"Resignation of Vyacheslav Dudka, Governor Tula Region,
is connected with corruption scandals around him and his people,"
said YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin.
"It was clear for me that Dudka would resign soon after
court acquitted Vladimir Timakov, MP of the Tula City Duma
[who was a defendant on a libel case for his criticism of
the Governor], on June 30," Mitrokhin added.
Court found that Vladimir Timakov, YABLOKO’s MP in the Tula
City Duma was guilty of libel in November 2010. The court
found that Timakov’s criticism of the Governor for corruption
was “libel”.
If the court’s decision had come into force this would mean
that Timakov representing YABLOKO in the city parliament would
automatically cease being an MP loosing his mandate. On June
30, 2011, the higher instance court recognized Timakov innocent.
Governor Dudka has been a witness in a criminal case against
Director of the Department of Property and Land of the Tula
region. The former subordinate of the Governor is accused
of accepting a 40 million roubles bribe (approx. USD 1.3 mln).
However, according to Mitrokhin, an even louder corruption
scandal in the region was connected with a criminal case of
illegal privatisation of a housing and utilities company taking
a monopoly position in Tula.
The company worth 292 million roubles was sold for 28 million
roubles only.
"... The stock value of the Management Company of Tula
had been lowered by 10.4 times," runs the letter of Mr.Sedukhin,
Public Prosecutor of Tula to Sergei Mitrokhin.
"Appointment of a new governor may give a new impulse
to the criminal case. Now the investigation has come to a
deadlock," Mitrokhin noted.
See also:
Public Prosecutor
dismisses charges against YABLOKO’s MP in the Tula parliament
Vladimir Timakov. Press Release, June 30, 2011
On
the court judgment on Vladimir Timakov libel case. Statement
by the Chairman of the Tula branch of YABLOKO.
November 30, 2010.
YABLOKO conducted
a picket in support of deputy of the Tula City Duma. Press
Release. September 7, 2010.
Tula City
Duma deputy persecuted for his criticism of the Governor’s
work. Statement by the Tula branch of YABLOKO. July 15, 2010
Freedom
of Speech
YABLOKO
Against Corruption
| 