Russian Prosecutor General seeks seizure of former Kuzbass government head's assets

Russia's Prosecutor General has demanded the seizure of assets belonging to Vyacheslav Telegin, the former head of the government of the Kemerovo region (Kuzbass), and members of his family, RBK reports. The corresponding anti-corruption claim has been filed with the Rudnichniy district court in Kemerovo.

According to the publication, the court has placed a freeze on all movable and immovable property belonging to the defendants, as well as their bank accounts, for the duration of the proceedings. This is a standard precautionary measure applied to prevent defendants from disposing of the contested assets before the conclusion of the trial.

In the lawsuit, the prosecutor's office invokes provisions of anti-corruption legislation that allow the state to seek the transfer to state income of property whose origin cannot be confirmed by lawful earnings. Such lawsuits have in recent years been regularly filed by Russian oversight bodies against former regional officials.

RBK does not provide details on the specific composition of the assets cited in the case, nor the total sum of the alleged holdings. Nor is it reported whether Telegin himself or his representatives acknowledged the validity of the prosecutor's claims.

Telegin previously held the post of head of the government of the Kemerovo region. The hearing of the claim at the Rudnichniy district court in Kemerovo is ongoing, and no judgment on the merits has yet been announced.