Penza, 5 July 2013. PenzaNews. Deputy secretary of Penza branch of United Russia Party, the head of the regional executive committee Vasily Trokhin called the actions of news agency PenzaNews bureaucratic, when on Thursday, July 4, a query was sent about the membership in the ruling party of the member of City Duma Oleg Tyugaev, who was detained in Italy.

“Why are you indulging in bureaucracy?” Vasily Trokhin asked the editor of news agency PenzaNews Pavel Polosin who called him on Friday morning, July 5, to clarify when to expect a response to journalistic inquiry.

“I do not understand anything — your actions and all the rest,” he added.

According to Vasily Trokhin, information on whether Oleg Tyugaev is currently a member of United Russia should be of no public interest.

“For me it has no social significance: for you it has, for us it has not,” he added.

“You will get a response to your query under the existing law,” the agency interlocutor assured without giving any specific timeframe.

In addition, Vasily Trokhin stated that due to his tight schedule he had no opportunity to read the query of the news agency, which contains only four questions.

“I have not seen the letter yet...do you suppose all I do is sit in my office waiting for your letters?” the deputy secretary of Penza branch of United Russia Party asked again.

During the telephone conversation, Vasily Trokhin did not explain whether Oleg Tyugaev was expelled from United Russia in connection with the criminal case against the criminal group accused of illegal VAT reimbursement, of which he is a defendant.

On Thursday, July 4, news agency PenzaNews received information that Oleg Tyugaev arrested in Italy by law enforcement officers was expelled from United Russia Party. Penza branch of the party refused giving any comment on the same day saying that this information was “closed” and related to the personal data of the person, and advised sending an official query of appropriate format.

However, the page of the official website of Penza City Duma devoted to Oleg Tyugaev reads: “The deputy of Penza City Duma of the fourth and fifth convocations from Penza regional branch of United Russia Party. A member of United Russia Party, the chairman of the Standing Committee of the Penza City Duma on social and economic development, industry, transport, communications and business.”