Stavropol Residents Fake Kherson Residency to Defraud Budget

Several residents of the region decided to earn money but came up with an ill-advised scheme. They provided counterfeit documents and received payments, only to end up in custody.

The press service of the Stavropol Krai courts reported that citizen L. presented fake documents to the regional Ministry of Housing and Communal Services, allegedly proving his eligibility for a housing purchase certificate. Such payments are intended for residents of Kherson and parts of Kherson Oblast who have left their permanent homes and urgently relocated to another region. The man was aware that the actual individuals had no plans to move to Stavropol Krai.

He ultimately stole over 5.8 million rubles (about $58,000 at current rates). Two others followed suit — citizen Shch., who caused equivalent damage, and N., who received over 2.9 million rubles (about $29,000 at current rates).

This business plan landed them in legal trouble. The Leninsky District Court ruled to place the Stavropol residents in custody for 28 days. They are charged under Part 4, Article 159.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation («Fraud in Receiving Payments»), which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

Meanwhile, in the Neftekumsky District, Investigative Committee detectives have opened a criminal case into fraud involving child benefits. A 47-year-old resident of Kayasula village is under suspicion for allegedly deciding to «move to the North» — but only on paper.