The Moscow Preobrazhensky Court has detained Andrei Kudryavtsev, a senior researcher with the Institute of Applied Mechanics at the Russian Academy of Sciences, in connection with a large-scale bribery case. The arrest marks a significant development in a investigation that has drawn attention to financial integrity within high technology research circles and the broader commitments of scientific institutions to public accountability.
According to the court document, Kudryavtsev was ordered to be held in custody until November 1, 2023, as a precautionary measure during the investigation. The ruling underscores the seriousness of the charges and the authorities’ determination to secure his appearance and cooperation while prosecutors build their case in the coming weeks.
The decision notes that the case is being processed by the Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee for Russia, with the Special Affairs Unit specifically assigned to handle major cases. This framing highlights the high-priority status of the matter and the procedural rigor being applied to ensure a thorough review of the alleged misconduct.
The defendant is accused of accepting bribes on a particularly large scale, an offense described under part six of Article 290 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. If convicted, Kudryavtsev faces a potential prison sentence of up to fifteen years. The document does not disclose the precise nature of the alleged bribes or the recipients involved, focusing instead on the scale and seriousness of the alleged activity.
It is indicated that Kudryavtsev has prior affiliations with the Federal Center for Technological Impact Analysis and Evaluation under Rosprirodnadzor. This background situates him within a network of government and scientific bodies responsible for monitoring environmental impact and regulatory compliance in technology-related work.
Earlier disclosures in the case point to a broader inquiry spanning multiple agencies, including the Russian Guard and the Federal Security Service, into a scheme involving the purchase of Araks demining complexes at an inflated price, totaling 227 million rubles. The revelations suggest a wide-ranging operation that drew scrutiny from several law enforcement and regulatory authorities.
Additionally, it has been reported that Kudryavtsev has connections to a prior matter involving TsAGI, described in sources as a Moscow City Court case related to betrayal. This alignment with past judicial proceedings places the current investigation within a continuum of complex regulatory and security-related investigations affecting prominent scientific institutions in the capital and beyond.