19:04, 14 October 2016

MIA refutes termination of Bilalov brothers' cases

The investigation of criminal cases initiated against businessmen Akhmed and Magomed Bilalov, suspected of abuse of power during the construction of Olympic facilities in Sochi, continues, said the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Russia.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 10, the "Dozhd" TV Channel reported, citing its own sources, on the closure of the criminal cases against businessmen Magomed and Akhmed Bilalov.

Akhmed Bilalov, a native of Dagestan, was found responsible for the failure to meet deadlines during construction of an Olympic facility in Sochi and for the rise in its cost by several times. On April 10, 2013, he was involved as a defendant in the case of abuse of power. On April 12, it became known that another case for abuse of power was instituted against his brother Magomed Bilalov. It was reported that the Bilalov brothers left Russia in 2013.

However, as stated by Irina Volk, the spokesperson of the Russian MIA, the inquiry into the criminal cases initiated against Magomed Bilalov, the former head of Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSC) "Krasnaya Polyana", Akhmed Bilalov, the former head of OJSC "Resorts of Northern Caucasus", and A. Nevsky, the head of another organization, continues.

According to her story, investigators are fact-fiddling in relation to five billion roubles, which had been allocated for the construction of tourist facilities, the "Interfax" reports.

The Bilalov brothers and Nevsky have been arrested in absentia. Investigators are searching for them abroad, in Switzerland and the United States, where the respective requests were sent, the RIA "Novosti" quotes the Russian MIA.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.