The Moscow Basmanny Court seized the estate of Alexander Petrochenko, the former deputy governor of the Bryansk region, as part of a bribery case. An official court statement confirmed that the request to place assets under restraint was granted. The move underscores the authorities’ focus on securing potential proceeds and preventing asset dissipation during the investigation.
The court did not specify which property was seized, leaving the exact assets unnamed in the ruling. This lack of detail is typical in early-stage asset seizures, where authorities aim to preserve evidence and necessary finances connected to the case while investigators continue their work.
In September, the Federal Security Service began examining Petrochenko’s activities. Governor Alexander Bogomaz of the Bryansk region said he ordered the inquiry himself, signaling a top‑level push to scrutinize actions within the administration. The statement points to a broader effort to ensure accountability in regional government affairs and to deter potential corruption.
On October 16, the Moscow Basmanny Court ordered Petrochenko’s arrest after investigators said he was caught in the act of accepting a bribe from a businessman. The case has also been opened against the businessman, with charges alleging both accepting and giving bribes on a large scale. This development marks a significant moment in the ongoing probe and signals the seriousness with which authorities treat bribery allegations involving regional officials.
Should a court verdict find Petrochenko guilty, the penalties could include imprisonment with or without a fine of up to 70 times the amount of the bribe. In addition, there is a potential disqualification from holding certain official positions for up to 15 years, reflecting the severity of corruption offenses in the judicial framework. The sanction structure aims to address the trust deficits created by such crimes and to deter future misconduct among public servants.
Earlier in the investigation, a businessman provided testimony related to the bribery allegations against the former Bryansk region official. The testimony is cited as a key element in the case and contributes to the evidentiary framework prosecutors are assembling as the proceedings unfold. The flow of testimonies and the evolving charges illustrate the dynamic nature of corruption investigations in which multiple parties may be involved.