Last Friday, a representative of the Moscow Region Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Entrepreneurs along with members of the regional Public Observation Commission, visited the Federal Penitentiary Institution "Investigative Detention Center No. 5" of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Moscow Region in order to monitor the conditions of detention, respect the legal rights and interests of suspects, accused and convicted entrepreneurs.

Earlier, the Federal Business Ombudsman received an appeal from the wife of a Moscow businessman who is in custody in the Kashirsky pre-trial detention center. In particular, the facts of illegal treatment of the detainee were mentioned, so the Moscow Region Ombudsman initiated a verification of these arguments. 

The members of the Public Monitoring Commission visited two entrepreneurs who are in custody and accused of committing economic crimes directly related to their commercial activities. Both, including the businessman who applied, are charged under Part 4 of Art. 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Fraud"). Currently, these cases are being investigated, and there have been no complaints from entrepreneurs about the conditions of detention.

During the visit, a representative of the Regional Business Ombudsman provided legal advice.

The entrepreneurs and their lawyers were advised to send appropriate appeals to the Ombudsman to change the preventive measure.

“Unfortunately, in some cases, some law enforcement officers may use illegal methods during the investigation. In each case, you need to carefully understand, check all the facts and arguments. Sometimes entrepreneurs themselves make fatal mistakes that lead them to the dock. Therefore, it is very important to comply with current legislation, pay taxes on time, taking into account all the consequences of risks and make informed decisions.

In these cases, an investigation is underway, we will closely monitor the progress and, if necessary, advise businessmen and their lawyers. We have a practice when, thanks to our intervention, the measure of restraint was changed for entrepreneurs from imprisonment to house arrest, ”commented Vladimir Golovnev, the Moscow Region Business Ombudsman.