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Moscow Region’s ex-finance minister pleads not guilty to embezzlement charges

On January 3, Alexei Kuznetsov was extradited to Russia

Alexei Kuznetsov Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation/TASS

Alexei Kuznetsov

© Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation/TASS

MOSCOW, January 5. /TASS/. Former Moscow Region Finance Minister Alexei Kuznetsov extradited from France to Russia accused of fraud and embezzlement pleaded not guilty during the interrogation, as follows from a video tape of the interrogation released by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation on Saturday.

"No, not guilty," he said when asked a respective question by the investigator.

On January 3, Kuznetsov accompanied by officers of Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service and the Russian Interpol Bureau was extradited to Russia.

On Friday, the Investigative Committee indicted Kuznetsov for committing fraud, legalizing property acquired as a result of committing crimes, and embezzlement. According to investigators, Kuznetsov and his accomplices inflicted damage on the Moscow Region government, housing and utility enterprises and the Mosobltransinvest company to the tune of over 14 bln rubles ($206.6 mln).

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Russian embassy warns UK about dangers of calling for Moscow’s ‘defeat’

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Russian-EU relations to remain unchanged after departure of Russian envoy — diplomat

Previously, Acting Permanent Representative to Brussels Kirill Logvniov told reporters that he wraps up his mission in Brussels within the planned rotation

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These missiles pose a threat not only to Ukraine but also to the entire Western world, including continental Europe and Great Britain, Abdullah Agar stressed

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Andrey Kelin also recalled that the policy of the Russian leadership enjoys the full support and confidence of the country's population

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Maria Zakharova stated that the US-NATO construction project, ongoing for nearly a decade with complete disregard to Russian security concerns, has consistently been a focus of Russia's attention

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Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised address to the nation on November 21, announcing that in response to the West’s decision to authorize strategic-depth strikes on Russia, Moscow used its new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile for the first time

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According to Nikolay Patrushev, the "imposed sanctions restrictions are aimed at thwarting the implementation of Russia’s Arctic projects"

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Trump seeks to restore peace in entire world — transition team on Putin’s address

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Russia entitled to use weapons against military sites of states attacking it — Duma

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Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Russian forces successfully advancing in all areas in special military op zone — Putin

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Decision on strikes inside Russia seals US puppet Zelensky’s fate — commentator

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Internet shutdown possible in Belarus if events of August 2020 recur, Lukashenko says

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Russia fires ballistic, non-nuclear-tipped missile at Ukrainian aerospace plant — Putin

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Belarusian president believes humanity is on the brink of World War III

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Russian forces cut off key Ukrainian supply route in Velikaya Novoselka, DPR

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