Kommersant learned about a new case against ex-governor Belozertsev

The Investigative Committee opened a new criminal case against the former governor of the Penza region Ivan Belozertsev, who was arrested on charges of taking a BRIBE, Kommersant reports.

Belozertsev was suspected of illegal acquisition and storage of weapons and ammunition (Article 222 of the Criminal Code). According to the newspaper, the case was opened after a report from employees of the GUEBiPK (Main Directorate for Economic Security and Anti-Corruption) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who in March, during a search in the building of the Penza regional administration, found a Makarov pistol with a sawed-off number and 96 cartridges for it. The ammunition was packed in a white bag, and the weapons were packed in a brown leather briefcase, which was in a closet in the ex-governor's office, the newspaper writes, citing the case file.

At the same time, Belozertsev's lawyers say that the weapons were found not in the office, but in the back room next to him, where anyone could get into. They insist that the gun does not belong to the ex-governor and regard the new investigation as a way of putting pressure on the official. The defense tried to challenge the decision to open a new case in the Basmanny COURT, but was refused.

Belozertsev claims that he has nothing to do with the pistol and ammunition found. According to the former governor, all the weapons that he owns were officially registered and stored in his house.