The head of the Kurgan FSS is suspected of taking a bribe

Yesterday, the prosecutor's office of the Kurgan region announced the initiation of a criminal case against the head of the regional branch of the Social Insurance Fund (FSS) Lyubov Aristarkhova. She is suspected of receiving a bribe in the amount of 20 thousand rubles. According to the investigation, in order to receive a government order for the treatment of public sector workers, the OGUP “Resorts of Trans-Urals” carried out various repair work on Mrs. Aristarkhova’s country property. Previously, she was already involved in a criminal case for abuse of power, but then the court acquitted her. As Deputy Prosecutor of the Kurgan Region Viktor Pozdnyakov said, the case is under Part 1 of Art. 290 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (Taking a bribe) was initiated on April 9, 2007. But he did not talk about this in more detail, citing the fact that Ms. Aristarkhova has not yet been charged; moreover, she has not even been interrogated yet.

As Kommersant’s source in the regional Department of Economic Crimes, which conducted an inspection of the activities of the head of the Kurgan branch of the FSS at the end of 2006, told Kommersant, the application for extortion of a bribe came from the management of the OGUP “Resorts of Trans-Urals”. According to his version, the state-owned enterprise carried out repair work on Lyubov Aristarkhova’s real estate, which is estimated at 20 thousand rubles. In return, “Resorts of Trans-Urals” expected to receive a government order to provide services to public sector workers.

Now, as explained in the Department of Economic Crimes of the Kurgan Region, the head of the regional FSS faces imprisonment for a period of 5 years with deprivation of the right to hold a leadership position for up to 3 years. The Trans-Ural Resorts refused to talk about the situation.

It was not possible to contact Lyubov Aristarkhova, as they said in the regional branch of the social insurance fund, she is on sick leave and undergoing treatment in one of the city hospitals. Her colleagues declined to comment on the situation, citing the fact that they were hearing about this case for the first time. The regional government does not comment on the situation either. “This structure is under federal subordination, and we cannot comment on the illegal actions of the head of the regional FSS,” said press secretary of the governor of the Kurgan region Dmitry Serov.

It is worth noting that, according to a source in the Department of Economic Crimes, Lyubov Aristarkhova had previously been prosecuted for abuse of power, but then the prosecutor’s office was unable to prove her guilt in court. “She was suspected of buying an apartment using her official position. But the court acquitted her, and the management of the fund did not fire her,” a source in the Department of Economic Crimes told Kommersant.

Igor Lesovskikh

Kommersant (Ekaterinburg) No. 61 from 04/12/2007

"Resorts of Trans-Urals" paid for the state order with repairs