Chelyabinsk deputy denies UAE, defends wedding night
Galkin, 40, is part of a new generation of young city deputies.
Chelyabinsk City Duma deputy Alexander Galkin commented to 74.RU on the prosecutor«s office»s statements regarding his family«s spending on vacations, jewelry, and air tickets. The list of expenses was announced the day before at the Central Court of Chelyabinsk. In particular, it was stated that the family had spent two million rubles ($21,700 at current rates) on air tickets over several years. Galkin noted that until recently he worked as a top manager in Moscow while serving as a deputy in Chelyabinsk, effectively living between two cities. We publish his position.
The Four Seasons hotel in central St. Petersburg near St. Isaac«s Cathedral commands premium prices.
Prosecutor Olga Fefelova on 5 February in court listed the countries visited by Alexander Galkin and his wife since 2019. The list included Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, the Seychelles, Monaco, Qatar, the Czech Republic, Italy, and others.
The prosecutor«s office questioned the apartment in the Hide residential complex, marketed as premium class.
«I have never vacationed in the UAE or Qatar. I have not been to Monaco,» stated Alexander Galkin. «I don«t know where these countries came from, how the prosecutor»s office thinks I was there. We will now look into it, perhaps there was some mistake. Yes, my family and I have traveled and vacationed from time to time. We have vacationed in some of the listed countries. For example, in 2019 I was in Italy. I flew to Italy for a friend«s wedding! They paid for accommodation on site; I only paid for the flight. I went to that wedding with my future wife.»
The residential complex features manicured grounds, air sanitization systems, and fingerprint entry.
The deputy also spoke about a trip to St. Petersburg in 2020, which was also mentioned by the prosecutor«s representative.
«Let me comment on the Four Seasons at 50,000 rubles ($543 at current rates). That was my wedding night with my wife. We got married that day,» said Alexander Galkin. «What kind of wedding did we have? We came to St. Petersburg, filed the application. After some time, when we were given a date, we came together, signed the register, had dinner at a restaurant, spent the night at the Four Seasons, had breakfast in the morning, walked around the city, and left. Is that expensive for a wedding? I bought a piece of jewelry as a gift for my wife — a ring for 70,000 rubles ($761 at current rates) from Sunlight. Is that some super-expensive brand? Go and see how much rings cost now. The wedding was just the two of us — me and my wife, no guests. And now this is presented as some kind of luxury. Although I don«t see any luxury here. You can afford it, working and earning a good salary, to rent a hotel room once in a lifetime for a wedding.»
Also in court, the prosecutor cited air ticket expenses — 2,105,000 rubles ($22,900 at current rates) over the period 2020–2024.
«During the period the prosecutor«s office is talking about, I had a fairly good salary: around 5–6 million rubles ($54,300–$65,200 at current rates),» explained Alexander Galkin. «I worked as a top manager at a Moscow company, so I had many flights across the country. My wife bought most of the tickets for me. I have four children at home, work in Moscow, I flew a lot. Some expenses were compensated by my employer, because business trips were also counted in those expenses. How did it work? You buy the tickets yourself, then you get reimbursed. But here all the flights were lumped together.»
The deputy was also surprised by the prosecutor«s office»s attention to his money transfers.
«The prosecutor«s office says that I have been helping my child, transferring significant amounts. Yes, I have one child from my first marriage who lives with his ex-wife. Is it bad that I help? I am not a malicious alimony evader; I systematically transfer money to my ex-wife,» said Alexander Galkin. «Yes, I help my father. My father is elderly, he is ill, [needs] medicine. I help my parents. Is that bad? That»s life.»
Among other things, the court hearing mentioned expenses on household appliances and clothing, which also raised questions from the deputy.
«I bought 40,000 rubles ($435 at current rates) worth of clothes at Massimo Dutti. What, am I supposed to not dress myself at all?» asked Alexander Galkin. «At that time, that store was present in «Almaz». Well, I went in, bought a shirt on sale for 1,500–2,000 rubles ($16–$22), something else, then bought something else on the next sale. Of course, over some time the amount accumulates. It«s not a one-time purchase. But it»s presented as if Massimo Dutti is some super-luxury store. They always had sales in June and at the end of the year; things were cheaper than in any other store, with discounts of 50%. You go in and buy clothes for yourself and the kids right away. With a salary of 6 million rubles ($65,200 at current rates).»
The deputy assured that he paid taxes on all his income, submitted declarations to the City Duma, and «did not hide anything from anyone.»
«I do not want to accuse the prosecutor«s office in any way, I don»t want to accuse anyone. Perhaps some inaccurate information came from somewhere; we will definitely comment on it at the next hearing,» promised Alexander Galkin. «But to avoid a misunderstanding among readers and my constituents, that I supposedly only travel and vacation.... That is false information. And we will definitely comment on it at the next hearing and give answers.»
Recall that the information about the deputy«s family expenses was made public during the consideration of a lawsuit filed by the prosecutor»s office against the deputy. The reason for the lawsuit was Galkin«s purchase of premium real estate in Moscow.
We visited the Hide residential complex, where the deputy«s apartment is located. The developer markets the complex as premium class. The apartments have panoramic views; residents can admire the Sparrow Hills or Luzhniki. More photos of the complex and details are in the 74.RU article.
What was said at the first court hearing, read here. After it, the deputy explained in detail where he got the money.
The deputy«s parents recorded a video address to Vladimir Putin after the prosecutor»s lawsuit. According to his father, the whole family saved for the Moscow apartment.
