Former Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Saratov Region for receiving 11 million rubles. bribes await the colony and a fine of 35 million rubles
The former chairman of the committee on informatization of the Saratov region, Larisa Kuznetsova, was sentenced to ten years in a penal colony by the Oktyabrsky District Court of Saratov. Her husband, Oleg Kozlov, was sentenced to eight years in prison. The court found that Kuznetsova received more than 11 million rubles from entrepreneurs for allowing them to work at the MFC, and her husband acted as an intermediary in receiving bribes. Although Kuznetsova and Kozlov were previously acquitted, the case was sent back for a new trial on appeal. The defense plans to appeal the court’s decision.
The press service of the Oktyabrsky District Court of Saratov reported that Larisa Kuznetsova, former chairman of the committee on informatization of the Saratov region, and her husband Oleg Kozlov were found guilty in a criminal case involving bribery.
Ms. Kuznetsova was accused of receiving over 11 million rubles in illegal payments from individual entrepreneurs (part 6 of article 290 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), and her husband of mediating in the transfer of a bribe (part 4 of article 291.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The money was allegedly given for unimpeded business operations at the State Institution of Public Health “MFC” in the Saratov Region and further “general patronage.” According to investigators, the funds were transferred to Kuznetsova from September 2013 to February 2017, during her time as the committee head. After the department was abolished in December 2016, she became the deputy minister of economic development.
“The Fourth Power”, 04/02/2021, “Former Minister Kuznetsova and her husband were acquitted in court for corruption”: In total, the spouses were accused of receiving 13.4 million rubles. According to the Fourth Power, it was about separate racks where you can make copies, print something, etc. for a fee. — Inset K.ru
The criminal case against Larisa Kuznetsova began in the spring of 2020 after the charges were filed against her, and she resigned from the government in April of that year.
In April 2021, after the case was considered in the Oktyabrsky District Court, the former official and her husband were acquitted. The court reported that based on evidence presented by the prosecution and other examined evidence, it was not established that the crimes attributed to Kuznetsova and Kozlov had occurred, leading to a verdict of not guilty.
Larisa Kuznetsova was reinstated in the regional government. On June 24 last year, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Saratov Region appealed, resulting in the criminal case being sent for a new trial to the Oktyabrsky District Court. The next day, Kuznetsova resigned from the government.
Once a new trial was requested, Larisa Kuznetsova's lawyer, Elena Sergun, asked the court to send the case back to the prosecutor due to procedural violations. The lawyer highlighted that the investigation had been extended illegally. However, the court denied the request.
During the debate on January 21, the state prosecution sought a 10-year prison sentence for Mrs. Kuznetsova, and the same period for her husband. The public prosecutor requested a similar punishment for Larisa Kuznetsova and Oleg Kozlov during the initial trial.
Following the retrial, the district court sentenced Larisa Kuznetsova to 10 years in a penal colony, along with a 35 million ruble fine (three times the amount of the bribe) to the state. She is also barred from holding positions in state bodies related to the functions of power representation, organizational and administrative functions for eight years. The execution of the sentence has been suspended until her daughter reaches the age of fourteen. At present, her daughter is four years old.
Oleg Kozlov was given an eight-year sentence in a strict regime colony and fined 35 million rubles. He has been taken into custody in the courtroom.
The defense intends to challenge the verdict. Lawyer Larisa Kuznetsova, Elena Sergun, argues that the verdict "does not match the materials of the criminal case." She noted that the first acquittal was due to the absence of a crime event, and no new evidence appeared in the case. Sergun also highlighted ongoing violations of trial fairness and an openly accusatory bias. She continuously pointed out procedural violations, including Oleg Kozlov not being initially prosecuted and only being charged as an intermediary after appearing in Larisa Kuznetsova's case. However, the court has disregarded these concerns.
IA “Vzglyad-info”, 11/20/2020, “Former Minister Larisa Kuznetsova pleads not guilty to taking bribes”Larisa Kuznetsova, aged 39, held a significant position in the governor's office. Valeria Radaeva.
Graduated from the Saratov State Academy of Law.
She defended her dissertation in 2006 and was awarded the title of Candidate of Legal Sciences. From 2007, she served as the chief legal specialist in the office of the executive committee of the regional branch of United Russia.
In January 2011, she was appointed First Deputy Head of the Regional Executive Committee “ER”. From February 2012, she held the position of head of the party's executive committee.
On November 23, 2012, Valery Radaev appointed her as minister and chairman of the region’s informatization committee. From December 2016, she worked as Deputy Minister of Economy overseeing the IT sector.
