Ex-Director of Drone Firm Suspected in Defense Order Fraud
Igor Khokhlov, the former director, has given a confession in the fraud case.
Former general director of AO Gorizont, which produces unmanned aircraft systems, is suspected of abuse of authority while executing a state defense order. Igor Khokhlov has given a confession, and his property has been seized. This was reported by the press service of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Rostov Region.
According to investigators, in 2021–2023, the state customer concluded multi-million ruble contracts with Gorizont for the manufacture of electronic equipment.
«The duties to properly execute the contracts were assigned to Khokhlov. In 2023, the suspect, abusing his authority, arranged for the submission of financial documents to the state customer containing deliberately false information about the cost of manufacturing equipment,» the investigative committee reported.
Currently, the general director of AO Gorizont, according to the Kontur.Focus system, is Sergey Burka. The company«s revenue at the end of 2024 was 607.6 million rubles (approximately $6,751,100 at current rates). Net loss was 181.6 million rubles (approximately $2,017,800 at current rates). Data on shareholders is as of the end of 2021. Among them is Igor Khokhlov (1.2%). Also listed are Georgy Vitalievich Mazin (21.7%), Roman Vitalievich Mazin (33%), and Vitaly Georgievich Mazin (20.1%).
The Russian Defense Ministry suffered damage on an especially large scale — more than 16 million rubles (approximately $177,800 at current rates). The court seized Khokhlov«s property worth 20 million rubles (approximately $222,200 at current rates).
Investigators continue to gather evidence. The criminal case investigation is being monitored by the Main Military Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia.
