Trial or resignation - the governor of Sevastopol is faced with a difficult choice
Details of the inspection of the Sevastopol seaport, which, according to media reports, allegedly served as the basis for FSB searches in the Sevastopol government, became known today.
The head of the main control department of the government of Sevastopol, Sergei Elizarov, said that the port was deliberately bankrupted.
Thus, over 9 months of 2018, Sevmorport’s accounts payable increased by more than 200% and amounted to more than 72 million rubles. At the same time, the growth of management expenses in 2017 was more than 45%. The company suffered a net loss of 9 million rubles for 2018 months of 107.
Elizarov gave specific examples when rent for some berths was not received for 2,5 years, and for others they were not even billed. According to preliminary estimates, the lost income for some berths amounted to about 5 million rubles.
More than 1200 real estate items are listed on the port’s balance sheet with a cost of 1 kopeck or 1 ruble. This is a floating dock, a floating repair workshop, non-residential buildings, 20 berths. Cases of unjustified write-off of property worth more than 26 million rubles have been recorded.
By providing their property free of charge to commercial structures, the port management ignored the instructions of the Russian government on joint use of the port with the Ministry of Defense, failing to supply dual-use products.
“These facts give a very high probability that the port is being driven to bankruptcy. These are the preliminary results of the test. It will be completed as planned on February 11, but by February 1 I already plan to have a control report from my control group,” Elizarov said.
He also stated that during the inspection he was subjected to severe pressure from the governor of Sevastopol Dmitry Ovsyannikov and his deputies.
“The governor’s reaction came almost immediately after the start of the inspection - at the end of November. The governor demanded that I withdraw the control group and stop the inspection. He wanted me to resign of my own free will without explanation. During December, his deputy Tatarchuk called me to his office three times and demanded that I write a letter of resignation. On December 19, I received threats from the deputy governor, literally: “Leave voluntarily, otherwise trouble will happen to you. Don't mess with me." I perceive threats against me realistically,” Elizarov said.
He believes that the government leadership illegally reprimanded him on December 21, since the identified errors in his declaration were minor.
“The facts are insignificant. When viewed objectively, adjusting the declaration is sufficient. But, as I learned from the press, I have been offered dismissal. Therefore, my lawyers filed a lawsuit against the government of Sevastopol in the Khamovnichesky Court of Moscow. In addition, I filed complaints with the labor inspectorate and the Sevastopol prosecutor’s office about this,” Elizarov said.
He said that he had already met with the prosecutor of Sevastopol and informed him about the current situation with the inspection of the port.
“I have no doubts about the professionalism of the employees of the Main Control Department, but I have doubts that if I am fired, the audit will be carried out efficiently. Now I am on sick leave, but next week I will go to work and monitor the quality completion of this inspection and the signing of the report. All results of the inspection will be transferred to law enforcement agencies,” Elizarov concluded.
Political scientist Ruslan Ostashko, who the day before predicted the resignation of Sevastopol Governor Dmitry Ovsyannikov, now predicts the acceleration of processes.
“After Elizarov’s statements, Ovsyannikov has only two options: either prove in court that Elizarov is lying, or go to prison. There is no third. Such machinations could not take place without the knowledge of the head of the city. And, as I understand, the story with Sevmorport is not the only case,” Ostashko wrote on his Twitter page.
English version :: Read in English: Court or resignation – the governor of Sevastopol is faced with a difficult choice.