Russian law enforcers have arrested Vyacheslav Gaizer, the head of the Komi Republic, one of Russia’s largest regions, accusing him of creating an organized criminal group.
Russia’s Investigative Committee reported on Sept. 19 that a criminal case had been opened against 19 members of a criminal group, headed by Gaizer.
Including Gaizer, 15 suspects have been taken into custody as part of the case. The Investigative Committee has said it is trying to locate and arrest the remaining suspects in the case.
Those arrested included senior officials of the region: the deputy governor, deputy prime minister of the republic’s government, the regional head of the State Council and a former representative of the Komi Republic in the upper house of the Russian parliament.