Former Yakutia watchdog chief Zholudev gets 8 years for bribery
On January 30, the Yakutsk City Court issued a verdict in the criminal case against former head of the Yakutia branch of Rosprirodnadzor (the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources) Andrei Zholudev. The official was sentenced to eight years in a penal colony, and two of his accomplices-entrepreneurs were also deprived of their freedom. This was reported by 14.RU from the press service of the Yakutsk City Court.
«He was sentenced to imprisonment, and the court also handed down verdicts for his accomplices. All were involved in three cases,» the court reported.
Andrei Zholudev was accused of exceeding official authority — he «shielded» illegal actions by a subsoil user in the Neryungri District of Yakutia, «thereby causing socially dangerous consequences.»
In addition, the former official covered up illegal extraction and storage of precious metals in the Aldan District, with the total damage amounting to over 6 million rubles (approx. $60,000 at current rates). The former head of Rosprirodnadzor, through a proxy, illegally participated in managing the activities of a commercial organization, providing it with his patronage.
«During the trial, Zholudev and his accomplices did not admit guilt,» emphasized the press service.
Along with Zholudev, the heads of gold mining companies LLC «Geotrast» Stanislav Galenchikov and LLC «Gorizont» Gevorg Sogoyan were brought to the dock.
After studying the criminal case, Judge Lena Yegorova concluded that Zholudev should be punished under several criminal articles: exceeding official authority, abuse of official authority resulting in grave consequences, and illegal participation in entrepreneurial activity.
Based on the totality of crimes, Judge Yegorova sentenced Zholudev to eight years in a standard-regime penal colony, with a three-year ban on holding positions in state service in the field of environmental management.
His accomplice Galenchikov was found guilty under the articles «aiding in exceeding official authority» and «illegal trafficking of precious metals.» He was sentenced to 4.5 years of imprisonment, with a two-year ban on engaging in certain activities in the field of subsoil use, and also fined 500,000 rubles (approx. $5,000 at current rates). He will also serve his term in a standard-regime penal colony.
The third accomplice — Gevorg Sogoyan — was found guilty of illegal trafficking of precious metals in the form of amber. Judge Yegorova sentenced him to three years of probation with a fine of 500,000 rubles (approx. $5,000 at current rates) and a four-year probationary period.
«Zholudev«s property was confiscated for state revenue, and illegally extracted precious metals were seized. The total value of the property amounted to over 24 million rubles (approx. $240,000 at current rates),» added the press service of the city court.
Former Rosprirodnadzor official Zholudev was detained by employees of the Economic Security and Anti-Corruption Department of the Yakutia Ministry of Internal Affairs at his workplace in December 2023. In November 2024, by a decision of the Presnensky District Court of Moscow, Andrei Zholudev«s dismissal wording was changed to »due to loss of trust for failure to perform duties.« Since May 30, 2025, the head of the Rosprirodnadzor office has been Kharon Bekbuzarov.
