of economic security and anti-corruption. In 2015, the former officer received a five-year prison sentence following a traffic incident that claimed the lives of five people, including three children. He served only about half of that term in a penal colony before his release.
Recent reports note a rising number of offers in the Russian auto parts market, a trend that may influence procurement practices across the industry.