North Ossetia Uncovers Sturgeon Farming Subsidy Fraud Involving 4 Million Rubles

The Republic of North Ossetia in Russia has opened a criminal investigation into a case of defrauding government subsidies under the guise of purchasing sturgeon farming equipment, with 4 million rubles involved. According to information provided to Fishnews by the press service of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the two suspects are local residents—one a farmer (farm owner) and the other an acquaintance of his.

The investigation found that between July and August 2022, the head of a farmer (farm owner) enterprise and his acquaintance prepared and signed false equipment supply contracts for fish farming along with corresponding handover documents. Law enforcement stated that these documents contained knowingly false information about expenditures of 5 million rubles, involving the purchase of three sturgeon farming cages, ten closed water supply nodes, one oxygen concentrator and several feeding machines.

The operator then submitted the forged documents to the relevant authorities to apply for a subsidy of 4 million rubles. The press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that during interrogation, both suspects gave confessions, and a criminal case for fraud has been opened against the two.

The case date is November 13, 2026.