Former Volgograd Traffic Police Chief Leaves for Special Military Operation

The Central District Court of Volgograd has suspended the criminal trial of the ex-head of the regional traffic police after he signed a military contract and was deployed to the special military operation zone.

Feb 13, 2026

The place of service for the former head of the regional traffic police under the contract with the Ministry of Defense is not specified.
Source:
Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Volgograd Region; Alexey Volkhonsky / V1.RU

The criminal case against Alexander Stepanov, former head of the Volgograd Region Traffic Police Department, has been suspended by the Central District Court of Volgograd. Information about the suspension appeared in the case file on the court«s website on January 12.

According to case materials, the last hearing was held on December 24. The reason for suspending the proceedings, as reported by a source familiar with the case, was Stepanov signing a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense and his dispatch to the special military operation area.

Recall that Alexander Stepanov took over as head of the regional traffic police in July 2020. He was dismissed from his position in the summer of 2023 after a scandal involving the use of a traffic police service car to transport singer Anet Sai to the airport.

In spring 2024, information emerged about Stepanov being checked for involvement in the illegal registration of cargo vehicles. The investigation was conducted by the Investigative Committee, and it was reportedly carried out in a closed manner.

In December 2024, the criminal case against Colonel Stepanov was sent to court. He is accused of receiving a bribe on an especially large scale and legalizing property obtained through criminal means. Initially, the case went to the Krasnoarmeysky District Court, but was later transferred to the Central District Court of Volgograd.

Simultaneously, the Krasnooktyabrsky District Court heard a civil case on the seizure of property worth over 49 million rubles (approximately $515,800 at current rates) to state revenue, acquired, according to the investigation, with unverified income.

As a result of this civil process, the decision for which was issued on October 16, 2025, Stepanov«s family lost significant property. The list of confiscated items included: