The head of the Solontsovsky village council and her deputy have been accused of stealing four million rubles from the budget during a road repair project near a school in Solontsy, Russia.
According to news reports from the Telegram channel Kras Mash, law enforcement authorities opened a criminal case against the two municipal officials on charges of abuse of official powers, leading to the village council head being placed under house arrest.
Investigators state that the officials initially made an informal arrangement with a local company to pave the road near the school without entering into an official government contract. The officials promised the contractors that the municipal administration would pay for the work upon completion.
Once the local workers had laid the new road, the officials signed official contract documentation for the exact same service with a second firm instead. The village council then transferred the entire four million rubles in public funds to that second company.
Fraud Investigation and Legal Action
Following the transfer of public funds, legal proceedings were also initiated against the firm that received the money, with authorities opening a criminal case under legal articles covering fraud.
In Russia, a village council, known as a selsoviet, represents the primary level of local municipal governance in rural settlements. These local administrative bodies are responsible for managing public spending, maintaining local infrastructure, and overseeing municipal development projects within their designated rural territories.
Russian Legal Context and Reporting
Under the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, charges of abuse of official authority apply when public servants exceed their statutory powers in ways that harm public interests or cause substantial financial damage to state resources. Pre-trial house arrest is commonly ordered by Russian courts in public sector corruption inquiries while investigators gather documentary evidence.
Regional news channels on Telegram, such as Kras Mash, serve as major outlets for breaking law enforcement news in Russian territories, frequently broadcasting details of local criminal investigations, police operations, and municipal governance disputes before formal trials begin.
