MOSCOW, June 26 (Itar-Tass) — The Russian Investigation Committee (SK) launched an inquiry prior to the investigation in the lawfulness of State Duma deputy from A Just Russia Gennady Gudkov’s investments in Bulgaria at the request of Bulgarian citizen Ivailo Zartov, spokesman for the Russian Investigation Committee Vladimir Markin told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.
The inquiry was launched according to “electronic letters from Bulgarian citizen Ivailo Zartov” passed in the Investigation Committee, Markov said.
“In the request Zartov informed about the investments in the foreign currency by State Duma deputy Gudkov in a company, which is situated in Bulgaria, and tax evasion in Russia,” Markin noted.
The Main Investigation Department of the Investigation Committee is conducting the inquiry that will result in a procedural decision (to open or deny a criminal case – Itar-Tass).
Zartov told the NTV TV channel before that Gudkov’s allegedly last Bulgarian project is several hectares of land, which was bought on a picturesque peninsula near the resort town of Burgas, where an elite cottage settlement is planned to build. The NTV footage claimed that the deputy transfers millions of euros from Russia.
Gennady Gudkov stated that he intends to sue against NTV. He said about the acquaintance with Bulgarian citizen Zartov, who was convicted for the theft of 1.5 million euros from Gudkov 4.5 years ago. Zartov has been the managing director of the Bulgarian-Russian company English Village, which the deputy and his wife owned.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker rejected the reports that he ran a business in Bulgaria. “I was not engaged personally in commercial activities, moreover in Bulgaria. I bought beer, took an amusement ride on the banana, this happened. This is really investments in Bulgarian economy. My children have not quite expensive apartments there, but many people in Russia can afford them to themselves now,” the A Just Russia deputy stated.
“A Russian high-ranking diplomat” acquainted him with Zartov “many years ago,” he said. As a result Gudkov recommended the Bulgarian citizen to his partners, but eventually the latter defrauded the company. The deputy noted that Zartov is serving a term of 12 years in prison. Meanwhile, Gudkov noted that Zartov had earlier committed a robbery in the Czech Republic.
“So, the habitual offender turned to the Investigation Committee,” the lawmaker noted.
Gudkov emphasized that Zartov complained about the deputy not for the first time, “He accused me of many things.” “It is not a proper business for the Investigation Committee to investigate the criminal case through the media, without studying (the essence of the case) the unnamed letters, which contain the signs of libel,” the A Just Russia deputy believes.