Overview

• Prosecutors will now decide whether to approve an indictment before the case moves to trial.
• Investigators allege that in 2021–2022, while heading the General Staff’s 8th Directorate, Yuri Kuznetsov took a bribe from businessman Leva Martirosyan, with charges filed under parts 6 of Article 290 and 5 of Article 291 of the Russian Criminal Code.
• The alleged bribe comprised a land plot and a building in Krasnodar Krai valued at more than 80 million rubles, purportedly in exchange for help securing state contracts and hotel service agreements.
• Searches recovered cash in rubles and foreign currency, gold coins, collectible watches and other luxury items, and investigators say seized and frozen assets exceed 260 million rubles.
• Defense counsel argues some payments tied to the property were made by Kuznetsov’s wife, citing 2020–2021 bank records and receipts in the case file, and both defendants have remained in pre-trial detention since May 2024.