Irkutsk Region government chairman Alexander Bitarov commented on corruption allegations in Arkady Mamontov's Golden Calf film. The government says the program has many inaccuracies and distortions, and is now reviewing it for being commissioned and defamatory. Regional authorities may go to court to defend honor, dignity and business reputation.

The Chairman of the Government of the Irkutsk Region, Alexander Semyonovich Bitarov, who became one of the heroes of Arkady Mamontov’s television program “The Golden Calf,” explained the situation regarding the de facto accusation of corruption against him.
In a statement received from the government press service, it says:
— The Chairman of the Government of the Irkutsk Region, Alexander Bitarov, and the entire new team of regional authorities have a positive attitude toward constructive criticism. Including in the media. However, Arkady Mamontov’s film contains many inaccuracies, distorts facts, and presents viewers with unreliable information. Journalists did not contact the Government of the Angara Region for comments on this topic.
At present, the program is being examined in detail for signs of being commissioned and for defamation. There is a high likelihood of preparing a lawsuit in court to protect honor, dignity, and business reputation.
At the same time, the Chairman of the Government is ready for an open and honest conversation with the journalistic community.
As a reminder, in the film “The Golden Calf,” journalist of the federal TV and radio holding Arkady Mamontov examines the theme of the “merging of business and power” using several constituent entities of the Federation as examples — in particular, the Irkutsk and Novosibirsk regions, as well as Nizhny Novgorod. Along with the alleged land schemes of the Speaker of the Novosibirsk Regional Legislative Assembly, Andrey Shimkiv, and the foreign villas of former Nizhny Novgorod Mayor Oleg Sorokin, the film discusses the role of the Chairman of the Government of the Irkutsk Region, Alexander Bitarov, in regional politics. The film aired on the night of November 4. In effect, Alexander Bitarov is accused of coming to power in order to lobby the interests of his own business (FSK “New City”).