Former MChS Head in Dzerzhinsk Convicted for Bribery

The Dzerzhinsk City Court (in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia) has sentenced a former head of the supervisory activity and preventive work department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS). He was found guilty of taking a bribe and abusing his official powers.

The investigation established that in May-June 2025, a subordinate of the former head, on his orders, did not go to the site of a fire in the Dzerzhinsk district forestry. Instead, false information was entered into the inspection report, after which a decision was made not to initiate criminal proceedings.

Moreover, in July of the same year, the accused received a bribe of 100,000 rubles (approximately $1,000 at current rates) from the head of a company in Dzerzhinsk. In return, he allowed the businessman to correct fire safety violations after the deadline set by the order.

The court sentenced the former MChS employee to three and a half years in a general regime colony and a fine of 500,000 rubles (approximately $5,000 at current rates). Previously in Dzerzhinsk, the head of the fire and rescue squad of the federal fire service for the region was also detained. No information has been provided on the progress of the investigation into his case.