Russian army officers face trial for purchasing $9 million worth of faulty parachutes

The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has opened a criminal case against unnamed officers of the Russian army, for purchasing a consignment of faulty parachutes, Russian website Lenta.ru reports.  Head of the Prosecutor General's Office Sergey Fridninsky said that the value of the purchase is more that 280 million rubles ($9 million).

The Russian Defense Ministry paid more that 280 million rubles for repairing and producing the parachutes for Russian airborne troops. However, the enterprise used sub-standard materials. Experts said that the new parachutes are worthless.  

“I’m sure that the officers of the Defense Ministry have shut their eyes to this fact. We will find out how they could buy such expensive cars and apartments right after the deal,” Fridninsky said.

Fridninsky also mentioned a crime wave among Russian army officers.

“There has been a great increase in the number of crimes in comparison with previous years. Misappropriating defense materials and state cash makes up half of these crimes,” Fridninsky said.