Forgery Ring "cracked" by FSB

[McLenin]

This was recently on RFE/RL Russian news. Apologies if you have heard it already.

McLenin


AUTHORITIES CRACK RING THAT ALLEGEDLY FORGED STATE HONORS. The FSB
has alleged that the Association of Heroes of the Soviet Union and
Russia has been illegally producing forged documents that seemingly
bestow some of Russia's highest state awards, Russian media reported
on 15 August. The association allegedly sold the documents for large
sums of money. The association, which reportedly has no real heroes
of Russia or the Soviet Union among its members, also illegally
obtained the Golden Star of Heroes that belonged to laureates who are
deceased. The Hero Order is one of Russia's most prestigious state
awards, and it is in extremely high demand on the black market since
it confers lucrative benefits including tax breaks, discount lending
rates, and opportunities to purchase prestigious real estate. An FSB
spokesman said that some 30 people have been detained in connection
with the case, including association head Aleksei Kuznetsov, who has
allegedly posed as an FSB lieutenant colonel. A search of the
association's office reportedly uncovered numerous false documents
and a personal firearm with a forged inscription purporting to be on
behalf of the FSB. Investigators alleged that the association tried
to infiltrate its own people within the law enforcement organs, the
Justice Ministry, and other government agencies, including the
offices of the presidential envoys to the seven federal districts, in
order to lobby the association's interests. VY