Ex-NSMU Rector Trial: Prosecution Seeks 4-Year Sentence

At the Oktyabrsky District Court of Arkhangelsk, the former rector of Northern State Medical University (NSMU), Lyubov Gorbatova, gave her final statement. She is accused of embezzling 1.3 million rubles ($14,400 at current rates) from the university. The court reported the punishment the prosecution is demanding.

Gorbatova is charged under Part 4 of Article 160 of the Russian Criminal Code — embezzlement, that is, theft of property entrusted to the perpetrator, committed using official position and on an especially large scale.

The article provides for a punishment of up to 10 years in prison, with a possible additional fine of up to 1 million rubles (about $11,100 at current rates) or restriction of freedom for up to two years.

According to the press service of the Oktyabrsky District Court, Gorbatova does not admit guilt, claiming that she entered into contracts for legal services in the interests of the university.

«The lawyer insists on the client«s innocence and asks for acquittal due to the absence of a crime,» the court added.

The prosecution in its closing argument asked to find Gorbatova guilty and sentence her to 4 years in prison with a fine of 300,000 rubles ($3,300 at current rates).

The court retired to the deliberation room until February 6.

The criminal case against the former university head became known in June 2025 — then searches were conducted at her home, and that fall her property was seized. Lyubov Gorbatova is suspected of embezzling NSMU funds.

According to the investigation, the ex-rector embezzled more than 1.3 million rubles between December 2023 and January 2024. According to this version, she took the money to pay for a lawyer for a previously opened criminal case at NSMU (which case exactly — the Investigative Committee does not specify).

Lyubov Gorbatova had led the medical university since 2012. Shortly before the criminal case was opened, she stepped down from the post — now the head of the university is Nadezhda Bylova, former vice-rector for international affairs at Pirogov University.

In Arkhangelsk, an investigation is also underway into a criminal case against former Minister of Health of the Arkhangelsk Region, Alexander Gershtansky: literally a couple of days after leaving his post, he was taken into custody and charged with abuse of power.

For other high-profile cases involving doctors in the Arkhangelsk Region, read our overview.