Corruption

Governor of N. Russian region charged with fraud and criminal gang membership

Nineteen public officials and businessmen based in the Komi Republic have been charged in Moscow on suspicion of fraud and organizing a criminal gang. The group includes Vyacheslav Gayzer, the governor of the northern Russian region.

The criminal gang has been active since 2006 and committed grievous crimes aimed at the acquisition of public property, said Russian Investigative Committee spokesperson Vladimir Markin.

The criminal group, which also listed Gayzer's deputy Alexey Chernov, is behind large-scale illegal activities in Russia and even beyond, according to the IC.

Police conducted several searches – including the office of Gayzer in Moscow. Investigators found a substantial sum of money and a collection of luxurious watches – one of them costs about $1 million.