Crimea's Former Deputy Prime Minister Suspected of Theft

A former deputy prime minister of Crimea's Russia-backed government is suspected of theft.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) department for Crimea announced on February 17 that Rustam Temirgaliyev may be involved in the theft of more than 300 kilograms of gold and significant amount of cash from Ukraine's State Saving Bank (Oshchadbank) in Crimea.

Temirgaliyev served as Crimea's Deputy Prime Minister from February 2014, when Russia started annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine, until June 2014.

He is currently the Plenipotentiary Envoy of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan in Kazakhstan in the Kazakh capital, Astana.

It is not clear if Temirgaliyev has been arrested.

Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax