Court arrests suspects in Sochi land fraud case

Over 600 people were deceived in a large-scale fraud where they purchased 'air' instead of land plots, leading to arrests in Sochi.

Jan 26, 2026

The suspects allegedly promised to legally transfer ownership of agricultural land to the buyers.
Source:
Oksana Vityaz

The investigation into the criminal case of fraud with land plots in the Cheltenham horticultural non-commercial partnership is gaining momentum. The press service of the Sochi police department reports new serious measures against the suspects.

Recall that in 2021, a group of individuals, including the leaders of the Cheltenham partnership, leased agricultural land in the Adler district, conditionally divided it into 2100 shares, and through real estate agents began selling them to citizens. Buyers were promised subsequent registration of the plots as property and official purchase-sale contracts, but these promises remained empty words.

According to the investigation, over 600 people fell for the fraudsters« scheme. To date, more than 20 victims have filed complaints, but their number could significantly increase.

The Central District Court of Sochi, at the investigator«s request, imposed a strict preventive measure on three suspects—they were taken into custody.

By court decision, three women were sent to custody: the eldest among them is 55-year-old Yulia Bodunova, then 47-year-old Elena Trofimova, and the youngest is 38-year-old Ekaterina Danilevskaya. Another defendant, 42-year-old Elena Alexandrovna Kolendbek, was placed under a travel restriction order, the police press service reports.

All of them have been charged under Part 4, Article 159 of the Russian Criminal Code (fraud on an especially large scale). Such a crime carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

Sochi police again appeal to all who purchased shares in the Cheltenham partnership and suffered from the actions of this group. Information can be reported by phone: 8 (918) 206-54-06, 8 (928) 264-73-66 or 102.