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Kremlin comments on checks into opposition leader associate’s business

The Life Internet portal earlier reported that Alexey Navalny’s university mate Ivan Nesterenko earned money on the blogger’s investment activity

Alexei Navalny Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS

Alexei Navalny

© Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS

SOCHI, May 13. /TASS/. The Kremlin said on Friday it is not keeping an eye on checks carried out by Russia’s prosecutors into alleged illegal activity of the Nesterenko family business group and the participation in the business of opposition figure Alexei Navalny.

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"No, we are not following this. This is the work of our law enforcement bodies," Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters answering a question if the Kremlin knows about the accusations.

The Life Internet portal earlier reported that Navalny’s university mate Ivan Nesterenko earned money on the blogger’s investment activity, securing contracts from the VTB bank, including on the construction of 2018 FIFA World Cup facilities in Russia. According to the report, in 2000 Nesterenko and Navalny registered their first joint company "N.N.Securities."

Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office said earlier on Friday it would launch checks into corruption during tenders, placing orders and choosing the winners after the publication. The checks will involve specialists from the controlling and law enforcement bodies.

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