St. Petersburg Police Break Up Alleged Fake COVID Vaccination Scheme

A person receives a dose of the Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 at an inoculation center in a shopping mall in St. Petersburg. (file photo)

Police in the northwestern Russian city of St. Petersburg have detained a doctor and four nurses suspected of issuing fake COVID-19 vaccination certifications.

According to an Investigative Committee statement on October 23, the five work at a health clinic at the Pavlov State Medical University. They are accused of giving people paper and online certificates of vaccination while destroying the unused vaccines.

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The authorities said they were investigating 12 alleged cases, for which the medical workers purportedly received more than 100,000 rubles ($1,425).

If convicted, the medical workers could face up to 12 years in prison.