Russia jails manager over Vostochny cosmodrome fraud

PanARMENIAN.Net - A court has jailed a construction manager at Russia's new Vostochny cosmodrome, a day after the first rocket was launched from the site, BBC News reports.

Igor Nesterenko was sentenced to three years and three months in a labour camp for embezzlement. He stole nearly 104.5m roubles (1.6m), the court in Russia's far east concluded.

Several companies are being investigated.

President Vladimir Putin had warned that some managers might face jail.

He watched the rocket launch on Thursday, April 28 in the Amur region, near the Russian-Chinese border, 5,500km (3,500 miles) east of Moscow. A last-minute technical hitch had delayed the Soyuz 2.1a, carrying three satellites into orbit.

It was Putin's idea to build a new space port in Russia to avoid any potential political risks of using the old Soviet launch centre at Baikonur in Kazakhstan.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Russia would continue to use Baikonur to launch manned missions until 2023. Meanwhile, launches from Vostochny will gradually be increased.

Last year dozens of construction workers went on strike at Vostochny, complaining of unpaid wages. Nesterenko is also being prosecuted in connection with the alleged non-payments.

Nesterenko heads Russia's Pacific Bridge-building Company (TMK) - one of several firms under investigation for suspicious transactions at Vostochny.

The court found that he benefited from a fraudulent scheme run by an associate, Sergei Yudin.