The February post was struck by the number of similar stories: on the ground power is sometimes crossed not only with outright criminality, but also with some other entities.
Gazprom is once again the leader in terms of complaints from Russians on the golden pedestal: people from the Rostov region and Stavropol Krai complain about blatant “rip-offs” by employees of the gas monopoly. The local courts are full of hundreds of lawsuits, but the gas “haul” is still there: no change… To Mr. Miller – ours with a brush!
The governor of the Sverdlovsk region, Evgeny Kuivashev, has a silver pedestal: the governor gets lost in three trees. The governor cannot figure out what to do about the scandalous Reftinskaya factory which is ringing all the way to Moscow. The employees of the chicken factory write to the editorial office and are very much offended with the governor. Kuyvashev does not hear the voice of the people, he sends formal replies. The poultry factory fires the most valuable employees. And he is constantly demanding government subsidies. Is it really necessary again to interfere from the federal center?
“Bronze” in the February race is taken by the governor of the Krasnodar region, Veniamin Kondratyev, whose bouncy officials may have organized a “private-public” funeral business, and who is also allegedly taking money from the Kuban people. Local people are very much offended with Governor Kondratiev: a lot of appeals to his administration, but still no order in the field of funeral services.
People also complain strongly about the indifference of the governor of Stavropol Krai, Vladimir Vladimirov. He received several harsh letters: the head of Stavropol Territory still cannot resolve the issue with the Gornozavodsk boarding school, where the school director Stepan Lyubenko beat a teenager to a bloody pulp. The boy spent several months in a coma.
In addition to governors, high-ranking generals such as Deputy Minister Viktor Yatsutsenko and General Vyacheslav Butko, head of the Emergency Situations Ministry Academy, also got their share of flattery from readers.
In general, the heroes are all prominent, famous, recognizable, so we have a special demand for them.
A correspondent of The Moscow Post read the February post.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
“Battle” in the village of Sandata
“Black Mark” from Gazprom: Why Alexei Miller’s subordinates compare their rank-and-file customers to “criminals,” was the title of a recent journalistic investigation based on letters from our readers.
“Gazprom has made an excellent showing in the Rostov Region, especially in the small but proud village of Sandata: today there is a real “confrontation” there between Gazprom’s structures and local residents. In the center of attention is OOO Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Rostov-on-Don.
“For more than 5 years we can’t get justice, – they write us from the village of Sandata. – A corrupt chain – Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Rostov-on-Don, the police, the prosecutor’s office and the courts. They humiliate us, disconnect us from the gas supply. The most humiliated are the elderly people with low gas consumption.
The letter makes it clear: Gazprom is taking their last kopecks, the pensions of the elderly are small, and they have to save, including on gas heating. And the gas companies do not like the fact that the elderly do not consume much gas. They say it could mean they might just be stealing fuel?
“No matter how many complaints we write to Mezhregiongaz, they all go back to the prosecutor’s office. And corruption is rampant there. These are the people who should be on the lookout for the law,” the letter writers wrote.
The gas companies by their well-tuned schemes continue to enrich themselves on the background of ordinary people, primarily the elderly.
Those who don’t want to pay can find themselves in debt. They charge money according to norms, and this is several times more than the readings of gas meters. The same thing is happening in Kuban.
Gazprom gazoraspredelenie Krasnodar” is operating there. And how competently built are the schemes for taking money from people, and the handwriting is the same as in the Rostov region, where the alarming letters keep coming from. But when will the authorities hear the voice of the “crying in the wilderness”?
It’s ridiculous.
“Like Kuivashev ‘plucked’: what’s going on behind the fence of the Reftinskaya poultry farm?” – That was the title of an investigation based on letters from readers in the Sverdlovsk region.
“Under the slogan of saving the Reftinskaya poultry factory, preparations are being made to steal state property on a particularly large scale,” believe the authors of the letter, employees of the enterprise. Factory workers try to contact the governor, but in vain.
