Son Of Former Tatarstan Justice Minister Charged With Fraud

A son of the former justice minister of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan has been charged with financial fraud and embezzlement.

The Russian Investigative Committee's branch in Tatarstan said on September 4 that Ildar Kormanov, a businessman, had been also charged with money laundering and abuse of his position.

Kormanov, 33, has been under house arrest since March.

His father, Midkhat Kormanov, resigned in November after Tatarstan's chief prosecutor announced that Ildar Kormanov was suspected of demanding a 47-million-ruble ($1.5 million) bribe from a French home-improvement retailer, Leroy Merlin.

The bribe was allegedly in exchange for arranging the utilities for a new store in Kazan.

An energy company established by Ildar Kormanov's mother and father-in-law was allegedly involved in the deal.

Based on reporting by Interfax and Kommersant