Ex-Deputy Head of MFW Kubani Simonenko, now detained, discusses the source of the 360 million rubles in prison
In a series of shocking developments, Sergey Simonenko, the former deputy head of the Emergency Situations Ministry (EMERCOM) in Krasnodar Krai, finds himself at the centre of a criminal investigation.
On August 1, 2024, Simonenko was detained at his workplace and transferred to Moscow, where he is currently under house arrest. The charges against him include violations of anti-corruption legislation, attempted murder, and arson.
According to the General Prosecutor's Office, during his tenure, Simonenko registered property in the names of relatives and trusted persons, a clear breach of the law. This allegedly includes assets worth hundreds of millions of rubles, which were confiscated by the court in August 2025. The confiscated assets, valued at 360 million rubles, consisted of 55 real estate properties and 32 vehicles.
Simonenko has denied these allegations, stating that he never controlled or managed the business activities of his family members. He claims that any objects, such as cars or country houses, were purchased with money earned by his wife. However, he also admitted that the property was inherited from his father, who headed the "Kuban" educational and experimental farm in the suburbs of Krasnodar.
The criminal case against Simonenko is also linked to a tragic incident involving a former subordinate and his relatives. It is alleged that Simonenko organised the arson of their cars, an act that resulted in severe injuries. The victims include the subordinate himself and his relatives.
In a letter sent from a detention centre, Simonenko described the allegations against him as a "fantastical picture that has nothing to do with reality." He expressed disagreement with the involvement of his family members in the case and claimed that he is being accused of owning all the property that ever belonged to his wife and other relatives.
No more recent information about Svetlana Simonenko's profession could be found. In 2011, it was reported that she was involved in business. In March 2025, Svetlana Simonenko attempted to lift the freeze on her accounts, claiming that her family had no means to live. The court denied the request.
Simonenko also failed to resolve a conflict of interest when hiring his nephew in the same department. This is another point of contention in the ongoing investigation.
As the investigation continues, the public awaits further developments in this complex case involving allegations of corruption, violent crime, and conflicts of interest.
