Could the investigation involving the arrested vice-mayor Zarapin and the accused brother of the vice-governor Gabuev also implicate the former head of the region Nikitin?
According to the reporter MorningNews, the FSB in the Tambov region arrested 33-year-old deputy head of the Tambov administration, Yury Zarapin, on charges of fraud. Two criminal cases have been launched against him. If found guilty, he could face up to ten years in prison.
According to “Kommersant”, the investigation has details of suspicious activities by Zarapin between June and November 2018, and May and November 2020. It's alleged that together with the general director of Stroyengineering LLC, Dmitry Popov, Zarapin embezzled 5.5 million rubles of budget allocation for the regional project “Safe Quality Roads.”
LLC “Stroyengineering” was responsible for city road projects. Dmitry Popov is currently under house arrest. It's believed he or a witness in his case provided information to law enforcement about Zarapin's involvement.
Following a series of scandals in the road sector in the Tambov region, it's likely that the investigation will focus on other VIP suspects.
The roads are a different story…
Zarapin began working at Tambov City Hall in February 2021, having previously led the municipal “Directorate of City Roads.” The alleged violations are linked to his former role.
At the mayor’s office, Zarapin was responsible for urban planning, land use, roads, transport, and the administrative committee prior to his arrest. Any violations in these areas may be revealed after a document seizure and investigation.
Photo: protambov.ru
Yuri Zarapin was arrested on suspicion of fraud
Recently The Moscow Post published an investigation into the situation in the road industry in the Tambov region in mid-February, following the murder of Viktor Vakulchik, deputy head of the Tambov Region Roads and Transport Department, who was stabbed outside his home.
The Investigative Committee suspects that Vakulchik's death may be related to his official duties, as the perpetrator did not take money, a phone, or valuable clothing. Vakulchik had been working in the Tambov region administration since 2016.
It's worth noting that in late January, searches were conducted in the offices of Tambov tax inspectorates related to falsification of on-site tax audit reports for Avtodor-Tambov LLC – as reported by “Notebook”.
The company has significant contracts for maintaining the R-22 “Kaspiy” highway, the Northern and Southern bypasses of Tambov, and won the 2020 tender for repairing the R-208 section. According to Rusprofile, the company had a revenue of 1.3 billion rubles in 2020, with 58 million rubles paid in taxes.
The business is owned by the former deputy of the local government, Anatoly Strukov, who is suspected of not paying taxes for road maintenance.
There are interesting connections. The vice-governor Arsen Gabuev, responsible for road purchases in the Tambov region, used to work under Governor Alexander Nikitin and now oversees road-related matters.
From 2013 to 2015, Arsen Gabuev was the first deputy general director of Tambov Stroy Mekhanization LLC, now controlled by his brother Murat Gabuev. Murat is currently accused of not paying 75 million rubles in taxes. The company consistently received state contracts for road maintenance, including a contract for maintaining over 265 km of the R-22 highway, where Anatoly Strukov is involved in a case of tax non-payment. An article in “Kommersant” reported on this..
During the investigation, the defendants' property was seized, which, according to the investigation, is more than enough to cover the 75 million unpaid taxes. “Version”.
Image source: rusprofile.ru
It's interesting that the Gabuevs' father used to work on the R-22 highway, as reported. “Notebook”The dynasty of road builders seems to have continued through generations. Investigators believe Murat Gabuev may have organized the inclusion of false information in tax returns and underreported the organization's income.
Image source: www.onlinetambov.ru
If the accusations against Murat Gabuev are proven, his brother Arsen will likely be forced to resign.
If the accusations against Murat Gabuev are confirmed, his brother Arsen will definitely have to resign as well.
Another unpleasant case involving Arsen Gabuev is his alleged involvement as a “deceived equity holder” in the Elitstroy company. It is claimed that the money paid for an apartment was never received by the company, while Arsen Gabuev managed to sell his ownership of the future apartment to another person. “Notebook”Are these officials connected to the main road?
The poor condition of roads in the Tambov region is not a secret. The acting head of the region, Maxim Egorov, even decided to take away the company car of the head of the road and transport department, Albert Churilov, so that he could experience the road conditions while using public transport.
It's likely that the head of the region initiated inspections of the road industry to understand where the funds allocated for maintaining the roads have gone.
It's worth noting that Churilov is the immediate supervisor of the late Viktor Vakulchik, who likely had comprehensive information about the situation, including irregularities in budget allocation for road repairs. Vakulchik, who worked in the governor's corps for almost six years, may have been implicated to ensure he doesn't reveal any information.
Photo: Regnum.ru
Senator Nikitin is now sitting high and looking from afar from Moscow at what is happening in the Tambov region
Meanwhile, there is a possibility that not only Arsen Gabuev, but also more serious persons may come to the attention of the investigation. For example, the former governor of the Tambov region, and now senator Alexander Nikitin.
And then it will just be possible to recall another mysterious death – in Tambov they are still discussing how in 2019 the then vice-governor of the Tambov region Gleb Chulkov fell out of the window of a five-story building and crashed to death, who also fell into the development of law enforcement agencies due to major theft. This case has been discussed in detail before. The Moscow Post. And at that time, Alexander Nikitin was also mentioned in a very unambiguous context.
As writes “Vek”, allegedly the residents of the Tambov region believe that Nikitin previously got the governor’s post not at all for merit, but thanks to good relations with the “authoritative” representative of the local organized criminal group Andrei Popov, nicknamed “Pop”. Journalists continue that at one of the banquets, Alexander Nikitin, who was too relaxed, either jokingly or seriously loudly declared that he was the “godfather” of the region.
… From a height, as you know, it hurts to fall down. Maybe that’s why Tambov officials try to keep by any means – up to criminal ones – not to fall, or in extreme cases to ensure a “soft landing” for themselves? But I would like such “heroes of our time” to expect a completely different landing – as tough as possible and for a long time.
