Former Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov arrested in absentia for two months

On September 17, the Meshchansky Court of Moscow arrested in absentia for two months the former Minister of Communications and Mass Communications of Russia Nikolai Nikiforov. The term of detention of the ex-official in custody will begin to be calculated from the moment of his detention in Russia or his extradition to the Russian Federation. Nikolai Nikiforov is accused of organizing a criminal community and especially large-scale fraud.

In court, the representative of the investigative department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs indicated that, while remaining at large, the defendant may abscond, destroy evidence or otherwise obstruct the investigation of his criminal case. The defense objected to the most severe measure of restraint, but without success.

According to the investigation, Nikolai Nikiforov is one of the creators of the Finiko pyramid. The Interior Ministry in absentia charged him with organizing a criminal community and especially large-scale fraud. After leaving the post of Minister in 2018, Nikolai Nikiforov lives in the UAE.

Finiko was established in Tatarstan. From June 2018 to December 2020, the organizers of the scheme attracted depositors, promising them a profit of up to 25% per annum. The company then stopped paying dividends. About 8,000 people became victims. The Interior Ministry estimates the total amount of their losses at about 5 billion rubles.

In early September, the Meshchansky court of Moscow arrested in the case of entrepreneur and designer Azat Tukhvatullin, whom the investigation considers another of the organizers of the pyramid.

More in the material "Kommersant" "Finita la Finiko".

Oleg Rubnikovich, Alexander Alexandrov