Authorities in Saint Petersburg have detained several high-ranking officials and a private entrepreneur in connection with a broad investigation into alleged large-scale fraud tied to state-owned property assets. The primary figures include Stanislav Garmash, who serves as the general director of the City Property Fund, a joint-stock company responsible for managing municipal real estate and related assets. His deputy, Yevgenia Politova, and individual entrepreneur Andrey Vasiliev were also taken into custody as part of the ongoing case, with officials signaling that the actions under scrutiny involve significant financial transfers and apparent abuse of official positions. The details come from coverage in Fontanka and subsequent updates from other regional outlets. [Fontanka]
According to reporting, the investigation has moved to a stage where the court has placed all three under house arrest. The judicial decision, which extended until 24 July, followed petitions submitted by investigators to detain them while the case advances. Local observers note that this marks a critical phase in a case that has drawn attention to the governance of public property and the mechanisms by which municipal contracts are awarded. [78.ru], [Fontanka]
The core allegations involve a fictitious contract allegedly signed on behalf of the City Property Fund with the ARIN company. In the scheme described by investigators, the Saint Petersburg State Unitary Enterprise Plant MPBO-2 was enlisted to act as an intermediary in the purchase and sale of properties connected to the Fund’s portfolio. The supposed buyer was the Nevsky Ecological Operator. Investigators report that unidentified individuals confirmed the performance of services under the contract, and as a result more than 5.1 million rubles were transferred from the Fund’s account to the ARIN account. The disputes surrounding these transactions have prompted a broader review of internal controls, procurement procedures, and the oversight of municipal assets. [Fontanka], [Komsomolskaya Pravda Saint Petersburg]
In parallel coverage, prior to the Saint Petersburg developments, another high-profile case involving allegations of fraud connected to a state-supported institution was reported in Kazan. Elena Prishchepenko, identified as the director of the Tatar Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science Research Institute, was detained on suspicion of large-scale fraud connected to her official position as a candidate of agricultural sciences. This parallel case underscores ongoing concerns about the misuse of official authority in the management of scientific and educational institutions and the intersecting role of private actors in public sector projects. [Kazan News Agency], [Izvestia Kazan]