The court discharged five individuals previously convicted in connection with the case surrounding former Russian Open Government Affairs Minister Mikhail Abyzov. This update comes from TASS, citing Abyzov’s attorney Alexander Asnis. Roshenkova and Balan were released from the courtroom as the verdict was announced, while Galina Fraydenberg was freed from pre‑trial detention at the end of July. The other two defendants, Oleg Serebrennikov and Ekaterina Zayats, had their sentences served and are now under house arrest.
From 2012 to 2018, Mikhail Abyzov served as Minister for Open Government Issues. In 2019, he was detained on charges related to theft and the withdrawal of substantial funds abroad. The investigation alleges that during the 2012–2018 period the defendant diverted funds from two energy entities, the Siberian Energy Company and Regional Power Grids, totaling about 4 billion rubles, and that the activities included illegal commercial operations with revenues surpassing 32.5 billion rubles.
Earlier reports noted an incident involving a paddy wagon escorting the former minister Abyzov that was involved in an accident. This summary highlights the ongoing legal proceedings and the evolving status of the defendants as decisions and conditions of detention change.