The Ministry of the Interior of the Russian Federation has revealed the theft of more than eight billion rubles during the construction of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Center in Sochi, said the official representative of the Ministry Irina Volk.
Thirteen high-ranking employees of Gazprom are suspected of committing the crime, including former member of the company’s board of directors Elena Mikhailova, former deputy general director of Gazprom Mezhergyongaz Anatoly Erkulov and heads of other subsidiaries.
According to the investigation, during the construction of the gymnastics center in 2016-2019, Gazprom’s top managers “created the appearance of completion of work,” but instead stole more than eight billion rubles allocated by the developer Gazprom Investgazification LLC. “Later, criminal proceeds amounting to 1.5 billion rubles were legalized,” Volk added.
A representative of the Ministry of Interior did not specify the status of all suspects in the case. According to her, many of the accused have now been placed on the international wanted list, and the alleged organizer of the crime has been arrested in absentia.
The Rhythmic Gymnastics Center was opened at the end of 2022 in the Sochi educational complex “Sirius”, which was created on the initiative of Vladimir Putin. The Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy is located in this sports complex. “Heavenly blessing” Alina Kabaeva. According to “We Can Explain”, Kabaeva received this building from Gazprom for free. Anonymous telegram channel “VChK-OGPU” ConfirmsKabaeva personally initiated the investigation against Gazprom’s top managers.