Support The Moscow Times!

Aeroflot Executive in Corruption Investigation

The Investigative Committee has opened an inquiry into Aeroflot deputy CEO Andrei Kalmykov, accusing him of giving privileges to companies linked to his relatives.

Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for the committee, said Tuesday that Kalmykov had given contractual privileges to Sun Rise Tours, a travel agency allegedly affiliated with his relatives. According to the investigators, the agency’s founders included his wife and mother.

Before joining Aeroflot in 2010, Kalmykov, 40, worked as a top executive and board chairman of Sun Rise Tours for more than a decade.

Markin said that by “giving privileges” to his relatives, Kalmykov had damaged to the company, Interfax reported. Investigators said the state, which controls Aeroflot, lost more than 78 million rubles ($2.4 million) in damages because of Kalmykov’s actions.

According to investigators, the carrier signed a deal with Sun Rise Tours, one of the country’s leading tour operators, to sell more than 85,000 seats for the popular Antalya resort in Turkey. One seat was priced at $221.

Kalmykov signed the deal with Sun Rise, despite a higher bid from a rival company, Tez Tour, for almost half the number of seats, RBC.ru reported Tuesday, citing investigators.

On Tuesday, investigators searched Kalmykov’s office at Aeroflot, Kommersant.ru reported.

… 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

Read more