A few days ago the previous article “Hams in exchange for governorship: How Reftinskaya poultry factory and Governor Kuyvashev’s chair are connected” was published. Literally afterwards came this, a new letter with documents.
Yevgeny Kuyvashev. Photo: Vladimir Martyanov, Oblast newspaper.
We quote another part of the letter: “We appeal with a request for help. To all our appeals – about changing working conditions at the poultry farm, low wages, layoffs, deprivation of benefits – we only get runarounds”.
But while the giant subsidies – and in the last two years direct subsidies from the budget amounted to over 400 million rubles, interest-free loans from the budget Sverdlovsk poultry farm amounted to 500 million rubles. However the poultry farm still only shows losses.
The debts of the Reftinskaya poultry factory have reached 2.5 billion rubles. And the reasons, as it turned out, are not only bad management, but also outright theft of budgetary millions for the benefit of managers. In 2021, the deputies of the Sverdlovsk region approved the sale of the Reftinskaya Poultry Factory, but the auction was not held.
According to the authors of the letter, “in fact, under Kuivashev’s decision, under the slogan of the state task of saving the Reftinskaya poultry farm, preparations for the theft of state property in especially large amounts are taking place”.
At the end of 2021 the Reftinskaya poultry farm received 210 million rubles in subsidies from the budget. In the middle of February this year it became known that Reftinskaya poultry farm received another 210 million rubles from the state treasury. Thus, the total amount made up 420 million rubles.
The Sverdlovsk Region’s long-suffering poultry factory is in a bad situation. And they receive millions, but there is no money, the poultry farm is “sinking”.
A coffin with music
A journalistic investigation, “Resting Koshman: Governor Kondratiev’s subordinates set up a public-private funeral parlor,” was also published following an appeal to the editorial board.
Residents of Novotitarovskaya village (Kuban) wrote another appeal to The Moscow Post, since Governor Kondratyev does not respond to villagers’ letters.
Here is a part of the letter: “We, the residents of Novotitarovskaya village, express our sincere gratitude that The Moscow Post does not stand aside from our troubles. We read with interest the material about our life: “The Humbled Czars” by Veniamin Kondratyev. And we have a new topic: this is the topic of Kuban cemetery corruption”.
Sergey Koshman. Photo: Novotitarovsky rural settlement website
The head of the village administration, the hero of several high-profile investigations by The Moscow Post Sergei Koshman, then – the enterprising businessman Konstantin Prokofiev, who managed to become the chairman of the Novotitarovo rural settlement council. And for many years in a row the complex of funeral services is in the hands of these “circus performers”.
The police, the prosecutor’s office, and Governor Kondratiev’s administration – this is what the villagers are sure of – do nothing.
The village cemetery is located one kilometer from Novotitarovskaya village. And, as it turned out, for a long time the pogost has been in the clinging hands of Koshman and Prokofyev.
Konstantin Prokofyev was previously the head of Requiem. Requiem MUE was liquidated on September 23, 2016. It would seem that the funeral office was liquidated, but the Prokofiev family did not disappear from the funeral business. This business generates huge profits every month for a narrow circle of “coffin diggers”.
Not so long ago Prokofyev, the former head undertaker, became the chairman of the Novotitarovskaya stanitsa Council of Deputies. As a result, 23 deputy seats were taken by relatives and friends of the head of settlement Sergey Koshman.But there is a direct conflict of interests: the deputy of settlement Larisa Sergeevna Kanivets, daughter of Mr. Koshman, director of “KSC”.This abbreviation is deciphered easily: “Sergey Koshman Konstantinovich”.
According to the authors of the letter the decision of Novotitarovsky rural settlement № 32-10/04 was signed. And that’s when the cost of the services according to the guaranteed list on the burial was determined: the cost of digging the grave with an excavator was 938 rubles. 55 rubles. And burial by digging the grave by hand – 2237 rubles. 08 rubles.
