Russian deputy faces up to 5.5 years in Spanish prison in 'Russian Mafia' case
In Spain, State Duma Deputy Vladislav Reznik faces up to five and a half years in prison and a €100 million fine in the case of the “Russian mafia”, reported La Opinion de Malaga.
On Monday, February 19, the court began to hear the case about money laundering in Spain by Russian immigrants. According to the investigation, the crimes were committed in the 1990s.
Among the defendants of the case is the current State Duma deputy Vladislav Reznik. He attended the trial. “I came to the session because I’m not guilty of anything and I trust the Spanish justice system,” said Reznik (quoted by RIA Novosti).
The investigation of the case of the “Russian mafia” – named operation “Troika” – has taken 11 years. There are a total of 18 people involved in the case. The prosecutor’s office has asked for prison terms from 1.7 to 5.6 years. Investigators believe that they were all members of the Tambov organized crime group. In the 1990s, the leaders of the group, Gennady Petrov and Alexander Malyshev, went to Spain and set up several companies which they used to deal in real estate.
Money was transferred to these firms from Russia and other countries. Real estate transactions were conducted in several cities in Spain. Laundered money was transferred to offshore accounts. A total of about €50 million passed through these firms. People involved in these transactions and establishing of the firms weren’t arrested until 2008. Most are citizens of Russia.