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Claims against ex-minister not related to work in Cabinet, PM press secretary says

Mikhail Abyzov is suspected of stealing 4 bln rubles ($62.1 mln) from OJSC Siberian Energy Company and OJSC Regional Power Networks through fraud of their shareholders and channeled money abroad

MOSCOW, March 26. /TASS/. Claims of law enforcement agencies laid against ex-minister Mikhail Abyzov are related to his commercial activity, rather than to work in the government, said Oleg Osipov, press secretary to the Russian Prime Minister.

"As far as I understand, actions are meant that are not related to discharge of responsibilities of the Cabinet member of the previous composition," Osipov said, commenting on detention of the ex-minister. "It is known that his business partners brought claims against him. Probably, these claims should have been settled in a different fashion," the press secretary said. "At the same time, if it is proved that he kept control over operations of certain businesses when working in the Russian government, then this fact means violation of the law in itself," he added.

"The Prime Minister is definitely aware of the current information agenda," Osipov added.

The Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against ex-minister of the open government Mikhail Abyzov, official spokesperson of the Committee Svetlana Petrenko told TASS earlier.

According to the investigation, Abyzov, with Nikolai Stepanov, Maxim Rusakov, Galina Fraidenberg, Alexander Pelipasov and Sergei Ilyichev participating in the crime, stole and 4 bln rubles ($62.1 mln) from OJSC Siberian Energy Company and OJSC Regional Power Networks through fraud of their shareholders and channeled money abroad. Actions of individuals involved in the case are qualified under Parts 2 and 3 of Article 210 and Part 4 of Article 159 of the Russian penal code ["Creation and participation in criminal community" and "Fraud" - TASS], Petrenko added.

Investigative activities are currently underway with persons involved in the criminal case.

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