Bribes in Kuban carry heightened risks
In the Krasnodar region of Russia, a series of high-profile arrests of officials has been underway since the spring, shedding light on systemic corruption risks and abuse of office in sectors involving government authority, construction, and law enforcement oversight.
Andrei Gusiev, a noted expert, has pointed out that the information field often focuses on high-profile arrests but neglects discussions on convictions. This trend is evident in the Krasnodar region as well, with arrests generating significant interest but trials receiving little media coverage and public attention.
One of the sectors posing the greatest risk to officials in Krasnodar is the regional government administration, particularly those linked to construction and public contracts. The recent arrest of Vice-Governor Alexander Nesterenko, responsible for construction in the region, on suspicion of abuse of power with severe consequences, underscores this vulnerability. Nesterenko's predecessor, Sergey Vlasov, was arrested a year earlier on similar charges.
The construction sector is considered a 'firing squad' post, according to Gusiy, due to the need to rectify the consequences of spot development. The deputy in charge of construction, he notes, is often left to clean up the mess, making the position a prime target for corruption investigations.
The law enforcement sectors also carry significant risks for officials facing criminal scrutiny. Actions against the editor-in-chief of the investigative media outlet Baza—including searches and detentions spanning Krasnodar and other regions—as part of an inquiry into police abuse of office serve as a stark reminder of this reality.
Political and ideological prosecutions also create an environment where officials involved in such sectors risk investigation. While not specific to Krasnodar region officials, broader Russian prosecutions for extremism and related charges, sometimes targeting politically sensitive areas or groups, have contributed to the ongoing criminal proceedings in the region.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the outcomes of these anti-corruption cases, experts like Gusiev predict that over time, the level of official crimes will decrease as regional and municipal powers diminish. This optimistic outlook is supported by the recent release of high-profile figures like Alexei Ulyukayev, former Russian Minister of Economic Development, and Nikita Belykh, former Governor of Kirov Oblast, who have served their sentences.
However, Gusiev and Podlesny, director of the Center for Applied Sociology and Political Science, both agree that the days when high-ranking officials are released are long gone. The expert predicts that the days when a State Duma deputy's ID no longer helps are upon us, indicating a shift in the Russian political landscape.
In addition to these high-profile cases, the first deputy minister of natural resources of the Krasnodar region, Alexander Kairov, and the deputy head of the Apcheronsky district, Vyacheslav Muka, have also been arrested and accused of large-scale fraud. These cases highlight the ongoing efforts to combat corruption and abuse of power in the Krasnodar region.
Leonid Mikhailuk, the head of the Federal Security Service of Russia's Main Directorate for the Krasnodar Territory, has a history of fighting against bribe-takers and was appointed to Krasnodar Krai to help establish order. His presence, along with the ongoing investigations and arrests, suggests a commitment to addressing the systemic corruption issues in the region.
[1] https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/06/23/ex-russian-minister-of-economic-development-sentenced-to-8-years-in-prison-a78405 [2] https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/05/27/ex-russian-minister-of-economic-development-arrested-a78304 [3] https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/06/24/russian-police-arrest-head-of-investigative-media-outlet-baza-a78399 [4] https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/04/28/krasnodar-vice-mayor-arrested-on-fraud-charges-a78255 [5] https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/06/30/deputy-head-of-apcheronsky-district-arrested-on-fraud-charges-a78424
- The high-profile arrests of officials in the Krasnodar region, such as Vice-Governor Alexander Nesterenko and Deputy Head of Apcheronsky district Vyacheslav Muka, are part of the general-news and crime-and-justice sectors, highlighting ongoing investigations into systemic corruption risks and abuse of office.
- Despite the ongoing arrests and investigations in the Krasnodar region, experts like Andrei Gusiev have pointed out that discussions on convictions are often overlooked in the general-news field, suggesting that trials related to corruption cases may receive little media coverage and public attention.
