Industry and Trade Minister Andrei Goncharov was detained in Novosibirsk.

This morning, a search was conducted in Goncharov’s apartment, after which the minister was taken in for questioning and detained for 48 hours. He is suspected of abuse of office.

According to investigators, between May 2023 and January 2024, he ordered a reduction in the volume of goods to be delivered under a government contract. However, he transferred the full amount of 95 million rubles to the contractor.

Among the defendants in the criminal case is An entrepreneur whose name has not yet been released. He is accused of fraud.

Andrey Goncharov served as Minister of Industry since 2019. He was suspected of abuse of office last December, when his home was first searched. At the same time, security forces opened a criminal case against his former deputy. Maxim Ostanina.