The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that it has uncovered a financial scam by which more than 1 billion rubles (19.1 million euros) was illegally transferred to banks in Estonia and Latvia.

Russian anti-corruption officials revealed a scheme to withdraw funds in foreign currency abroad. They suspect a number of executives from commercial firms that appear to have been fictitious.

Suspects also include the former and current senior executives of two credit and financial companies from Moscow.

According to the ministry, the suspects signed several international trade contracts with the so-called "one-day firms" for supply of expensive office and text equipment.

They then used false documents to transfer the money to accounts opened by non-residents in Estonia and Latvia.

No equipment was ever imported to Russia.

Russian authorities continue their investigation.

ERR News