The main military prosecutor’s office has filed for a commutation of the sentence handed to Colonel Nikolai Kopytov, who previously served as the deputy head of the financial and economic department of the Russian Guard. Kopytov was found guilty of accepting bribes, a decision that was reported by TASS in connection with the Moscow Garrison Military Court proceedings. [Source: TASS]
During the court session, prosecutors indicated that the decision appeared to be too lenient. The supervisory authority argued that the punishment did not reflect the severity of the crime, while the defense for the defendant contended that the sentence was too harsh. These objections set the stage for a formal review of the initial verdict. [Source: TASS]
Previously, the court sentenced Kopytov to four years in a general regime colony. In addition, he was fined 500 thousand rubles. The judgment also restricted him from holding positions with organizational, administrative, or economic authority in public service or local government bodies for a period of two years. This multi-faceted penalty package aimed to curb potential future abuse of authority. [Source: Kommersant]
According to prosecutors, Kopytov allegedly accepted bribes totaling 10 million rubles in 2018 from the Spetsshveisnab company in exchange for signing additional contracts valued at nearly 2 billion rubles. The case also notes a separate, smaller purchase: a coffee machine. These details illustrate the scope of the alleged offenses and the mechanisms by which influence was exercised. [Source: Kommersant]
In related developments, reports indicate that the FSB conducted early actions in Nizhny Novgorod linked to large bribe schemes involving the transport police. The information underscores ongoing concerns about corruption within various arms of the security and enforcement apparatus. [Source: TASS]