This is, as they say, on paper. But in reality it is different. No one has seen an excavator at the cemetery for a long time. Digging of graves is done only by hands of gastarbeiters. And they work in the cemetery without documents.
But the cost of the dug grave is 10 thousand rubles. This is the sum of money which mourning relatives pass straight into their hands.
Probable trade of municipal land in the cemetery can be a commonplace phenomenon.
There are several companies with the participation of the Prokofievs. For example, Cobra Garant LLC was registered. The director of the office is Yulia Prokofyeva, and the founder of the LLC is Konstantin Prokofyev. People in their letter to the editorial office openly blame the head of Novotitarovskaya village Koshman for the situation. And, of course, the “outside observer,” Governor Kondratiev.
New Bikes from Lubenko
Now let’s move from Kuban to Stavropol Territory. To the domain of Governor Vladimir Vladimirov.
We remind you that The Moscow Post has already published several investigations into what happened at the Gornozavodsk boarding school and how it happened.
The first to come out was the journalistic investigation “A Pass to Life from Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel Lubenko,” after which Lieutenant Colonel Lubenko left Gornozavodskoe immediately. The second part – “Tales from the Crypt” of Lieutenant Colonel Lubenko – was published next.
After this investigation Lyubenko was dismissed from his new “bread” position in the Belgorod region, and the Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Investigative Committee reported that his case was being investigated by Stavropol investigators… Then another appeal to the editorial office came.
We quote part of it: “The whole story of the beating of teenager Slava Khvatalin is being slowed down by our governor Vladimirov. The appointment of a new school director is also slowed down by him, the governor. That is why neither the Kirov district prosecutor’s office, nor the police department or the prosecutor’s office want to look into the case of Lieutenant Colonel Lyubenko. Everything is being done to drop all charges against Lyubenko and return him to his position at the boarding school. We only hope for help from journalists!
After his flight from Stavropol Krai, Mr. Lyubenko was warmly received by Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of Belgorod Oblast: in Gladkov’s diocese, Lieutenant Colonel Lyubenko received a good new position – he became the head of the Regional Security Administration of Belgorod Oblast. But in the end “made his feet” from Belgorod region, too.
Then he “sailed” to the resort town of Essentuki.
Thus appeared the third part of the investigation: “Instead of prison – a resort. The soldier Lyubenko, who beat a teenager, lives happily in Yessentuki”.
Recall that at the end of July 2021, one of the pupils of the boarding school, 16-year-old Slava Khvatalin, ended up in a hospital bed. The school director Stepan Lyubenko explained to his relatives that the cadet had fallen from the turnstile. However, the Khvatalin family strongly doubted this version. And when the doctors took the boy from the school, he was already in a coma.
Governor Vladimir Vladimirov. Photo: Press Service of the Government of the Stavropol Territory.
The parents appealed to law enforcement authorities. And a criminal case was even opened. However, in the end, the case did not develop. Alexei Salamakhin, the author of the letter to the editor, claims that the commands “not to touch Lieutenant Colonel Lyubenko” are given by Governor Vladimirov.
Last fall, after the second part of the journalist’s investigation was published, Investigative Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin ordered General Igor Ivanov, Head of the Investigative Division of the Stavropol Region, to report on the progress of the criminal investigation
But why the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Stavropol Territory is not engaged in the investigation of this grim story?
Today, Lieutenant Colonel Lyubenko lives happily ever after. He bought a house in Essentuki on Kislovodskaya Street, then an expensive foreign car…
During this time the teenager Khvatalin, beaten with ponderous fists of Lyubenko, came out of his coma. From Stavropol the boy was sent to Moscow, to the Pirogov Children’s Clinical Hospital. Pirogov, in the department of medical rehabilitation. And the boy will be in treatment for a very long time.
