Railways Minister Charged With Abuse Of Power

The Russian Prosecutor General's Office announced on Monday that a criminal case of abuse of power at the railways ministry had been opened on October 9th. RIA Novosti learnt in the prosecutor's office that many people, including six deputy ministers, had already been questioned as part of the investigation. Railways Minister Nikolai Aksyonenko was summoned to the Prosecutor General's Office on Friday, October 19th, where he was charged with abuse of power. It was pointed out by the prosecutor's office that Aksyonenko had refused to sign a document acknowledging that the charges had been brought against him. Moreover, he also refused to sign a pledge not to leave the city. The Prosecutor General's Office stated that this refusal in no way changed the fact that he had been charged.