A Federal Protective Service major general allegedly tried to embezzle money from a project to remodel one of Putin's presidential homes

Russia’s Investigative Committee has charged Federal Protective Service Major General Igor Vasiliev with embezzling money allocated to remodel the presidential residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, sources told the news agency Rosbalt. In charge of organizing engineering and technical support for the construction project, Vasiliev allegedly conspired with the owners of the Baltstroy holding company and several other high-ranking FSO officials to steal 1.5 billion rubles ($23.7 million) from the government by overcharging for air conditioners and roofing.

Police have reportedly detained another three suspects in the case: Baltstroy co-owners Dmitry Mikhalchenko and Dmitry Sergeyev, as well as Andrey Kaminov, the head of the “Ateks” federal state unitary enterprise. In July 2017, federal investigators classified the case as “top secret,” stating that the details of the remodeling work on the presidential residence constitute state secrets.