NIZHNY NOVGOROD, November 30 (RIA Novosti-Volga, Zhanna Voronova) - Mikhail Kasyanov, a former prime minister of Russia, came face-to-face Wednesday with a member of the country's lower chamber of parliament who has accused him of being embroiled in a multi-million dollar corruption scandal.
Kasyanov was in the northwestern city of Nizhny Novgorod meeting with representatives of public organizations, regional party branches and local parliamentarians when Alexander Khinshtein, who represents ruling party United Russia in the State Duma, suddenly entered the room and announced: "Finally, we can hear the position of the former prime minister himself, rather than his press secretary's."
Khinshtein has claimed Kasyanov was involved in the illegal acquisition of property worth $100-million and asked the former premier during his unexpected appearance where he had found the money.
Kasyanov rebuffed the parliamentarian's allegations. "This is a filthy insinuation," he said. "I have not committed any illegal actions either in civil service or later. Everything was done legally and there were no claims until this July."
In July, Khinshtein accused Kasyanov of using illegally earned money to buy a dacha in Zhukovka, a prestigious area outside Moscow, worth $20 million, and named other "acquisitions related to business activities," including a formerly state-owned dacha that was allegedly bought for $720,000, despite its market value being $150 million.
The former prime minister earlier admitted to buying "some more property" shortly after resignation.
Kasyanov told Khinshtein he had used his own legal incomes and loans, and added he was ready to organize business-training courses for the parliamentarian.
The clash continued and ended with reciprocal threats.
Kasyanov and Khinshtein are expected to hold independent news conferences in Nizhny Novgorod later in the day.
