Penza, 12 January 2018. PenzaNews. The Penza mayor's office suggested heads of regional mass media and journalists looking at photos of the ex-officer of the Federal Security Service, member of the public council under the regional department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, founder of an Internet medium Alexander Tuzov, who began to appear at public events with a camera after he had lost a series of lost lawsuits about the illegal use of photographs made by colleagues.

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As reported on the website of the Penza administration, the exposition also included works by photographer Alexander Tolkachev, workers of the mayor's office press-service and the City Duma.

It was not specified on whose initiative the meeting was organized in the municipal budgetary institution "Culture and Leisure Centre" on January 12 and on what principle the photos had been selected.

At the same time, it was noted that the "vernissage dedicated to the professional holiday of the mass media" was visited not only by media representatives but also by city authorities including high-ranking ones.

Judging by the footage from the event, they included Penza mayor Victor Kuvaytev, and four his deputies working at the present time: Yuri Ilyin, Magomed Agamagomedov, Vladimir Popkov, and Andrei Shevchenko. The exception was Irina Shirshina, who is under house arrest.

One part of the event – the one near the Christmas tree – was accompanied by musical performances and even dances. A tea party was organized for mass media representatives.

As it was previously reported by PenzaNews, Alexander Tuzov's materials published in the mass media had repeatedly been subjected to harsh and sound criticism from the public and journalists for the spread of unverified and unreliable information based on rumours.

After a series of lawsuits regarding copyright, due to which he lost about 500,000 roubles in a year, Alexander Tuzov closed the individual enterprise. Almost immediately after the loss of the case on intellectual property in 2016, the ex-officer of the Federal Security Service tried to create problems with security service agents to a mass medium that turned to court to protect its rights. However, the efforts did not give any result.

Over 100,000 roubles the debtor must pay in connection with court decisions has not been voluntarily paid yet.

After bailiffs had interfered in the issue, Alexander Tuzov claimed that monthly he spent only 4,000 roubles on support of himself and a minor child, directing five times more money from his pension on repaying a loan for a foreign car.

Even though courts of different instances repeatedly recognized that Alexander Tuzov violated the law, he is still a member of the public council under the regional department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.