Pechora City Hall Bribery Case Involving Top Officials

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The head of Pechora’s city administration, Valery Serov, and his deputy, Andrei Kanishchev, were detained in connection with a bribery investigation. The information came from the press service of the Investigative Committee and was shared via the investigative channel on Telegram.

Authorities allege that bribes were taken on a large scale through a conspiracy among several individuals. The case falls under Article 6 and Article 290 of the Criminal Code, with a potential maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Investigators believe Serov and Kanishchev accepted money from a businessman in exchange for favorable actions that enabled municipal contracts for the repair and improvement of public spaces.

At present, Serov has not been given preventive measures, while Kanishchev remains detained as part of a separate case involving intentional infliction of grievous harm resulting in death. In August 2022, Kanishchev allegedly consumed alcohol, struck a man at a public event, fell, and did not survive the injuries.

Another deputy, Vladimir Mennikov, confirmed the arrest to a media outlet and stated that he is now acting as the acting head of the city. He added that the life support services and municipal operations were continuing to function normally despite the ongoing legal actions.

Reports indicate that searches were conducted at the city administration in the spring, with investigators reviewing documents related to municipal contracts. The results allegedly confirmed that the mayor had accepted bribes on a large scale, according to the investigative brief and subsequent statements.

Was This a Move to Evade Responsibility or a Duty-Bound Decision?

Starting October 1, Serov was slated to be deployed to a special operations zone in Ukraine. He announced the plan on September 21, and the Pechora Regional Council subsequently approved his temporary leave while retaining him in office. Some Communist Party members challenged this decision, suggesting it could be an attempt to dodge criminal liability before the corruption probe concludes.

State Duma deputy Oleg Mikhailov commented that the departure appeared to be an attempt to avoid accountability. Serov, however, insisted the move was a deliberate choice to defend the homeland, explaining that the decision was made to support national efforts rather than evade responsibility.

Further reporting from the Baza Telegram channel indicated that security forces detained Serov at six in the morning. Reports also stated that a sum of about 370 thousand rubles was found in the residence of the individual associated with the case at the time of detention.

The Public Spotlight and Earlier Controversies

Earlier this year, Serov was at the center of a public controversy when a video produced by Izvestia depicted residents manually clearing snow and ice from building entrances. The mayor did not grant interviews and reportedly told the journalists, in no uncertain terms, that he would not disclose information to those he characterized as disrespectful media personnel. He expressed frustration with the state of city communications and placed some of the responsibility for these issues on residents themselves.

Subsequent inquiries by the prosecutor’s office focused on the heating system and infrastructure. Serov did not acknowledge any fault in the city’s management of these services, nor did he apologize for his earlier remarks. Kirill Kabanov, head of the National Anti-Corruption Committee, stated that after reviewing Izvestia materials, his team would seek a formal dismissal for a trust-related issue, arguing that Serov failed to meet the standards expected of his position and undermined public trust through his conduct and performance.

As the situation unfolds, the city of Pechora remains under scrutiny from both regional authorities and national anti-corruption bodies. The ongoing investigations, coupled with public responses and political rhetoric, underscore the broader concerns about governance and accountability in municipal administration.

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