The former head of the Kursk region and his deputy were accused of embezzlement of more than 1 billion rubles.

Law enforcement officers have charged Alexey Smirnov, the former governor of the Kursk region, and his deputy Alexey Dedov in the case of fraud committed as part of an organized group using their official position. This was announced on April 16 by the official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation Irina Volk.

"The former officials were detained as part of a criminal investigation into the embezzlement of budget funds in the amount of more than 1 billion rubles. They were allocated to Kursk Region Development Corporation JSC for the construction of fortifications on the region's border with Ukraine," MIA Media quoted her as saying.

The news is being updated.