Deputy Chairman of the Leningrad Region Government Arrested

The Dzerzhinsky District Court of St. Petersburg arrested the Deputy Prime Minister of the Leningrad Region in a fraud case until March 28.

In 2013-2015, Koval, being Deputy General Director for Capital Construction and Investments of Gazprom Gas Distribution OJSC and the actual owner of Mezhregionstroy LLC, led the embezzlement of funds allocated under the investment program of the gas company and transferred to Mezhregionstroy. In total, at least 28 million rubles were stolen, according to the investigation.

According to the joint press service of the courts of St. Petersburg , the defense offered a bail of up to 47 million rubles. And the investigator, as part of characterizing the personality of the accused, presented the judge with a transcript of an official conversation between Koval and an official, in which the accused “spoke in such words about the leadership of the country that cannot be said in a court session and in society, obscene language.” In addition, he stated that Koval has an open visa to England.

Koval was detained on 29 January. He began working in the government of the Leningrad region in 2015, overseeing the housing and communal services and energy sectors. Prior to that, he was a deputy of the regional Legislative Assembly, also served as deputy secretary of the Leningrad regional branch of United Russia. In 2009-2014, he worked as Deputy General Director at Gazprom Gas Distribution.