Russia’s National Guard Faces Corruption Allegations Involving Senior Officials
A state Duma deputy, Alexander Khinshtein, reports that Major General Vadim Dragomiretsky, who serves as Deputy Commander of the Central District of the Russian Guard, is a defendant in a criminal case centered on corruption and abuse of power. The deputy asserts that Dragomiretsky is suspected of involvement in “billion-dollar bribes,” signaling a high-stakes probe that extends far beyond a single incident.
According to Khinshtein, the disclosure stems from joint efforts by the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the National Guard. The director of the Russian Guards, Viktor Zolotov, has reportedly directed the release and subsequent dismissal proceedings concerning Dragomiretsky, with documents already prepared for those steps. The parliamentarian adds that Dragomiretsky is alleged to have engaged in a pattern of taking commissions from a contractor involved in the rebuilding of a military unit in the Moscow region, a project that would implicate multiple layers of the local command structure.
Specifically, Khinshtein estimates the potential payoff at around 19 million rubles. He also points to Colonel Kochiev, who heads the regional base responsible for storing material resources, as a participant in the alleged criminal scheme. Dragomiretsky’s status on the day prior to the disclosure was described as being detained by security personnel and placed in a pre-trial detention facility, reflecting the seriousness of the case and the swift escalation of investigative actions.
According to the parliamentarian, Dragomiretsky reportedly confessed and pleaded guilty under the weight of the evidence. Investigative actions are ongoing, and prosecutors will determine the appropriate preventive measures for the general based on the results of these proceedings. Khinshtein emphasizes a clear stance: no past good deeds or rank will shield corrupt officials from accountability, regardless of their position in the hierarchy.
News from RBC adds further context, noting that Dragomiretsky previously held the post of deputy commander of the rear district. In 2019, his declared annual income was approximately 2 million rubles. He is also said to own two properties, including a 200-square-meter plot and a 72-square-meter apartment share, along with ownership of a Hyundai Grandeur automobile. These financial details are often cited in discussions of asset tracing within corruption investigations and are used to illustrate the scale of potential illicit gains under scrutiny.
Corruption Cases Within the National Guard
On January 13, the head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, announced the completion of a probe into a bribery case involving ten employees of the Russian Guard linked to the Defense Technology Company and several of its leaders. The defendants are suspected of misconduct, fraud, and bribery, with officers detained and placed in custody on May 26, 2021. The case emerged from a joint inspection conducted by the FSB and the organization’s own security service, which led to criminal charges being filed.
Investigators allege that more than 240 million rubles were embezzled from budgets meant for the purchase of specialized equipment intended to safeguard high-threat facilities in remote regions, including the head of the Anadyr private security department, Andrei Cherny, and two leaders of Yakutia’s private security agencies, Ivan Budurovich and Roman Kharitonov. The investigation also resulted in the seizure of assets and cash totaling 889 million rubles, 110,000 dollars, and 26,000 euros, underscoring the breadth of financial depravity alleged in the scheme.
In 2020, former deputy director of the Russian Guards, Lieutenant General Sergei Mileiko, was detained. By 2021, he received a six-year prison sentence for involvement in a fraud case tied to illicit gains from acquiring non-residential premises within the Russian Guard’s Balashikha department house, where Mileiko’s spouse operated a beauty business. The case expanded later to include accusations of embezzlement of roughly 400 million rubles in the supply of uniforms to the National Guard at inflated prices. SpetsShveySnab, the contractor for the uniform supply, reportedly failed to meet even a fraction of the required volume, and the pricing and quality of the products were questioned by investigators and prosecutors alike.
Additional allegations tied to Mileiko include accepting bribes amounting to about 10 million rubles. In connection with this broader case, Colonel Nikolai Kopytov, formerly the deputy head of the financial and economic department of the Russian Guard, was detained. Nevertheless, by March 6, 2023, some outlets suggested that ongoing inquiries might end without charges due to insufficient evidence, reflecting the often nuanced outcomes of high-profile investigations in large institutions.
The ongoing discourse around these cases highlights a persistent concern about corruption within security and defense-related agencies across the country. It also underscores the importance of robust oversight, transparent procurement practices, and accountability mechanisms that can withstand public scrutiny and safeguard the integrity of state security structures in Russia.