Overview
- A Moscow court on February 19 ordered Culture Minister Amina Shafikova into pre-trial detention through April 17.
- She is formally accused of embezzlement and taking a bribe in especially large amounts under ch. 4 art. 160 and ch. 6 art. 290 of the Russian Criminal Code.
- Head of Bashkortostan Radiy Khabirov called Shafikova a decent and effective minister and questioned the strictness of the custodial measure given her minor child.
- Khabirov directed officials to present a candidate to serve as acting culture minister and said assistance should be provided to Shafikova’s family if needed.
- Investigators have not publicly detailed the case facts, and media reports have suggested a possible link to state procurement by subordinate cultural institutions, which has not been confirmed.