Russian prosecutors are investigating possible corruption among senior Interior Ministry officials revealed by the Panama Papers, the RBC news website reported Monday.
The Panama Papers scandal, in which some 11.5 million documents were leaked from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, identified the offshore dealings of a number of Russians — including senior officials. But public outrage was muted, and authorities largely brushed off the scandal.
However, following the revelations in April, RBC wrote to the Prosecutor General's Office to ask if it was taking any measures. According to the agency, the office replied that it was investigating deputy Interior Minister Alexander Makhonov and Denis Zubov, the son of another deputy Interior Minister, Igor Zubov, for possible violations of corruption laws.
According to the Panama Papers, both Makhonov and Zubov had stakes in offshore companies. Russian officials are currently forbidden to have business overseas.
The Interior Ministry told RBC it was not aware of any such investigations.
Update: Later on Monday a spokesperson for the Prosecutor General's Office denied that Mahkonov and Zubov were being investigated. "No such investigation is being conducted," he told the TASS news agency.
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