A Moscow tax official was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of 90,000 rubles ($3,000) to speed up the registration of a new company, Interfax reported Monday, citing the police.
Tatyana Demenok, deputy head of the Moscow tax department responsible for registering new firms, was allowed to remain at liberty but faces up to 12 years in prison if charged and convicted in the case, a police spokesman said.
He said Demenok might face additional bribery charges after money of an unidentified origin was found during a search of her office in northwestern Moscow. Long lines of entrepreneurs typically stand outside Demenok’s department waiting to get firms registered, and some have complained that their applications have been stalled among demands for bribes, Interfax said.
(MT)
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.
