A high-profile figure from the 1990s criminal landscape, Alexander Pustovalov, was released from a maximum-security facility in Monino, according to reports. Known in the press as Soldier Sasha, he was convicted multiple times over his career and received a total sentence that reached 24 years in prison. His confinement began in Vladimir Central Prison before he was moved to IK-9 in the Tver region, and records indicate that since 2017 he worked within the custodial system in roles described as a ritual goods collector and later as a vendor of preserved vegetables during his custody time.
Following his release, authorities noted that Pustovalov would remain under strict supervision by law enforcement for the next three years. He is required to check in with police on two occasions each month and faces curfews that prohibit leaving his city of residence after dark. The arrangement aims to monitor his reintegration and minimize potential risks associated with his past offenses.
Historically, Pustovalov served as a sailor before his time in national service, after which he reportedly sought to join riot police. In the early 1990s he became linked with the Orekhovskaya criminal group. He was detained in 1999, with investigators asserting that his actions resulted in the loss of roughly 30 lives, including several law enforcement personnel. These allegations shaped a long and controversial chapter in the region’s criminal history, highlighting the enduring impact of violent crime on communities and the ongoing efforts of the authorities to pursue accountability.
Other recent developments in related cases include a November 14 report about Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, a defendant in the murder case of journalist Anna Politkovskaya. It was noted that Khadzhikurbanov left the penal system for a special operation in late 2022. He reportedly received amnesty, ascended to a commanding role within the intelligence battalion, and continues to participate in ongoing conflicts. In the Politkovskaya case, Khadzhikurbanov had been sentenced to 20 years in prison with an expected release date that had originally been set for 2034, illustrating the complexities of high-profile cases and the long timelines involved in legal processes.
There have also been reports from Greece indicating the life imprisonment sentence of another individual connected with extremist activities, underscoring the international dimension of security concerns that often intersect with domestic criminal narratives.