The Leninsky District Court in Ufa has imposed a 2.2 million ruble fine on Magnitogorsk Metallurg hockey player Semyon Koshelev for evading military service and for entering the Ufa State Petroleum Technical University (UGNTU) through bribery. This information was reported by RIA Novosti Sports.
The court noted that Koshelev was fined 2.2 million rubles, and a restraining order in the form of a written commitment to leave the country would be lifted once the ruling takes effect, according to the presiding judge of the Leninsky District Court in Ufa.
On March 23, Koshelev admitted his involvement in the bribery scheme during the proceedings.
Prosecutors stated that prior to 2019 the athlete asked a friend, Farit Samigullin, to help him obtain a military ID, with Samigullin agreeing to a fee of 40 thousand rubles. The state prosecutor’s representative explained that this payment was later funneled to Konstantin Vyropaev, who headed the department responsible for training and conscription in the military commissariat for the Ordzhonikidze and Kalinin districts of Ufa.
Subsequently Koshelev returned to Samigullin, seeking access to higher education. Samigullin allegedly offered the athlete admission to the correspondence department of the Institute of Oil and Gas Business at the USPTU without taking exams, for a fee of 270 thousand rubles. Koshelev paid 150 thousand rubles in one installment and 120 thousand rubles in another, enabling his enrollment in the oil and gas financing program.
The court heard that Koshelev, who did not want to face deductions, continued to pay bribes, including payments to Samigullin. In total, bribes amounted to approximately 720 thousand rubles, and later he transferred to the Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University in 2022.
During the courtroom proceedings, Koshelev asserted that he did not complete his higher education and that he was responsible for military service. He confessed to his guilt during the hearing. A subsequent court session was scheduled for April 4.
The case highlights the broader issue of illicit influence in access to military exemptions and higher education, illustrating how financial incentives can intersect with official procedures. It also underscores the ongoing scrutiny of athletes and public figures who attempt to accelerate career opportunities through improper channels. The authorities continue to pursue lawful remedies to ensure compliance with military service obligations and standard admission procedures, while also signaling a continued crackdown on corruption-related offenses within the regional bureaucracy and educational institutions. The outcome will likely be watched closely by sports and legal communities across the country. Attribution: RIA Novosti Sports