Russia: Former Public Official Hit With Largest Fine in Russian History

Published: 18 December 2013

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Former Russian public official Lev Lvov has been fined $US 29 million for attempted bribe taking, reports the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI). This is the largest fine in Russian history, the agency says.

AVERS_NEW_RUSSIAN_10_RUBLES_2009According to RAPSI, Lvov served as the first deputy head of the Leninsky District in the Moscow region. The Moscow Regional Court found Lvov and his accomplice Igor Komarov guilty of attempting to take large bribes. Komarov has been fined more than $US 15 million.

The head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, said that more than 1,600 Russian public officials have been charged with corruption in the past two years, RAPSI reports. According to Bastrykin, this has cost the country about US $273,000,000 in damages. 

According to the Transparency International's 2013 Report, Russia ranks 127th in the corruption perceptions index, alongside countries such as Pakistan, Gambia, and Lebanon. The three countries that are perceived to be the most corrupt are tied for 175th place.