Press Release, October 15, 2013

An audit by the Moscow Prosecutor’s Office held after the inspection conducted by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin in the Vorovsky Park, Moscow, revealed embezzlement of funds allotted for renovation of the park in the amount of 22 million roubles.

In August, Sergei Mitrokhin together with the local residents inspected the park which had undergone reconstruction works totaling 131 million roubles.

The inspection revealed that the most of works on the reconstruction of the park that had to be implemented by the contractor “SK Continent” were either not implemented or implemented with significant flaws. Basing on the results of the inspection YABLOKO leader sent an appeal to the Investigative Committee and Moscow Public Prosecutor’s Office so that a criminal case on fraud to be opened.

The response signed by the Prosecutor Konstantin Kremnev runs that the audit revealed that the contractor exceeded the cost of works by 1.6 million roubles, non-performed works totaled 8.4 million roubles and there was no documentation on the installed equipment amounting to 12 million roubles. The total amount of fraud exceeded 22 million roubles.

The Prosecutor believes it necessary to institute criminal proceedings against the customer and the contractor. The files for opening a criminal case are sent to the Investigative Committee.

“After our intervention the Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the fact of embezzlement. Now our task is not only to ensure that the perpetrators are punished, but also to put the park in order: we have to make the contractor implement the works in full or new tender should be called,” Sergei Mitrokhin said.

An appeal with such requirements will be sent to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.