All news

Interior Ministry looks in financials of Moscow mayoral candidate Navalnyy

Candidate's campaign marred by foreign funding, misappropriation of funds by supporters, sources say
Photo ITAR-TASS/ Artiom Geodakyan
Photo ITAR-TASS/ Artiom Geodakyan

MOSCOW, August 19 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Interior Ministry will check the accuracy of the facts regarding financial irregularities in the election campaign of a mayoral candidate, opposition figurehead Alexei Navalny.

“The Russian Interior Ministry is investigating the facts stated in an official appeal of Vladimir Zhirinovsky, head of the Liberal Democratic faction in the State Duma, lower house of parliament. The ministry has received these materials from the Prosecutor General’s Office; they point to violations of the existing legislation during the election campaign of the candidate for the post of Moscow’s mayor,” the Interior Ministry said.

According to Ministry’s findings, “funds were indeed transferred to campaign treasury through Yandex.Money e-payment system.” It was discovered that several IP addresses used to transfer these funds were masked, which indicates lack of transparency of this financing method.

“Interior Ministry specialists continue analyzing information on possible violation of Russia’s legislation, which prohibits funding election campaigns from abroad,” the Ministry’s press service emphasized.

Investigators are also looking into discovered details regarding appropriation of funds donated to Navalny’s election campaign by his supporters.

“Interior Ministry has found out that campaign office activist K.S. Yankauskas has received 5 million rubles through the Yandex wallet. Out of these funds he transferred 1 million to the campaign treasury; the rest went to his bank account. We have information regarding other activists of this candidate engaging in similar schemes. V.L. Ashurkov is suspected of misappropriating 2 million 270 thousand rubles; N.N. Lyasikyn – 790 thousand rubles,” the Ministry spokesperson said.

Interior Ministry is currently looking for reasoning behind “funds going towards mayoral election campaign of one of candidates being transferred to personal accounts.” 

Regardless of potential misappropriate, Alexey Navalny’s campaign finances are going strong – check out our Guide to Mayoral Candidates!