Former Yakutia Interior Minister Wanted for Embezzlement

March 19, 2012

A former Interior Minister for the Republic of Yakutia, now known as Sakha, has been put on an international wanted list on a charge of embezzling a Mercedes from the ministry, the regional Investigate Committee said.

Yakov Stakhov, who served as the Siberian republic's top cop from June 2006 to April 2011, was questioned in February as a suspect in the crime and ordered by a Yakutsk court to remain in the city, regional investigators said Friday in a statement. Stakhov was then ordered to appear in court to face corruption charges on Feb. 24, but fled to Moscow the day before.

Investigators have put Stakhov on an international wanted list.

The embezzled Mercedes in question was a gift to the Interior Ministry from a diamond-mining company, Komsomolskaya Pravda reported earlier this month. But instead of the ministry keeping the car, it was apparently sold to an unnamed Moscow buyer. After it was discovered that the car was missing, it re-appeared at the ministry, but a criminal embezzlement case was opened nonetheless.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

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 you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue