Aeroflot board member charged over alleged embezzlement

Russian federal investigators probing alleged embezzlement of Aeroflot funds have charged four individuals, including a member of the flag-carrier's management board who formerly served with the country's prosecutor general. Aeroflot deputy general director for legal and property matters Vladimir Alexandrov is accused of participating in a fraud involving theft of Rb250m ($3.8m) during 2015-16. The federal Investigative Committee alleges that he conspired with a former director of the airline's legal department to arrange several contracts for provision of legal services, to be carried out by two lawyers. It accuses the group of carrying out the work internally, through legal department employees, but then transferring at least Rb250 million over 2016-18 to cover false work claims linked to the lawyers. These funds were then distributed among the accused. Aeroflot lists Alexandrov as having joint the airline in 2013, and states that he had held senior positions not only with the Investigative Committee but also the Russian prosecutor general's office. He was appointed to head the airline's legal and property matters division in mid-2016.<br/>