Kabardino-Balkaria: three officials charged of fraud

Today, three officials of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) Vladimir Zhamborov, the head of the administration of the KBR's leader, Khabdulsalam Ligidov, ex-Minister of State Property and Land Relations, and Ruslan Zhamborov, his former deputy, were charged of committing fraud on a large scale with the use of their official positions. This was reported by the press service of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that three officials from the Kabardino-Balkaria are suspected of fraud in concluding a deal to transfer to entrepreneur Madina Khatsukova the building of the Philharmonic Hall for 1 million roubles, while its actual cost is amounted to 20 million roubles. In accordance with the court decision, the officials were arrested. On June 13, the Zhamborov's defence challenged his arrest. Besides, complaints against arrest of two other defendants in the case were also filed.

Let us note that earlier, at consideration of investigators' request to arrest, one of the defendants in the case Khabdulsalam Ligidov, Minister of State Property and Land Resources of the KBD, stated that he treated the criminal proceeding as a political order. "Perhaps, detractors shake this situation, since at present, the republic address issues related to agricultural lands," the official explained.

To confirm his innocence, the official has emphasized that the decision on the privatization of the building, of which embezzlement he is charged, was made collectively by all members of the republic's government after the inspection conducted by the territorial authorities, the prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Justice.

Besides, Khabdulsalam Ligidov also stated that, in accordance with the results of the conducted examination, the building was recognized as dilapidated, and it was given to a 100-percent state-owned company, the RIA "Novosti" reports. Ruslan Zhamborov also denies his guilt.