Chelyabinsk Lawyer Jailed in Bribery Probe

Traktorozavodsky District Court of Chelyabinsk has ordered prominent lawyer Yevgeny Abramovskikh to be held in pre-trial detention until April 2, accused of mediating a bribe to «unidentified officials from the regional court.» The criminal case is based on testimony from his colleague Alexander Urychev, who struck a deal with investigators hoping for a lighter sentence for himself. Investigators requested Abramovskikh«s arrest, while the defense argued there were contradictions in the materials and testimony of other defendants — a report from the courtroom.

Nature of the Charges

At the hearing, it was stated that the criminal case on bribery mediation was initiated back in November 2025. Charges were then brought against lawyer Urychev, who was detained red-handed while receiving money. He, according to investigators, agreed to try to secure a more lenient sentence on appeal for a verdict handed down by the Kurchatovsky District Court. Urychev«s client, identified as Ivanov, was initially sentenced to eight years in a penal colony and a fine of 3.2 million rubles (about $35,600 at current rates) for commercial bribery, but on appeal the term was reduced to four years without a fine. The appellate ruling in Ivanov»s case was issued in September 2025, and two months later — on November 18 — lawyer Urychev met with Ivanov«s wife and received 2 million rubles (about $22,200) from her in a car, after which he was detained on the same parking lot by FSB officers.

Soon after being placed in pre-trial detention, Urychev struck a deal with investigators and testified that he planned to keep 500,000 rubles (about $5,600) from the sum for himself and give 1.5 million rubles (about $16,700) as a bribe for the resolved issue of leniency for Ivanov. The recipients, as stated in the investigator«s motion, were to be »unidentified officials, including from the Chelyabinsk Regional Court.« At the same time, according to Urychev»s testimony, another intermediary in this chain was allegedly his colleague, lawyer Yevgeny Abramovskikh. The latter categorically denies guilt.

Yevgeny Abramovskikh is 39 years old. He graduated from the Chelyabinsk Law Institute, defended former general director of the Polet plant Alexander Nesterov, represented in court former sports director of Traktor Alexander Shinin. He became the lawyer for one of the participants in a shootout with Wagner Group members in the Leninsky District. He helped pensioners who are suing Sberbank after a robbery tipped off by a former branch employee, and a narcologist who received compensation for an illegal criminal case after a patient«s death. He achieved that a mother of many from Kopeysk who killed her aggressive husband had her charge changed to excessive self-defense (she endured beatings from her husband for 15 years).

It is still unclear what specific actions are being charged against lawyer Yevgeny Abramovskikh. The wording in the Investigative Committee«s press release, published the day before, is rather abstract: »agreed to another lawyer«s proposal,» «facilitated reaching an agreement with unidentified officials.» No specifics were mentioned at the hearing either. Meanwhile, the investigator requested a two-month arrest.

What Those Close to Him Say

For those close to Yevgeny Abramovskikh, his detention came as a surprise. The lawyer knew about Urychev«s testimony against him, participated in investigative actions proving his innocence, and even himself suggested a polygraph test and took it. According to sources in law enforcement, the examination confirmed that he did not discuss the bribe with Urychev or his own reward for helping resolve the issue.

«Abramovskikh was detained in the morning near a kindergarten where he had just dropped off his youngest daughter,» 74.RU was told by the lawyer«s relatives. »We disagree with the actions of the operatives and will seek his release. At home, he is awaited by three children, his wife, and an elderly mother who requires constant care and cannot live independently.«

Those close to lawyer Abramovskikh do not believe he was involved in passing a bribe to the court. He himself has not admitted guilt, considering it a slander.

Part 4 of Article 291.1 of the Russian Criminal Code (bribery mediation by a group) provides for various punishment options — from a fine of 1.5 million rubles (about $16,700) to 12 years in prison.

Defense Position

At today«s court hearing on the selection of a preventive measure, Abramovskikh»s defenders asked to include in the materials a certificate of a large family, a personal guarantee from the head of the Chamber of the Central District where the detained lawyer works, and a character reference.

«He has proven himself exclusively on the positive side, a professional, conscientious and principled lawyer, an honest and decent person, respected in the team, ready to help, repeatedly awarded,» the judge read the document.

Yevgeny Abramovskikh himself objected to being taken into custody. According to him, he had been consistently cooperating with the investigation for several months after Urychev«s detention.

«I learned about Urychev»s detention on November 18,« the accused clarified. »On November 19, my representative filed a motion for my interrogation, and on November 24, I filed a written motion for my interrogation. It was granted, and investigative actions were carried out with my participation. I submitted correspondence with Urychev on 50 A4 pages, I described the full picture of the circumstances under which I interacted with Urychev. There was never any talk of money. This is confirmed by the correspondence.«

The arrest of the detained lawyer could have serious consequences for his family.

«I have three small children and a mother born in 1950 who has not left the house for 10 years. Lately, I»ve been forced to go to her three times [a day] to feed her; she cannot move on her own,« Yevgeny Abramovskikh said. »Knowing that investigative actions were being conducted against me, I contacted numerous shelters and nursing homes for the elderly. I was refused everywhere due to her age and weight. No shelter, no nurse will take responsibility. Under these circumstances, I would ask for any preventive measure not involving isolation from society.«

Abramovskikh«s lawyers called the arrest motion unfounded. They confirmed that the accused had been giving detailed testimony since November, suggested a polygraph test, and even took it twice.

«I believe the charges are unfounded. Obviously, no fact of Abramovskikh transferring money from his colleague has been recorded, no agreement regarding such a transfer has been reported by anyone except Urychev himself, and no fact of Abramovskikh transferring money to any officials from the Chelyabinsk Regional Court or other officials has been recorded,» said Sergey Nikitin, vice president of the Chelyabinsk Regional Bar Association, who is defending Yevgeny Abramovskikh.

The defender also reported that the case file includes a transcript of the interrogation of the same Ivanov, Urychev«s client, as well as their confrontation.

«Urychev»s testimony significantly contradicts the testimony of Ivanov himself about what kind of agreement was reached between Urychev and Ivanov, who was privy to these agreements,« Sergey Nikitin noted. »Including the amount of money and the wishes expressed by Ivanov to lawyer Urychev.«

The second defender, Konstantin Akulich, stated that no new information about Abramovskikh«s alleged involvement in the money transfer had been obtained since November.

«Is intimidation the only way to investigate a criminal case? I believe the truth must be established through investigative actions aimed at overcoming contradictions in testimony,» Akulich said. «I believe the investigative authorities filed such a motion to put pressure, break and suppress his will, and induce him to slander others.»

Recall that Yevgeny Abramovskikh was detained by FSB officers the day before, on February 3.