Former deputies of the Belgorod Region Governor
Former deputies of the Belgorod Region Governor, Rustam Zaynullin and Vladimir Bazarov, were sentenced to 20 and 19 years in prison respectively in connection with embezzlement cases during the construction of defensive structures.
Consensus
- Two former vice-governors of Belgorod Region, Vladimir Bazarov and Rustem Zaynulin, were sentenced by Moscow's Meshchansky Court.
- The sentences were for corruption related to the construction of defense structures ('dragon's teeth') on the border with Ukraine.
- Bazarov received 19 years in prison; Zaynulin received 20 years in prison.
- Both were fined: Bazarov 500 million rubles, Zaynulin nearly 500 million rubles.
- The court also imposed a ban on holding state positions for 11 and 15 years respectively after release.
- A total of ten individuals were convicted in the case.
- The alleged scheme involved extracting kickbacks from contractors (3–10% of contract value) in exchange for facilitating contracts.
- Substandard materials—smaller concrete tetrahedra than required—were approved, reducing effectiveness and causing 1.7 billion rubles in state damage.
- Zaynulin was arrested in June 2025; Bazarov was arrested in August 2025.
- The case is linked to the construction of border fortifications during the war with Ukraine.
Points of divergence
- Prosecution requested sentences of 21 and 22 years for Bazarov and Zaynulin, respectively. — tg_astrapress
- Zaynulin was fined 474 million rubles; other sources report nearly or exactly 500 million. — novaya_eu
- Seven additional defendants received sentences ranging from 8 million to 500 million ruble fines and prison terms, with one (Sochnikov) sentenced to 20 years. — tg_govorit_nemoskva
- Vladimir Putin removed Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov from office in May 2026 and appointed him ambassador to Abkhazia. — mediazona
- Seven additional individuals were sentenced: Sergey Seredryansky (10 years), Vladimir Gubarev (13 years), Yuri Licavkin (8.5 years), Edgar Kherymian (12 years), Konstantin Zimin (16 years), Larisa Streletskaia (14 years), and Andrey Reshetko (14 years). — tg_radiosvoboda
- The former governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, was removed from office by Putin in May 2026. — tg_govorit_nemoskva
Coverage (15 sources)
- Two former vice-governors of the Belgorod region sentenced to terms up to 20 years for corruption in the 'dragon's teeth' case — The Moscow Times
- Belgorod deputies to governor received up to 20 years for corruption during construction of 'dragon's teeth'. Who else among Russian officials received the longest sentences since the start of the war — Новая газета Европа
- Former deputies of the governor of the Belgorod region sentenced to 20 and 19 years for the 'dragon's teeth' case — Говорит НеМосква
- Экс-замам Гладкова запросили 21 и 22 года колонии строгого режима по делу о хищениях на строительстве оборонительных укр… — ASTRA
- Former vice-governor of the Belgorod region sentenced to 20 years in prison — РИАМО
- Former deputies of the Belgorod governor sentenced to prison for embezzlement case — Фонтанка
- Former deputies of the Belgorod governor sentenced to terms up to 20 years for construction of fortifications case — Медиазона
- ⚖️ Court in Moscow sentenced former Belgorod region vice-governor Vladimir Bazarov to 19 years in a colony, and another... — Радио Свобода
- Former vice-governors of the Belgorod region sentenced to 20 and 19 years for embezzlement — Интерфакс
- Former deputies of the governor of the Belgorod region were sent to a colony for embezzlement — Вечерняя Москва
- Бывшие заместители белгородского губернатора получили 19 и 20 лет за хищения — Коммерсантъ
- Two former deputies of Gladkov sentenced — Вести
- Former deputies of Gladkov requested 21 and 22 years of strict regime prison for embezzlement case in construction of defensive fortifications — ASTRA
- Two former deputies of Gladkov asked for 21 and 22 years of prison — Вести
- Court sentenced former deputies of the governor of the Belgorod region to 20 and 19 years — Москва 24