Court to Hear Case Against Former Voronezh Deputy Minister Kukin

The prosecutor«s office has approved the indictment against former deputy minister of trade and entrepreneurship of Voronezh Region Alexander Kukin. This was reported by the agency on January 23.

Kukin was detained in February last year. The case is related to a grant of 10 million rubles (approximately $111,100 at current rates) for the improvement of the territory of the «Madagascar» tourism base in the Semiluksky District of Voronezh Region.

According to the investigation, in October 2023, the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Trade issued a grant to individual entrepreneur Elizaveta Yagodkina for the improvement of the tourism base. Four months later, in early 2024, the entrepreneur reported to the ministry that the funds had been used.

In August of the same year, an inspection arrived at the «Madagascar» tourism base along with Deputy Minister Alexander Kukin. He saw that the improvements had not been fully completed — for example, there were no pedestrian paths or access roads on the beach. At the request of the base owners, Kukin turned a blind eye to the violations. His actions caused damage to the budget of 10 million rubles (approximately $111,100).

Charges against the former official and one of his subordinates have been brought under the article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on abuse of official powers. Two other individuals involved in the case — according to the publication «Ploshchad», these are the management of the tourism base — are accused of fraud. The case will be considered by the Central District Court of Voronezh.