Ex-police officer held in Chita courtroom after verdict

The Transbaikal Regional Court reviewed the criminal case against two former employees of the inter-district police department «Petrovsk-Zabaikalsky», who were accused under several articles of the Russian Criminal Code for weapons fraud. One of them will now serve time in a strict regime penal colony. This was reported on January 28 on the website of the Transbaikal Regional Prosecutor«s Office.

It was established that from 2013 to 2016, a senior inspector, responsible for licensing and permitting work in Petrovsk-Zabaikalsky, unlawfully took possession of and transferred to third parties, as well as kept for himself, a total of six units of smoothbore hunting and civilian firearms of limited destruction, belonging to local residents and stored in a holding room. Another weapon (with the senior inspector«s involvement) was illegally transferred to the ownership of the head of logistics of the police department, who convinced the owner that the weapon was faulty and processed re-registration documents in his name.

The crimes were uncovered by the Internal Security Service of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Transbaikal Territory together with the regional directorate of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).

The regional FSB directorate clarified that the senior inspector did have the authority to seize firearms from citizens with expired storage licenses. Such weapons were supposed to be handed over to the Ministry of Internal Affairs storage facility for subsequent disposal. However, after the storage period expired, instead of disposal, the former police officer stole the weapons and re-registered them to third parties, receiving money in return.

Initially, the former police officers were accused of theft of weapons using their official position, including by a group of persons in a premeditated conspiracy, as well as illegal storage of firearms using their official position.

However, the Petrovsk-Zabaikalsky City Court reclassified their actions. In July 2025, one was found guilty of abuse of official authority and illegal storage of firearms—he was given a fine and a 2.5-year restriction of freedom. The second was found guilty of aiding in abuse of official authority and fined 60,000 rubles (approximately $600 at current rates). Both were exempt from paying the fines due to the expiration of the statutes of limitations for criminal prosecution.

According to the regional prosecutor«s office, due to the unjustified reclassification to less serious offenses and the release of the guilty from punishment, the state prosecutor appealed the verdict.

The Transbaikal Regional Court agreed with the prosecutor«s arguments, overturned the unlawful court decision, and issued an appellate conviction, qualifying the defendants» actions according to the original charges. The former licensing inspector was sentenced to 6.5 years in a strict regime correctional colony and was taken into custody in the courtroom. The former logistics head was given a 5-year suspended prison sentence with a 3-year probation period.

The appellate complaints by the defense and the convicted, arguing that their actions did not constitute crimes, were rejected. The verdict has taken legal effect.