In Moscow, the Zamoskvoretsky Court opened hearings into the alleged misappropriation of funds belonging to the now bankrupt Metropol Bank. The proceedings, reported by Kommersant, outline a case that has spanned several years and drawn public attention to the risks facing financial institutions undergoing bankruptcy procedures in Russia.
The charges describe a scheme that involves top executives and a specialized credit professional from Metropol Bank. Former chairman of the board Denis Dolotov, vice-president Olga Sokolova, former board chair Andrei Faminsky, and commercial credit expert Irina Danilova are accused of diverting roughly 400 million rubles. The investigation indicates that the architect of the scheme was the bank’s former beneficiary, Aidar Kotyuzhansky, who is currently in France as prosecutors pursue a separate case tied to his actions. The allegations place Kotyuzhansky at the center of a broader narrative about asset management and accountability within a failed financial institution.
The criminal case, filed under Part 4 of Article 160 of the Criminal Code, specifically targets particularly large-scale embezzlement and was initiated by the Investigative Committee of Russia on October 15, 2020. Metropol Bank ceased to operate in 2016 after a rapid deterioration of its financial health, with liabilities approaching 2.2 billion rubles. The regulator determined that funds raised by the bank were placed into assets with limited liquidity, creating a real threat to the interests of creditors and other investors. This context emphasizes why authorities pursued a serious legal response and how bankruptcy regimes prioritize creditor protection amid restructuring and asset liquidation processes.
The judicial timeline extends beyond the Metropol case. On July 26, the Moscow Tverskoy Court ordered house arrest for Sergei Gorbachenko, who held the position of chairman of the board of directors for the company RDK, in connection with an embezzlement investigation. The decision to detain or restrict movement, while a case proceeds, reflects standard practice in Russian courts when financial crime allegations intersect with corporate governance concerns and the control of company assets. Parallel to this, another arrest related to alleged misappropriation occurred in the Shatura region near Moscow, highlighting a broader pattern of investigative activity focused on embezzlement within the regional and national corporate landscape.
As the Metropol matter continues, observers note that the proceedings illustrate how criminal investigations interact with the complex legal framework governing bankrupt financial institutions. Analysts emphasize the importance of transparent accounting, independent audits, and robust oversight mechanisms to preserve creditor rights and maintain public confidence in the financial system. The ongoing cases bring attention to the roles of former executives, fiduciaries, and intermediate entities that participate in the movement and allocation of bank assets during distress scenarios. The outcome of these matters will likely influence future regulatory expectations, risk management practices, and the design of enforcement strategies for similar cases across Russia and neighboring markets.
In summary, the Metropol Bank indictment and related actions shed light on the vulnerabilities that can accompany bank distress, the critical need for governance reforms, and the continual scrutiny applied to assets and executives when large sums are at stake. As investigations proceed, the broader public interest remains focused on fair accountability, the restoration of creditor value, and the integrity of the financial ecosystem that serves customers, investors, and the broader economy.