Despotic Mayor in Kuzbass Sentenced for Bribes and City Property Transfer
The former mayor of Anzhero-Sudzhensk, Alexander Rybalko, who left city beneficiaries without housing, has been found guilty in a high-profile corruption case. The official, who assigned «homework» to bribe-givers, was found to have money and property worth almost 45 million rubles ($500,000 at current rates), but part of this sum has already been seized, the regional prosecutor«s office reported on Thursday, January 22.
The ex-mayor will be punished for several episodes of bribe-taking, engaging in business activities, and organizing abuse of official authority.
The money in question was received by Rybalko in 2020–2021 from a local developer, «SNK». For 1.9 million rubles ($21,000), he «helped» the man sign 40 contracts with the mayor«s office for the construction of homes for orphans and resettlers from dilapidated housing. The administration invested 117 million rubles ($1.3 million) in the construction, but never saw the apartments, as the company initially lacked the capacity to fulfill its obligations.
Moreover, as the court recognized, Rybalko also involved his subordinate—the chairman of the KUMI (Committee for Municipal Property Management)—in the scheme with the developer. It also emerged that during his tenure in the mayor«s office, the head continued to engage in business through acquaintances and relatives. He transferred a ski base belonging to the municipality to his company—Hotel LLC—at below market value, according to the regional FSB (Federal Security Service).
After 2.5 years since their detention, Rybalko and his subordinate have heard their sentences. The ex-head was sent to a strict-regime colony for 12 years and also fined 9.5 million rubles ($106,000). Moreover, after release from prison, he will be banned from working in administrative structures for another 10 years.
He will partially lose property worth 44.4 million rubles ($493,000) that was seized from him. The court confiscated from him money equal to the bribe amount.
The former chairman of KUMI was sentenced to five years of imprisonment, but only after his child reaches the age of 14.
Rybalko and his subordinate were detained in the summer of 2023. It became known that he referred to his bribes as «homework» for developers. As we learned, in the eyes of colleagues and townspeople, the official was remembered as a harsh and uncompromising head who «did not like criticism and listened to no one,» and he was allegedly called a despot.
How law enforcement learned about the criminal schemes and what exactly he is found guilty of, the editorial staff of NGS42.RU learned from the investigator who handled the case.
