Court Denies Release to Police Chief Over Gold Miner Ties

Dmitry Elizariev, a police major accused of protecting illegal gold miners, remains in custody after a court extended his detention.

Jan 23, 2026

A senior police officer remains in pre-trial detention over allegations of protecting illegal gold miners.
Source:
Kvarkensky District Court

The Kvarkensky District Court extended the preventive measure for Major Dmitry Elizariev, head of the district department of patrol service and juvenile affairs at the Ministry of Internal Affairs (overseeing district police officers and the juvenile affairs unit). As reported by 56.RU, the court sent him to a pre-trial detention center on charges of abuse of authority.

Authorities detained a suspect accused of illegal gold mining in March 2025.
Source:
Russian FSB for Orenburg Region

According to the investigation, from April to August 2025, Elizariev «protected» gold miners who were illegally extracting precious metals in the Kvarkensky District. And, naturally, not for free.

The confiscated nuggets contained over 500 grams of gold, according to officials.
Source:
Russian FSB for Orenburg Region

On December 6, the court ordered his detention in a pre-trial detention center for one month and 17 days, until January 21, 2026. Elizariev«s lawyer had deemed this unlawful and baseless, filing an unsuccessful appeal to the regional court, but his client remained in custody both then and now. This time, detention is extended until February 21 (with the possibility of further appeal).

In addition to dismissal from the internal affairs agencies, the head of district police officers faces a lengthy prison term. The investigation continues — those whom Elizariev allegedly protected had not been identified at the time of his detention.

But let us recall that in the Kvarkensky District, a criminal case against a local resident is currently being heard in court. He is accused of illegal storage and transportation of precious metals on a large scale (Part 4 of Article 191 of the Russian Criminal Code).

According to the regional prosecutor«s office, from May 2019 to October 2024, the man illegally extracted nuggets containing over 500 grams (approximately 1.1 pounds) of gold and 77 grams (approximately 0.17 pounds) of silver using a metal detector.

As reported by 56.RU, he was detained in March 2025 while transporting all of this. The value of the seized precious metals exceeded 4.3 million rubles (approximately $43,000 at current rates).