Deputy minister who fled Russia hired domestic workers at the government's expense
Denis Butsaev, the former deputy head of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and former head of the "Russian Environmental Operator," who had previously left Russia, has been implicated in a case involving alleged embezzlement of state funds by registering his domestic staff as employees of a state-owned company.
This was reported by Russian media.
According to the investigation, Butsaev is charged with two counts of fraud resulting in losses of approximately 1.1 million and 3 million rubles. The defendant’s lawyer called the case “the most primitive fraud,” but did not disclose any details.
Sources cited by the publication note that this involves a practice where some individuals were officially employed by REO but did not actually work there, as they performed other duties, specifically in Butsayev’s household. According to the sources, this was the basis for initiating the criminal case.
It is also reported that the evidence was gathered based on the testimony of former company managers, which was obtained during interrogations. Business trips and entertainment expenses were examined separately, where investigators identified possible violations.
The case files also contain information about possible corruption schemes and kickbacks during the implementation of the so-called “garbage reform,” but these episodes, according to sources, require further investigation.
According to RBC, Butsaev left Russia in April, and his departure was discovered after he failed to appear at a government meeting and stopped responding to communications. He was reportedly in Georgia at the time and sent his resignation via email, which the media called an “unprecedented case.”
In the same case, top managers of the Russian Environmental Operator (REO) were previously detained, and various preventive measures were imposed on them—ranging from house arrest to travel bans. The investigation is ongoing.
As a reminder, former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and ex-head of the Russian Environmental Operator Denis Butsaev left Russia on the day of his resignation. He likely fled to the U.S.
Recall that Russia is preparing to send the deputy chairman of the Kremlin’s main state bank to prison.
The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office has filed a lawsuit to confiscate the property of former First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Ruslan Tsalikov and his relatives.
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