In Rostov-on-Don, 15 defendants in the case of illegal markets have been convicted.

The key defendants — former head of the Aksai district Vitaly Borzenko and entrepreneur Karim Babaev — have been sentenced to 17 years in prison.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the process in the case of illegal leasing of municipal land by officials has dragged on for years, and witnesses refused to come to court.

The Proletarian District Court of Rostov-on-Don sentenced 15 defendants in the case of illegal Rostov markets, including former head of the Aksai district of Rostov region Vitaly Borzenko and market owner Karim Babaev, to terms ranging from 7.5 years to 17 years of imprisonment.

"To find the defendants guilty and impose a sentence of imprisonment," said the judge, adding that the defendants were sentenced to terms from 7.5 years to 17 years of imprisonment, in particular, Karim Babaev was sentenced to 17 years in prison and a fine of 4.4 million rubles, Vitaly Borzenko - 17 years and a fine of 4 million rubles," TASS quoted the court's verdict yesterday, July 15.

The prosecution had previously requested the court to impose sentences ranging from 9.5 to 25 years of imprisonment. Karim Babaev - 25 years with a fine of 7 million rubles, Vitaly Borzenko - 25 years and a fine of 5.5 million rubles.

The court seized more than 560 million from the defendants in the case

The court also seized plots of land that belonged to the defendants in favor of the state, according to a message on the Telegram channel of the unified press service of the courts of the Rostov region.

"Property seized during the preliminary investigation has been transferred to the state, and land plots have been returned to the ownership of the Aksai district. A total of 398 million rubles has been confiscated from all defendants for the benefit of the state, in addition, 167.4 million rubles have been confiscated from the Babaevs, Borzenko, and Sitko," the message states.

It is emphasized that from April 3, 2003, to July 1, 2016, the defendants "illegally gave a lawful appearance to the ownership of land plots" that were part of the land fund of the Aksai district, totaling 34.8 hectares, valued at 167.4 million rubles. From January 2008 to December 2020, the defendants earned a profit of 398.7 million rubles from these lands.

Officials played a key role in the case

A mass inspection of markets in the Aksai district, on the outskirts of Rostov-on-Don along the M4 "Don" highway, began in late April 2021. It turned out that almost all markets had been operating illegally for many years. Before the inspection began, the head of the district Borzenko was arrested, and several businessmen also became defendants in criminal cases, notes Interfax. According to the investigation, they organized a criminal community and received illegal income of at least 236 million rubles.

The creator of the criminal community was considered to be businessman and former deputy of the City Duma of Rostov-on-Don Karim Babaev. His sons Eduard and Vadim Babaev, director of the Aksai market Ivan Sitko, several officials from the district administration, and a number of employees affiliated with the Babaevs, who are believed to have been part of the criminal group, were also involved in the case.

It should be noted that Vitaly Borzenko submitted his resignation as head of the Aksai district administration in July 2021, and the district deputies terminated his powers.