Ex-Road and Transport Minister of Chelyabinsk to Face Trial

The Sovetsky District Court of Chelyabinsk has received the criminal case of Alexey Nechaev, former minister of road facilities and transport of the region. The ex-official is charged under two articles: embezzlement in an especially large amount (Part 4 of Article 160 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and receiving a bribe by an organized group in an especially large amount (Part 6 of Article 290).

According to the investigation, from 2015 until the resignation of Governor Boris Dubrovsky, officials and entrepreneurs prevented the reduction of the initial price in tenders for contracts of the Ministry of Road Facilities and Transport (Mintrans). The Vilshenko family, which owned the road monopoly companies Yuzhuralavtoban and Yuzhuralmost, played a key role in the scheme. Sergey Vilshenko, who is currently hiding abroad, according to the investigation, funneled about 3 billion rubles (approximately $31,578,900 at current rates) in budget funds to an affiliated organization.

For embezzlement in an especially large amount, the maximum penalty is up to 10 years in prison.

The court press service commented on the second charge: «Nechaev is also accused of committing a crime under Part 6 of Article 290 — receiving a bribe by an official through an intermediary in the form of money for committing actions in favor of the bribe-giver and the person represented by the bribe-giver, while these actions were within the official’s authority, and also due to his official position, he facilitated those actions, committed by an organized group in an especially large amount.» The amount of the bribe will become known after the indictment is read. This crime carries a sentence of 8 to 15 years in a penal colony.

Alexey Nechaev was born in Chelyabinsk. In 2006, he graduated from the Ural Branch of the Moscow Automobile and Road Institute. He began his career in 2001 as a road worker. He worked at Avtodorstroy-1 LLC, then at the State Unitary Enterprise and State Budgetary Institution Chelyabinskavtodor. From 2015 to 2019, he headed the Road Facilities Department of the Ministry of Road Facilities. On 8 November 2019, he was appointed minister. He holds departmental commendations and a letter of thanks from the governor.

Nechaev was detained on 19 February 2025; on the same day, searches were conducted at the Ministry of Road Facilities and Transport. As part of the case, his deputy, two businessmen, and the Vilshenko family lawyer Yekaterina Krasnikhina were also detained. Law enforcement officers visited Gennady Vilshenko and the son of ex-governor Alexander Dubrovsky, but they were released.