MOSCOW, March 22 - RAPSI. Over 200 million rubles ($6.8 million) have been stolen from the Moscow budget, the Interior Ministry's Economic Security and Corruption Directorate reports on Thursday.

Investigators suspect Moscow government officials and commercial companies of embezzlement. Law enforcement agencies opened criminal cases on abuse of office and large-scale fraud.

The former deputy head of the Moscow Natural Resource and Environment Protection Department, who has a resident permit and property in Spain, is believed to be involved in the theft.

The official was dismissed from office in 2011 after he concealed from his tax declaration his resident permit and property abroad, as well as his foreign bank accounts and business activities.