Smirnov and Brizitski will be taken for interrogation by force

Banker Oleg Smirnov, the son of the Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov, and his colleague Oleg Brizitski will be taken by the Russian law enforcement bodies for interrogation by force, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the Russian news agency “Interfax”. “The suspects in the case of the embezzlement of 160 million Russian rubles – the vice president of the republican Transnistrian bank Oleg Brizitski and banker Oleg Smirnov, who is the son of Igor Smirnov - did not present themselves for interrogation as summoned. Now we asked that they be brought to Moscow by force for questioning,” said the official representative of the Russian Investigation Committee Vladimir Markin, quoted by “Interfax”. According to sources of the news agency, the suspects left for Cyprus in order avoid prosecution. The Russian Investigation Committee has opened a criminal case over the embezzlement of 160 million rubles Russia allocated to Transdniestria as humanitarian aid for paying extras to pensioners and supporting farmers in 2008-2009. Under the Penal Code of Russia, the two face up to ten years in jail. The Russian press reported that with the stolen money Igor Smirnov’s son bought several apartments in Moscow and a luxury house in the suburbs of the Russian capital.