Security officials in Moscow detained the ex-head of AFK Sistema and former deputy general director of PhosAgro, Evgeny Novitsky. Interfax reports this with reference to an unnamed source.
According to the news agency, a case was opened against Novitsky under an article of fraud. Earlier, TASS also wrote about the arrest, mentioning that a case of “economic nature” was opened against the businessman. According to Interfax, the investigation is being carried out by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
According to Baza, on the evening of June 20, Novitsky was detained by FSB officers, and his home was searched. The Telegram channel writes that the criminal case against the businessman is related to his work as one of the leaders of the radio-electronic defense concern RTI Systems, associated with AFK Sistema. The concern itself was engaged in the production of electronics for military and civilian purposes.
The telegram channel «VChK-OGPU» suggests that Novitsky's detention may be connected with the investigation of cases of theft of funds from the Ministry of Defense — in particular, in the purchase of hardware and computing systems for the ground segment of radar stations SPRN «Voronezh». According to the channel, Novitsky oversaw the production of these complexes at AFK for a long time.
RBC, citing an unnamed source, reports that Novitsky’s name appeared in the materials of the case of the ex-owner of Transfin-M Alexey, who was arrested on charges of fraud Teicher. In 2012, in partnership with AFK Sistema, he acquired the railway operator SG-trans.
Novitsky held the post of president of AFK Sistema from 1995 to 2005, after which, until 2013, he was in board of directors of the company. Recently, according to RBC, the businessman served as first deputy general director of PhosAgro, but in June 2022 he resigned from this position due to US sanctions imposed against him.