In Severodvinsk (Arkhangelsk region), police and tax officials came to four offices of the Variant real estate agency, which is owned by local activist Oleg Mandrykin, who was involved in protests against the construction of a landfill on Shiyes. This was reported to Novaya Gazeta by Mandrykin himself.
According to him, security officials seize documents and safes as part of a pre-investigation check. Mandrykin himself is now on vacation outside the city.
According to the local publication Ekho Severa, without reference to the source of information, the actions are being carried out as part of an audit under the article on tax evasion (Article 198 of the Criminal Code). Mandrykin said that he did not have any official information about the reasons for the incident, but suggested that they were related to his political activities. «SingleImage_image__3qIDn» alt=»» />
Oleg Mandrykin. Photo: Tatyana Britskaya/Novaya Gazeta
“This year, elections to the city council will be held in Severodvinsk, I think the authorities understand that I can participate in them and that if the opposition succeeds, which has strong support from the townspeople, they will lose control of the city council. Therefore, the main goal of these searches is to open a criminal case against me and thus prevent me from going to the elections,” Mandrykin told Novaya Gazeta.