Former leader of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Gavril Tarabukin, received a 5-year prison sentence due to his involvement in unlawful gold trading.
In a significant development, a former Deputy Head of the Economic Security and Anti-Corruption Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) for the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) has been convicted for crimes related to precious metal mining.
The court's decision, handed down on April 5, 2024, was based on evidence collected by the First Department for Investigating Especially Important Cases of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The investigation was conducted by the UFSB Russia for Yakutia.
The crime, which took place in Yakutia, involved the illegal sale of natural placer gold. According to the court, the defendants, led by Gavril Tarabukin, conspired to illegally sell over 30 kg of natural placer gold in April-May 2021. The value of the precious metal involved was over 120 million rubles.
The planned transaction to sell the precious metal was interrupted by employees of the FSB of Russia for Yakutia. The defendants were caught red-handed during the planned transaction.
In addition to Tarabukin, two other individuals were found guilty of attempting to illegally transport precious metals. One of these co-conspirators, who did not admit guilt, was sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in a general-regime colony with a fine of 900,000 rubles. Another defendant, who actively assisted in the investigation of the crime and admitted guilt, was sentenced to 3 years in prison, suspended with a probation period of 2 years and 6 months, and a fine of 500,000 rubles.
Tarabukin was sentenced to 5 years in a general-regime colony, with a fine of 800,000 rubles, deprivation of the right to hold positions in the state service of law enforcement agencies, related to the exercise of powers of a representative of authority, for a period of 2 years, deprivation of the special rank of "Police Colonel" and the state award "For Merit to the Fatherland".
The head of the Department for Economic Security and Corruption of the MVD in the Republic of Sakha, who supported illegal gold trading in April-May 2021 and was sentenced in April 2024 to 5 years in a general penal colony, is not publicly named in available sources.
The case was investigated by the SU SK Russia for Yakutia. This conviction underscores the commitment of Russian law enforcement agencies to combating illegal activities in the precious metals sector.
