Investigators question Russian ex-defense minister

The Main Investigative Directorate of the Russian Investigative Committee has started questioning Russian former Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov for the Oboronservis case, his lawyer Genrikh Padva said, ITAR-TASS reports.

Serdyukov arrived as a witness to the investigative center this morning. He could not be questioned in December 2012 due to health problems, his lawyer said.

The criminal case concerns real estate frauds of Oboronservis, a structure under control of the Defense Ministry. Evaluations say that the structure suffered losses of 4 billion rubles.

Yekaterina Smetanova, head of the “Expert” Center for Legal Support, her husband, Maksim Zakutaylo, Director General of the military warehouse of the Moscow District, are under detention. Yevgeniya Vasilyeva, former head of the Property Department of the Defense Ministry is under home arrest.