Two separate embezzlement trials ended in jail terms for defendants on Thursday, RIA-Novosti reported.
Yury Bulanov, prefect of the city's Southern Administrative District from 2007 to 2010, was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison on charges of stealing 30 million rubles ($1 million) allocated for communal repairs. Bulanov pleaded guilty, but that did not save him from the jail term, which his lawyers said they would appeal.
In another Moscow district court, six people were given jail terms between three and six years for organizing a fraud scheme that drained the Pension Fund of 1.25 billion rubles ($44 million) in 2009.
(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.