Yesterday, investigators opened a criminal case into Kochanov, who they say is suspected of trying to bribe an official from the Russian secret service, the FSB.
According to the Crimean branch of Russia’s Investigative Committee, on Monday the tax chief handed over 300,000 roubles (US$ 5,400) to an FSB officer in return for concealing crimes and legal violations, as well as for “general protection”.
Investigators on the peninsula yesterday raided Kochanov’s home and office, as well as his son’s home. During the search documents, cash, a phone and a laptop were seized by the investigators.
This case is the latest in a series of investigations into Crimean officials over the past few weeks.
The FSB detained the former Crimean Minister of Industrial Policy, Andrei Skrinnik, on suspicion of complicity in the theft of state property on Monday, BBC Russian Service reports.
Kochanov is now in detention. The criminal investigation continues.
