Russian Admiral Illegally Sold Navigation Charts

01.08.2012 Chief of Military Survey Dept at Russian General Staff Rear Admiral Sergei Kozlov became involved in a criminal case regarding illegal distribution of nautical charts, reports Military Investigative Committee.

"The criminal case was initiated against Kozlov in accordance with Article 286 of Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (excess of power resulted in grievous consequences)", reports the committee's press service.

According to investigators, heading the defense ministry's Navigation and Oceanography Dept, Kozlov handed over an illegal decree regarding license contracts with Chart-Pilot Ltd and JSC Tranzas to the head of 280-th Central Military Cartographic Firm Capt 1 Rank Yury Rozhkov. Under terms of the contracts, those companies acquired intellectual property rights of the Russian Federation, i.e. nautical navigation charts. They distributed the charts within framework of International Hydrographic Organization. As a result of illegal use of Russia's intellectual property, the state suffered damage to the amount of over RUR 9.5 mln.