Defense Ministry
Former head of the Defense Ministry’s main medical department, Major General Alexander Belevitin, and his deputy Colonel Alexei Nikitin have been accused of accepting a bribe when purchasing tomographs.
Colonel Nikitin has pleaded guilty to misuse of office powers and taking a large bribe. Major General Belevitin on the other hand denies the allegations, claiming that he “never took any kickbacks from the purchase of tomographs, and that the prices paid were ‘normal, average market prices’ for the equipment of this level”.
It has been alleged that the officials received EUR180,000 (7 million roubles) from representatives of two commercial firms in return for securing state contracts for the supply of tomographs to the Defense Ministry.
The Investigative Committee’s Main Military Investigation Department, GVSU, reported that “Experts said the equipment had been purchased at overstated prices for 187 million roubles, which caused a 51 million-rouble damage to the state”.
