Roman Zhogov cheated and stole along the party line
On December 2, within the walls of the Leninsky District Court of Voronezh, a measure of restraint was chosen for a suspected fraud (part 4 of article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) Roman Zhogov, he is also a deputy of the City Duma of the V convocation, he is also the head of the United Russia faction (after the trial, his membership in the party was suspended). In the pre-trial detention center, the people’s choice will celebrate the New Year, Christmas and Epiphany, he will stay in the detention center for at least 2 months – until January 29, 2023, if the arrest cannot be appealed. If after the expiration of this period the preventive measure is extended, then his 46th birthday Roman Zhogov meet in the chamber.
Roman ZhogovBy the way, his wife Maria is the second suspect in this criminal case.
In general, the defense side was determined to challenge the petition of the investigator for especially important cases of the regional Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, which was supported by the prosecutor. Lawyers in paint outlined three scenarios if the court decides not to send Zhogov to a pre-trial detention center – bail, a ban on certain actions, and house arrest. But, as can be seen from the final decision, the judge Dmitry Mayorov was adamant.
And that’s why.
Friday. Around 15 o’clock. An escort brings Roman Zhogov into the courtroom. Finding himself without handcuffs in the previously inspected “aquarium”, it is still “United Russia”, but the suspect takes off his jacket and remains in a T-shirt.
Around turn on cameras, flashes. The MP is baptized. Judge enters.
A meeting to choose a measure of restraint begins. To complete the picture, only the victim is missing, he in this case is Alexander Provotorov (former deputy chairman of the Voronezh City Duma, and now sentenced to 2 years in a general regime colony for fraud and wishing to be released on parole).
And right there, a petition comes from the Investigative Committee – to close the court session, since the secret of the investigation could allegedly be disclosed. Roman Zhogov categorically stated: “I have nothing to hide, I am innocent (he will repeat this more than once). At your discretion.” As a result, Dmitry Mayorov, having asked the opinion of other participants in the process, decided not to close the meeting.
After clarification of personal data and the state of health of Mr. Zhogov, it turned out that he had a sick heart, he was even called an ambulance twice during the investigation and in the temporary detention facility. The deputy was explained his rights (on the one hand, a boring legal speech, on the other, an obligatory part of the meeting).
The investigator substantiated the motion to select a measure of restraint in the form of detention of a person suspected of fraud on an especially large scale. Like, there is reason to believe that Roman Zhogov, who has been holding positions in public authorities for a long time, and is currently a deputy of the city duma and has extensive connections, while remaining at large, can put pressure on the victim and witnesses in order to change their testimony or otherwise interfere with the investigation. Evidence is being collected, all the circumstances of the crime are being clarified.
The prosecutor recalled that the deputy’s wife is also a suspect. And choosing a preventive measure that is not related to isolation from society is inappropriate, since there is no guarantee that he will not be in contact with his wife.
The defense side parried.
The lawyers did not agree with the stated petition, calling the wording about the deputy’s extensive connections abstract. They presented their evidence, according to which a milder preventive measure could be applied to Zhogov, for example, a bail in the amount of the claimed damage (more than 2 million rubles), the initial amount of 500 thousand is on the account of the deputy’s father-in-law, a ban on certain actions, which is motivated by that the suspect is the only breadwinner in the family.
Another option is house arrest, which he can carry out at home or in an apartment at the place of registration (the wife at this time could move into the house without contact with her husband), and also in a rented living space on Karl Marx Street.
Even the owner of an apartment in the center of Voronezh was summoned to court, and she was ready to rent out the suspect’s apartment during his house arrest. The elderly woman herself lives in Shilovo.
According to the defense, Roman Zhogov’s own sister could supervise and support Roman Zhogov for the period of house arrest. She was also called to court.
The girl explained that she was in her fifth year at VSTU, and now she had time for her deputy brother. If the court deems it possible to send him under house arrest, the student is ready to buy necessary products, personal hygiene items for her relative and look after him. It won’t show up in her studies.
