Support The Moscow Times!

Russian Ex-Mayor Arrested

A view of Blagoveshchensk

The former mayor of the far eastern city of Blagoveshchensk has been arrested for abuse of office and the misuse of state funds four years after having been placed on an international wanted list, the TASS news agency reported Thursday.

Alexander Migulya, who was arrested Tuesday in Russia's Lipetsk region, is accused of taking part in a series of illicit business activities and misspending the city's funds. He is suspected of having ordered the acquisition of a bridge in 2006 that resulted in the illegal spending of more than 46 million rubles ($920,000) of the city's budget, according to TASS.

The accusations against Migulya also include providing businesses with preferential conditions that led the city to lose 200 million rubles ($4 million) in 2005, TASS reported.

Migulya had evaded justice since 2011 and featured on Interpol's wanted list.

The former official is scheduled to return to Blagoveshchensk to face charges.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

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.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more