In Volgograd, journalist Dmitry Krylov claims being threatened by Sergey Bozhenov's supporters

In Volgograd, the TV show of the TV Channel "Eros", devoted to the economic activities of Sergey Bozhenov, the former head of Astrakhan, current Governor of the Volgograd Region. Dmitry Krylov, the author of the TV show, believes that he was subjected to persecution and reports on the threats in his address expressed by the supporters of Sergey Bozhenov. The Region Administration refused to comment on the situation.

Journalist collects information on activities of Sergey Bozhenov in Astrakhan

After the appointment of Sergey Bozhenov, ex-Mayor of Astrakhan, as Acting Governor of the Volgograd Region, Dmitry Krylov, the well-known Volgograd TV presenter and the social activist, held a journalistic investigation of his previous activities. The journalist went to Astrakhan, where he collected the necessary materials.

"The Astrakhan Internet community discussed the failure of Sergey Bozhenov as ex-Mayor of Astrakhan. Naturally, when I read all those publications, I got suspicions that the man is not quite honest. I went to Astrakhan. And the documents, which I saw there, shocked me," Dmitry Krylov stated.

Having received the documents incriminating Sergey Bozhenov, the journalist returned to Volgograd and began to prepare the TV show. The materials collected by Dmitry Krylov were devoted to the machinations with land plots. They also contained information that Sergey Bozhenov sold a building to the Investigatory Department of the Investigatory Committee of the Russian Federation in the Astrakhan Region in excess of the market value by 240 million roubles. The folder with the materials collected by Dmitry Krylov also contained the documents compromising Sergey Bozhenov and related to the implementation of the programme for resettlement of Astrakhan residents from dilapidated houses.

Dmitry Krylov reports on shadowing and threats in his address

According to Dmitry Krylov, his movements were watched; therefore, it "was not a big surprise, when he started receiving phone calls from the Region Administration" with the proposals do not broadcast his TV show. At the same time, he mentioned the name of Oleg Kersanov, First Deputy Chief of Administration of the Volgograd Region.

"They even tried to bribe me, offered to come to the Administration to have a talk. I was told that I could receive proposals for the appointment to senior positions, which I will not able to refuse," the journalist continued.

Dmitry Krylov was also contacted by MPs, who passed him a demand expressed by Leonid Belyak, Deputy Plenipotentiary Envoy of the President to the Southern Federal District (SFD), not to publish materials of the journalist's investigation. The journalist refused to mention their names.

"Through the MPs, Leonid Belyak has informed me that Sergey Bozhenov is a vengeful man, and if the TV show if broadcasted, then not only the TV Channel ("Eros"), but also I myself will be closed," Dmitry Krylov said.

According to the journalist's information, the issue on his arrest was decided at the meeting of Governor Sergey Bozhenov, Alexander Kravchenko, Chief of the Regional GUVD (Interior Department), and Vladimir Churikov, Regional Prosecutor. "They gave a command to arrest me under any pretext during two days," Dmitry Krylov said.

The journalist refused to obey to the demands of the authorities. On February 1, for two minutes before the start of the TV show (at 8:00 p.m.), the lights went out in the house, where the studio of Dmitry Krylov located. The same situation was repeated in the next morning, when the TV show was in the air. In both times, the electricity supply was interrupted for three hours.

"They switched out electricity in three new houses. 300 persons were left in the cold weather without light, without heat, and without the possibility to cook dinner and breakfast. 23,000 Volgograd residents were disconnected from all the TV Channels," Dmitry Krylov expressed his indignation. "This is how Mr Bozhenov has shown himself as a manager, as a responsible person, as Regional Governor. He proved that the Volgograd residents should really expect serious changes and not for the better."

The journalist relates the appointment of Sergey Bozhenov for the position of Governor not to the improvement of the economic situation in the Volgograd Region, but with the World Football Championship, which the authorities plan to conduct in Volgograd in 2018.

"His team has come only to develop the budget money, and they do not care about everything else," Dmitry Krylov has concluded.

Region Administration refuses to comment on situation, Deputy Plenipotentiary Envoy claims that he gave no instructions to MPs

The condominium "Arbat in the Krasnoarmeisky District" confirmed the fact that the electricity was switched off on February 1 and 2 in Engels Boulevard of the Krasnoarmeisky District, where the TV Channel "Eros" located. Viktor Miller, the duty attendant said that two electricians visited the m twice and "eliminated the problem". "They did not inform us about the reason of switching off," Viktor Miller said.

The management of the Municipal Unitary Enterprise "Volgograd Power Networks" refused to comment.

The "Caucasian Knot" made a phone call to the chamber of Oleg Kersanov. His secretary stated that she cannot connect with the First Deputy Chief of Administration of the Volgograd Region, since "there was no topic for conversation." However, she promised to call back if Oleg Kersanov wants to answer the correspondent's questions. The secretary has never called back.

Natalia Vishnyakova, the representative of Leonid Belyak, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the Deputy Plenipotentiary Envoy of the President to the SFD gave not instructions to the MPs.

"He has never spoken of the Krylov's article with any MP, all the more that he was not aware of the preparation of the article. Dmitry Krylov made no phone calls to Leonid Belyak, the official is not familiar with him, and he received no request from the journalist," the representative of the Deputy Plenipotentiary Envoy reported.

She has stressed that Leonid Belyak was perplexed by the information on his alleged instructions to the MPs. "The one thing is when the names of the MPs are mentioned, and the other thing is when all that is committed anonymously. It's starting to stink," Natalia Vishnyakova stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has failed to talk to Alexander Kravchenko, Chief of the Regional GUVD, or to his representative. His secretary said that the official had gone on a business trip and would not return till February 13. "Together with Alexander Kravchenko, his representative Svetlana Smolyaninova has left the office. They did not left their contact phone numbers," Olga, the duty attendant, said.

The Regional Prosecutor's Office told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that they had no information regarding the meeting held between Sergey Bozhenov, Alexander Kravchenko, and Vladimir Churikov, Regional Prosecutor. "I have no such information," said Oksana Cheredinina, Senior Assistant of the Prosecutor of the Volgograd Region on the communication with the media. However, she promised to clarify the information.