Press release, 01.10.2013

Today YABLOKO’s Anti-Corruption Centre won four law suits against state bureaucrats: three cases in the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service of the Moscow region and one in the Moscow Federal Anti-Monopoly Service. In total of antitrust authority has recognized the purchase of six cars unlawful.

Four of them were intended for municipal officials in Domodedovo the Moscow Region: Hyundai Grandeur for 3.3 million rubles and three Hyundai Equus 2 million rubles each.

The Moscow Employment Department intended to buy an Audi A6 for 2.8 million rubles. The department provided a detailed description for the car they needed to fight unemployment in Moscow. For example, the car had to have “Valcona skin” leather seats only. Also the change-gear lever of the car had to be trimmed with the same kind of leather as well. Also the specification indicated a six channel amplifier, nine speakers and a subwoofer. The windows had to have a deep tint. All these requirements were approved by Alexander Kirillin, head of the Employment Department.

The “cheapest” of today’s cars was Opel Onsignia Sports for 1.5 million roubles – intended for the heads of the Poultry Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. However, this purchase was considered very expensive according to the Anti-Corruption Centre standards. YABLOKO filed a complaint which was recognised valid by the Moscow Anti-Corruption Service.

Karina Nagornaya, lawyer, represented YABLOKO’s Anti-Corruption Centre in all the four cases.

The Anti-Corruption Centre has been functioning since December 2012. During this period it has won 175 cases when purchases made by the state bodies were recognised unlawful.