MOSCOW, June 8 (RAPSI) – Three cases have been opened against Vostochny Cosmodrome contractors in the Russian Far East, RIA Novosti reported on Monday, citing the Interior Ministry.

According to investigators, the executives of several contractors are guilty of damaging state interests by adopting decisions that resulted in a failure to complete the contracted facilities.

These violations were uncovered during the investigation of the alleged embezzlement of 300 million rubles ($5.8 million) allocated for the construction of a road at the Vostochny space center launched in April.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Yelena Alekseyeva said the charges brought under a criminal code article on abuse of office provide for up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Investigators are working to establish the circumstances of the alleged offense and the persons involved in it.

The construction of the space center, due to become Russia's main launch site, began near Uglegorsk in the Amur Region, the Russian Far East, in 2012. The facility is planned to be completed by November 30, and the first manned mission is scheduled for 2018. However, contractors several times reported that the project was behind schedule.

The Interior Ministry said a contract was signed in October 2014 to build roads for infrastructure facilities at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, and that the contractor received 300 million rubles ($5.8 million) in advance payment but did not start building roads and did not return the money. The Investigative Committee reported the arrest of Yury Khrizman, former manager of the construction company Dalspetsstroy, on suspicion of delaying wages to construction workers at the space center.