Dmitry Medvedev: Housing and communal facilities should be under non-stop control

Issues of economic crimes in the sphere of housing and communal facilities were discussed today at a video conference held by the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov participated in the meeting.

The Head of the State marked that economic crimes in the sphere of housing and communal facilities continue to be a widespread phenomenon. Major funds circulated in this sector attract criminals. Dmitry Medvedev reminded that he asked to carry out a complex check-up of communal enterprises’ and large managing companies’ activity for the last three years.

The Chiefs of the Federal Financial Monitoring Service, the Ministry of the Interior, the Investigation Committee and the General Prosecutor’s office reported on outcomes of the check-up.

The Minister of the Interior Rashid Nurgaliev informed on the major breaches – overpricing in communal services, withdrawal of funds abroad. This year the overall sum of fraud operations has made more than 10 bln roubles, highlighted the Minister. The Prosecutor General Yury Chaika suggested strengthening responsibility of municipalities for breaches in the sphere of housing and communal facilities.

Dmitry Medvedev stressed the number of criminal schemes in the sector is increasing, the fraud schemes being improved. The most popular is the scheme perpetrated by so called one-day companies. The Russian President charged the First Vice-Premier of the RF Government Igor Shuvalov to complete preparation of the draft law to control the sector and introduce it to the State Duma. Control over the sphere of housing and communal facilities is a priority mission of the “United Russia” party, the RF President added.

Summing up, Dmitry Medvedev emphasized that the sphere of housing and communal facilities is in the limelight. “This sector should be under permanent control by the government, society and political parties. We have to control everyone, - managing companies, homeowners associations, communal structures and municipalities”, - Dmitry Medvedev stressed.