The sister of United Russia is ready to spend 150 thousand rubles on him – this is savings for braces. But the selfless student is ready to sacrifice money for her brother. These funds may be enough for two months of existence under house arrest. And what’s next, because the investigation can go on for a year? According to the girl, after graduation, she plans to find a job.
All this time, Roman Zhogov periodically clutched at his heart, but held on steadfastly.
And then they gave him a word.
When the judge left for the deliberation room, Roman Zhogov made a statement:
While the court is in the deliberation room, we will outline the plot of the criminal case.
According to investigators, in 2010, Roman Zhogov, the first deputy head of the ER regional executive committee, turned to the director of the Voronezh Experimental Mechanical Plant, Alexander Provotorov, who was a member of United Russia, with the requirements of monthly financing of the party, informing him of the need for fictitious employment Maria Volodinawho later became his wife.
Provotorov’s position was dependent on Zhogov on the party line, and he agreed, arranging a woman at the enterprise for the position of a specialist in financial analysis of the department economyplanning and marketing.
From 11/1/2010 to 05/27/2020, Zhogova was employed, but did not visit the workplace, but received a salary. The funds were not spent on the party, but were spent at the personal discretion of the Zhogvoykhs. So the family of the deputy fraudulently received from Provotorov 2 million 386 thousand 492 rubles 32 kopecks.
But this still needs to be proven.
Alexander Provotorov himself, the alleged victim in the fraud case, was found guilty of electoral fraud and is serving his sentence in a penal colony. It is possible that the criminal case of a colleague is due to the fact that Alexander Provotorov wished to mitigate his punishment or be released on parole.
The court returned from the deliberation room and read out the decision, which was already mentioned at the very beginning of the material.
“Zhogov is suspected of a serious crime, for which the criminal law provides for punishment in the form of a long term of imprisonment. The events of which Zhogov is suspected, according to the investigation, took place in the period from 2010 to 2020, and evidence is currently being collected in the case, the circumstances of the incident are being established, in connection with which the court has reason to believe that, being not isolated from society, Zhogov, being familiar with other participants in criminal proceedings, due to his social position and existing connections among officials of government bodies, can influence the participants in legal proceedings in order to change his last testimony or otherwise obstruct the proceedings in a criminal case. <...> The totality of data characterizing the suspects, in particular, the presence of an official place of residence and an official place of work, the presence of a minor child, not previously brought to criminal responsibility, the promotion of him for labor and socio-political activities, his positive characterization from the place of work and the provision information about the availability of residential premises and funds are not sufficient grounds for choosing another measure of restraint for Zhogov, since it will not properly contribute to the criminal proceedings, which are at the initial stage of forming the evidence base. There are no medical indications preventing the detention of Zhogov in the pre-trial detention center.
Roman Zhogov himself at the meeting repeatedly declared his innocence. The deputy answered almost all questions, refusing only to name the customer of his criminal case: “You already know.” The suspect asked those present whether he should leave the thought “after this.” “If only to the State Duma,” one of the journalists mocked.
From the emotions of the suspect, it was clear that he was not ready for such a turn of events.
The fact that Roman Zhogov got involved in investigative actions became known on November 30. True, then it was not clear in what status the deputy was. They said it could be a scam. As you can see, that’s how it happened.
Roman Zhogov faces up to 10 years in prison.
For 2021, the declaration of the people’s choice looked like this: The head of the family has 2 million 220 thousand 043 rubles 03 kopecks per year or 185 thousand rubles per month, Volkswagen Touareg, land shares, a country house and an apartment. The deputy’s wife declared over the past year 1 million 150 thousand 000 rubles 00 kopecks, a Toyota RAV4 car and almost the same real estate.
In 2020, apparently, Zhogov had one more land plot. The rest of the picture is identical to 2021. Income for 12 months amounted to 2 million 296 thousand 441 rubles 17 kopecks. But the income of Maria Zhogova amounted to 126 thousand 201 rubles 03 kopecks or 10.5 thousand rubles per month.