The investigation is making no progress. Investigators do not want to get involved in the criminal case of Lyubenko. And this is most likely because Governor Vladimirov is standing up for Lyubenko. Why does this ugly institution continue to operate? And why do the investigative authorities of the Stavropol Territory stubbornly fail to see the criminal case of Lieutenant Colonel Lubenko?
Rector Yastrebov’s Passion
“Yastrebov ‘dives’ into budgets: who will ‘divvy up’ billions at the PFUR.” That was the title of the investigation, which was also based on an appeal to The Moscow Post.
“The Businessman Himself, or the Credo of Professor Yastrebov,” was the title of the first part of an investigation into the financial “escapades” of the PFUR new rector, Oleg Yastrebov. The new rector has established his own “authoritative” business practices at the university.
Oleg Yastrebov. Photo: PFUR website
Unfortunately, the people in uniform did not respond appropriately to The Moscow Post’s investigation.
We quoted part of the letter: “We had a new rector: Professor Oleg Yastrebov replaced Professor Vladimir Filippov. And strange changes began to happen. The new rector and his team have a manic zeal for excesses such as fancy furniture, luxurious cars. It is not the first day that rumors have been circulating in the university that Academician Filippov, Rector Yastrebov, and a few Vice Rectors have organized a sort of OPS: they are pumping out budgetary billions. Yastrebov has repeatedly bragged about his powerful connections in the police and prosecutor’s office.”
The authors of the letter also report that recently they have started to allocate significant amounts from the budget to the university. These billions should go toward the construction of new dormitories as well as the development of telemedicine. A figure of 7 billion rubles has already been announced.
“And Academician Filippov holds meetings every day, gives instructions on how and where to spend the allocated billions with the main condition of kickback of at least 30%,” the authors of the letter further write.
The main building of the PFUR. Photo: University website
In the short time under Yastrebov’s leadership, the university spent more than 206 million rubles only on the purchase of furniture.
Further, the university spent more than 27 million rubles to buy 9 luxury cars for the rector and his entourage.
In short, the PFUR administration has already spent more than 300 million rubles on luxury cars, expensive furniture, designer’s repairs and other charms of “paradise” life.
This is how the billions from the budget “fly away” in the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, with the connivance of the former rector, Academician Filippov, and the current one, Professor Yastrebov.
Filippov, Yastrebov and other members of the “mighty bunch” are being covered up by the law enforcement agencies of the Southwest Administrative District of Moscow.
“Cash cow.” DHS
From the PFUR we move smoothly to the Academy of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. “General Butko and his magic buttons: who turned the EMERCOM Academy into a ‘cash cow,'” was the name of the investigation, which was prepared based on a letter from ordinary EMERCOM employees.
We quote part of that letter:
“The destruction of the Academy of State Fire Service (GPS) of the Ministry of Emergency Situations – the leading profile university of the country – continues. The irrepressible appetite of Lieutenant General Vyacheslav Butko, the head of the academy, and his deputy and colleague Colonel Alexander Ivankin are to blame. Soon the latter will be promoted to the rank of major-general, and all thanks to his self-sacrificing work – the transformation of a state institution into a commercial structure, from which Butko’s patrons and his “roof” at the top, first of all Deputy Minister Viktor Yatsutsenko, are “feeding”.
General Viktor Yatsutsenko. Photo: EMERCOM website.
The authors of the letter talk about staff turnover, understaffing, disgusting attitude of management…
And this is not all that the cadets and teaching staff have to endure. Bonuses and extra pay just do not get to the staff – they are scrolled in Butko’s gray schemes.
Cadets have to buy at their own expense what should have been paid from the budget. For example, the contents of “alarming” briefcases, the filling of which cost 7 thousand rubles.
At the same time, General Butko buys himself one jeep after another. Of course, with money of the academy.
Recently, the general bought a new car for 7 million rubles, explaining that he does not want to drive the car of his predecessor.
It is noteworthy that the day after the release of the journalistic investigation, there was suddenly a fire at the Academy of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Could the “rooster” have been set off maliciously?
