Russian criminal's cash put to good use

YOUTH projects in Edinburgh and the Lothians are to share in millions of pounds seized from a Russian criminal.

Projects will be able to bid for grants of up to 30,000 over the next two years under the latest stage of the CashBack for Communities scheme.

Edinburgh has been allocated 177,962 while West Lothian will receive 82,065, East Lothian 45,852 and Midlothian 38,600.

The 2.5 million being handed out across Scotland is the first portion of a 6.5 million haul recovered from Moscow-based Anatoly Kazachkov after a suspicious multi-million dollar bank transfer from an account in Hungary to a Scottish bank in 2004.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announced the grants and said: "We are showing our young people that there is much more to life than offending or getting out of your heads on drink or drugs."