Volgograd Builder's Fraud Case Dropped After War Service

In Volgograd, they are again attempting to secure a trial for former businessman Ivan Krakhmalev, who took money to build individual residential houses but failed to fulfill the terms of the contract. The Volzhsky City Court«s decision to terminate proceedings has been appealed to the regional court.

According to the investigation, Ivan Krakhmalev took money from residents of Volgograd and Volzhsky, promising to build them individual homes, but the people who trusted Mr. Krakhmalev never saw the houses or got their money back. After recording a video appeal to the head of the Investigative Committee (SK), Alexander Bastrykin, Ivan Krakhmalev was detained, but the court chose a measure of restraint in the form of house arrest.

In early 2025, the Volzhsky City Court began considering the criminal case charging Ivan Krakhmalev with fraud, but in February the proceedings were suspended. Representatives of the victims stated that Ivan Krakhmalev signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense and left for the zone of the special military operation (SVO). However, for some reason he did this not in the Volgograd region but in the Samara region.

On November 25, the proceedings were resumed, and on the same day a decision was made to terminate the case due to conscription (contract), military service during mobilization or wartime. However, later a complaint was filed in court by a representative of one of the victims.

— I believe our rights were violated, — one of the women from Volzhsky, recognized as a victim in the case, told V1.RU. — We saw Mr. Krakhmalev in a new car. He seemed to be in excellent health and everything was fine with him. How can this be? The man went to the combat zone, ended up in a hospital within two weeks, was transferred to another hospital, then another transfer to a place where there was a scandalous story related to corruption. As a result, in less than six months he was demobilized.

According to the victim, among the former clients of Mr. Krakhmalev are an active participant in the SVO and the widow of a fallen soldier — neither they nor anyone else recognized by the court as a victim in the case, according to the woman, have received a single ruble in compensation.

— While I was reviewing the case materials, I even saw documents marked «secret.» The documents mention some skull damage, serious injuries, but the court didn«t even want to verify this in person. We insist that the examination of the wound be rechecked. By the way, the Moscow prosecutor»s office came to us in December and we managed to get an appointment. Now we will call and find out the results of the inspection.