In the Irkutsk region of Russia, a group of miners was detained for causing significant damage amounting to 200 million rubles to a local network company. The Investigative Committee reported that the offenders had installed 500 cryptocurrency mining devices and systematically paid for electricity at a subsidized rate intended for household needs.
As a result, a criminal case was initiated for the illegal consumption of electricity, classified as fraud on a particularly large scale. The investigative team conducted searches, seized equipment, and interrogated witnesses. Ultimately, two tenants and the owner of the shopping center who organized the illegal mining were detained.
The Irkutsk region is among the energy-deficient territories where mining is prohibited until spring 2031. Previously, the restriction was imposed for the winter period, but it has now become year-round. The Governor of the Irkutsk region, Igor Kobzev, stated that this ban will allow for the redistribution of resources to socially significant projects, as large mining centers consume significant amounts of electricity.
