MOSCOW. March 6 (Interfax) - Twenty-five criminal cases are being investigated as part of an inquiry into the operations of Oboronservice, a company affiliated with the Russian Defense Ministry, Main Military Prosecutor Sergei Fridinsky said.
"Acting jointly with specialists from the Audit Chamber, security bodies uncovered and prevented large-scale improprieties in the armed forces, which were related to the management and illegal sale of real estate sites and land belonging to the Defense Ministry. Irregularities have been uncovered in supplying the troops with food and energy resources and in providing other outsourcing services. Twenty-five criminal cases have been opened and are being investigated based on inquiries into sales of Oboronservice assets alone," Fridinsky said at an expanded military prosecutor's office board meeting on Wednesday.
It was reported in October 2012 that major embezzlements in Defense Ministry organizations were probed. The overall damage caused to the state has been estimated at several billions of rubles.
The Investigative Committee is currently investigating two major criminal cases dealing with improprieties in Defense Ministry organizations, one of them concerning Oboronservice and the other its sub-holding Slavyanka.