Belgorod Investigators Detain Ex‑Stary Oskol Head in Bribe‑Mediation Case as Ivanovo Ex‑Mayor Is Remanded

Overview

• The Belgorod Investigative Committee opened a case under Part 4, Article 291.1 against four officials from the Stary Oskol and Shebekino administrations.
• Former Stary Oskol head Vladimir Zhdanov and alleged intermediaries were detained under Article 91 of the Criminal Procedure Code, with investigators set to request pretrial measures.
• Investigators say a director of a commercial firm provided just over one million rubles that were passed through a chain of officials before reaching Zhdanov in December 2024.
• Zhdanov had previously been charged under Part 6, Article 290 for receiving a bribe in an especially large amount.
• In a separate case, a court in Ivanovo ordered two months’ custody for ex-mayor Alexander Shabotinsky on abuse-of-power charges tied to more than 30 repair contracts worth over 500 million rubles.