Vladimir Podolsky “sawed” FOT
The ex-commander of Vympel was given a 5.5 year suspended sentence by the FSB for embezzling 25.4 million rubles. on fictitious employment of relatives of a subordinate in departmental security
The original of this material
© IA “RBC”08/02/2023, The ex-commander of the Vympel special forces received a suspended sentence for embezzlement of ₽25 million
Natalia Anisimova
The Moscow garrison military court sentenced the ex-commander of the Vympel department of the FSB special forces center and the former head of the state enterprise Departmental Protection of Industrial Facilities of Russia (VOOP) Vladimir Podolsky to five and a half years of probation in the case of embezzlement of more than 25 million rubles. (part 4 of article 159 of the Criminal Code), Kommersant reports. He was also fined 450 thousand rubles.
“Kommersant”, 08/02/2023, “And half the time, and not sit a day”: At the same time, the prosecutor suggested that the court terminate the proceedings on the episode of attempted obstruction of the investigation of the criminal case (Article 33 and Part 2 of Article 294 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), imputed to Andrey Polshchikov, since the statute of limitations had expired. Earlier, the TFR believed that the colonel was trying not only to interfere with the investigator Alexander Pautov, who was in charge of the fraud case, but also to eliminate him (Article 295 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) by hiring him for 5 million rubles. U.S. citizen Oleg Grishchenko, who had connections in the criminal environment.
However, the jury of the 2nd Western District Military Court acquitted the defendants of this crime, and at the same time of fraud. When the verdict was overturned on appeal by the military prosecutor’s office due to violations, Mr. Grishchenko disappeared. […] By the way, the defendants on the eve were very worried about the question of whether the court would fulfill the demand of the prosecutor’s office to deprive them of their titles and awards, but the presiding judge did not consider this necessary. — Inset K.ru
Podolsky’s subordinate, the former executive director of the VOOP, Andrei Polshchikov, was given six years in prison. Formerly Military Prosecutor’s Office asked to appoint Podolsky ten, and Polshchikov – 12 years in prison, as well as to deprive them of awards and the ranks of major general and colonel. The court did not do this.
The case also involves members of the colonel’s family – senior warrant officer Larisa Polshchikova and their son Maxim. They were given four years probation with fines of 400,000 and 50,000 rubles. respectively.
The court found that Podolsky, together with Polshchikov, in 2012, fictitiously employed the wife and son of the latter in the VOOP, after which 25.4 million rubles were transferred to their cards over the course of several years. The accomplices divided these funds among themselves, the prosecution claims. The defendants pleaded not guilty.
“Kommersant”, 07/30/2023, “Ten years and no merit”: In turn, the defendants’ lawyers insist on their acquittal. So, the lawyer of the family of Andrey Polshchikov indicated that he arranged for the family members to work at the Federal State Unitary Enterprise only because the head of the enterprise Podolsky asked him to do so. At the same time, employment was nominal. Allegedly, the general said that the money would only be issued for them, but in fact it would be spent on the maintenance of volunteers who then fought in the LPR and DPR. According to the defense, Andrei Polshchikov trusted the major general in this and other matters so much that he did not dare to contradict him.
The defenders also claim that Larisa and Maxim Polshchikov found out that they were registered in the Federal State Unitary Enterprise only after the criminal case was opened. Moreover, Polshchikov Jr. at the time of employment was a minor. Vladimir Podolsky believes that a subordinate whom he trusted set him up by fictitiously arranging a son and wife, who transferred about 140 thousand rubles a month to the card. He himself admits that he was negligent by not checking what the money was paid for. However, at the enterprise, which is now part of the structure of the Russian Guard, then more than 20 thousand people worked, and, according to the general, it was simply impossible to keep track of everyone. — Inset K.ru
When the verdict was announced, according to the newspaper, the judge mentioned the merits of the defendants: Podolsky and Polshchikov were veterans of military operations and military service, they were awarded military awards, and Polshchikov was also an invalid of the second group due to a wound.
The case against Podolsky was opened in 2016. As Kommersant wrote, during an inspection at the VOOP, which has more than 17 thousand employees, dozens of “dead souls” were found, on whose cards wages were transferred monthly. This money, according to the investigation, was cashed out on behalf of the leadership of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise and used for personal purposes.
The defense insisted on the acquittal of the accused, but put forward different versions of what happened. Podolsky’s defense argued that Polshchikov framed their client by fictitiously registering his wife and son with the VOOP. The general admitted his negligence, but called it impossible to keep track of all the employees. At the same time, the defense of the other defendants in the case claims that Polshchikov hired family members precisely at the request of Podolsky, whom he “did not dare to contradict.”
The Vympel group participated, among other things, in the release of hostages in the theater center on Dubrovka in Moscow in October 2002 and school number 1 in Beslan in September 2004.
