CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AGAINST EX -MANAGERS OF THE SIBERIAN CHEMICAL PLANT
The Siberian Chemical Plant is the largest nuclear fuel producer in Russia. Last summer ex-Senior Managers of the plant were accused of commercial bribery and abuse of power. The accused allegedly helped a number of companies to buy ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal from the plant illegally. The Investigation Committee reports the proven amount of bribery received from facilitating such deals has exceeded US$660,000. Given that the alleged crime of commercial bribery was committed in collusion, it may lead to 12 years' imprisonment for those concerned, with imposition of a fine exceeding 50 times the amount of the bribe.
RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES NEW REGULATION FOR ACCOUNTING FOR GIFTS
On 9 January 2014, the Government of the Russian Federation passed Decree No. 10, approving the Model Regulation "On the Procedure for Notification by Certain Categories of Individuals of the Receipt of a Gift". This Regulation was first proposed as part of the President's 2012–2013 Anti-Corruption National Plan.
According to its scope, the Regulation covers all employees of state corporations and state companies established by a federal law. The Regulation outlines procedures to be followed should an employee receive a gift, differentiating between gifts received during official events and gifts received in connection with employment activities. An eligible person must report all gifts received in connection with employment activities and deliver gifts above RUB 3,000 (approx. US$90) to their employer, with the right to purchase the gift back from their employer.
Some rules under the Regulation remain uncertain and the Ministry of Labour has been asked give official guidance on these rules and their application.
