Cars and Cottage Seized from Ex-Chelyabinsk Traffic Chief
Investigators believe Gaide took bribes for four years, though he denied the accusations.
Property has been seized from former Chelyabinsk traffic police chief Alexander Gaide, who was detained for taking bribes in the form of equipment and foreign cars. The prosecution filed a lawsuit, and the Central District Court of Chelyabinsk partially granted the request. Three passenger cars, three trucks, as well as a cottage and a land plot were turned over to the state. This information was confirmed on Saturday, January 31, by senior assistant to the regional prosecutor Natalya Mamaeva.
The seized assets include a cottage owned by the former traffic police chief.
The agency clarified that they sought to seize property purchased with unconfirmed income. The amount in question is over 16 million rubles (about $180,000 at current rates). The lawsuit was based on materials from an inspection conducted jointly with the regional FSB directorate.
Authorities confiscated several vehicles, both cars and trucks, as part of the case.
«The inspection established that the defendant used his leadership position and strong business connections for enrichment. To conceal his actual financial situation, he registered property in the names of close relatives,» said a representative of the prosecution. «Moreover, he conducted business activities in the name of a close relative.»
Recall that Alexander Gaide served as head of the city traffic police until May 2024, after which he was appointed head of the Federal State Institution «Center for Economic and Service Support» under the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs« Main Directorate for Chelyabinsk Region. His detention by FSB officers became known on May 15, 2025.
Investigators believe that the traffic police chief for several years patronized the company «Kapitalstroy.» According to the FSB Directorate, Gaide«s subordinates had to turn a blind eye to the company»s violations in the operation of freight transport. Bribes were transferred in the form of money, cars, construction materials, and household appliances. Here is what was found during searches. Gaide was sent to a pre-trial detention center.
According to the service «Kontur.Fokus,» LLC «Kapitalstroy» is registered in Chelyabinsk. Its main activity is the construction of roads and highways. Romik Vardanyan owns 50% of the company«s charter capital, with the other half belonging to its director Igor Kazantsev. The company»s official revenue at the end of 2024 was 852.4 million rubles (about $9.5 million at current rates), with a net profit of 25.2 million rubles (about $280,000). «Kapitalstroy» was an active participant in state procurements, concluding over 30 contracts worth 3.9 billion rubles (about $43 million). For example, last year alone the company was involved in road repairs in the Yekulsky District and Kyshtym, and before that in Kunashak, Nyazepetrovsk, Verkhny Ufaley, etc.
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