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Mayor of Russia's Pacific capital faces 'abuse of power' probe

By The Siberian Times reporter

01 June 2016

Searches underway at homes and offices of Igor Pushkarev and his relatives.

Igor Pushkarev, the Vladivostok mayor is suspected in abuse of power. Picture: Vladivostok city administration

The Vladivostok mayor is facing a criminal probe allegedly involving abuse of power which caused serious consequences and commercial bribery.

Searches of his office started on Wednesday morning, and later homes linked to him and members of his family were searched. Searches were also underway at companies linked to his family.

Some 20 boxes of documents were seen being removed from his office. Eyewitnesses said around ten employees of the FSB security forces in masks and camouflage uniforms were seen near his home.

Security services on the ward

Security services near Pushkarev's house

The investigators enter the mayor's office

Searches of his office started on Wednesday morning, and later homes linked to him and members of his family were searched. Pictures: VL.ru

Roads to the house were closed, all the cars were turned back.

Reports that he had been detained and sent to Moscow were denied. Alina Protchenko said: 'A business trip to Moscow was planned for today, but it was cancelled. The mayor is in Vladivostok.'

Previous Vladivostok mayor Vladimir Nikolaev was dismissed from office after he was hit by an abuse of power probe. In December 2007 he was sentenced to a suspended sentence of four years and six months.

He was also barred for three years from holding public office.