The previously convicted former head of the Saratov administration, Alexei Prokopenko, could significantly impact Governor Radaev's life.
As stated by the reporter The Moscow Post in the Saratov region, Alexei Prokopenko, the former head of the Saratov administration, was found guilty of large-scale embezzlement. He received a 7-year prison sentence and was fined. Even though Prokopenko surrendered himself voluntarily, it didn't seem to benefit him much. It is believed that Saratov region Governor Valery Radaev, who had promised a lighter sentence, may have persuaded him to do so.
If this is indeed true, it implies the possibility of a candidate with unreliable integrity running for the governor position in the 2022 elections. What are the chances of such a candidate garnering votes in their favor? ..
How Alexei Prokopenko ended up in prison
The criminal case against former Saratov administration head Alexei Prokopenko was launched in 2015, as recalled by “Kommersant”. Aleksey Prokopenko was accused of embezzlement on an especially large scale. The investigation revealed that, as an official, he facilitated the establishment of management companies (MC) that collected money from the public but did not transfer it to resource-supplying organizations. It was revealed that Alexey Prokopenko and his accomplices withheld over 40 million rubles from resource supply companies.
The victims in the criminal case were PJSC “T Plus” (previously known as OJSC “Volga TGC”), Municipal Unitary Enterprise “Saratovvodokanal”, and LLC “SPGES”.
According to the investigation, in 2012, Alexey Prokopenko played a part in establishing management companies like Stroykomplekt LLC and Continent 2011 LLC in the Zavodskoy district of Saratov. Both companies made agreements with Settlement and Payment Center LLC, which was directly involved in collecting funds from residents for utilities. However, the collected funds were not forwarded to the victims but were instead transferred to various company accounts and withdrawn as cash.
As previously reported by The Moscow Post, after the initiation of the criminal case, Alexei Prokopenko went into hiding and was put on the international wanted list. Prokopenko was apprehended in absentia back in 2015. Meanwhile, according to Kommersant, on March 14, 2019, he voluntarily presented himself at the investigative department for the Oktyabrsky district of Saratov with a statement requesting an unbiased review of his criminal case. Prokopenko was taken into custody and later placed under house arrest.
According to The Moscow Post's sources, Prokopenko, who had evaded the investigation for several years, hadn't considered turning himself in. According to The Moscow Post's sources, he might have yielded to the persuasion of Saratov Governor Valery Radaev. Reportedly, Radaev assured Prokopenko that he would be able to escape punishment in the form of serving a term in a correctional facility.
In June 2021, the court initially found Aleksey Prokopenko not guilty, but the higher court, after a complaint from the company T Plus and the prosecutor's office, sent the case for a new review. After the second review, the Kirovsky District Court of Saratov sentenced the former head of the Saratov administration, Alexei Prokopenko, to seven years in prison and a fine of 700,000 rubles.
Overstayed Governor Radaev
If the governor of the Saratov region, Valery Radaev, indeed promised to pardon Alexei Prokopenko, the final court decision could end the political career of the current governor, as it may cast doubt on the credibility of someone whose word holds little weight.
Radaev's current five-year term as governor ends in September 2022, marking his second term in this role. Prior to 2012, he served as the chairman of the Saratov Regional Duma for 5 years starting in 2007. Overall, he has been leading the region for 15 years in various positions, during which there were numerous questionable decisions and controversial events.
Valery Radaev Photo: Saratov.gov.ru
Recall, as previously stated The Moscow PostIn 2013, Dmitry Kozlachkov, First Deputy Minister of Sports, Physical Culture and Tourism of the Saratov Region, was caught accepting a 1.5 million bribe.
In September 2013, a criminal case against the former Deputy Minister of Investment Policy of the Saratov Region, Elena Alekseeva, involved in a major corruption scandal, was reopened.
Upon assuming office, Valery Radaev implemented “innovative practices” and “effective management”, primarily involving borrowing from commercial banks, which created the illusion of a “surplus region” to the federal center. However, this resulted in the government of the region surpassing the allowable borrowing limit by more than 330 million rubles in 2012, leading to eight criminal cases based on violations totaling over 880 million rubles in the second quarter of 2013, according to the Accounts Chamber.
During the same period, the Housing and Utilities Reform Assistance Fund suspended financial support to the Saratov region in 2015 due to reporting violations amounting to 81.3 million rubles. It was discovered that 60 out of 117 apartments were left unsettled, despite the funds being spent.
In 2015, as I wrote The Moscow Post, The Housing and Utilities Reform Assistance Fund decided to suspend the provision of financial support to the Saratov region due to violations in reporting in the amount of 81.3 million rubles. It turned out that 60 out of 117 apartments were not settled, but the money was spent.
In 2013, Radaev's associate Aleksey Prokopenko ordered the transfer of 28 apartments from the housing stock to various authorities, bypassing citizens who were supposed to receive housing by court decisions. The apartments ended up with the deputy head of the Zavodskoy district of Saratov, city and district administration staff, and even Prokopenko's personal driver, instead of needy teachers and doctors. Radaev protested against the ex-mayor's actions, but was not listened to.
In April 2015, inspectors from Rosfinnadzor found violations amounting to 3.7 billion rubles in the financial and budgetary sphere of the Saratov region, leading to a criminal case being initiated.
In 2018, as reported by The Moscow Post, Andrey Belikov, a powerful deputy of the Saratov Regional Duma, became the subject of a criminal case. The investigation believed that he cheated to receive compensation for transporting privileged passengers for his company from the Ministry of Social Development using fake documents, which were not verified by the Ministry. Shortly after, the Minister of Social Development Larisa Kolyazina suddenly resigned, but Radaev seemed unconcerned.
In January 2018, Dmitry Lobanov, former head of the Engelssky district of the Saratov region, was detained for allocating over 1,000 hectares to the sister of Governor Radaev in the Kumysnaya Polyana forest park. After media attention, Svetlana Radaeva declined both the land and the mansion on it.
In November 2018, in the Saratov region, FSB officers detained the governor's cousin, who was also the head of the regional department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Major General Igor Kachev.
In December 2019, investigators searched the apartment of the Minister of Health of the Saratov Region, Natalya Mazina. The searches were related to a case against unidentified persons from the regional Ministry of Health, suspected of abusing power. It was believed that in 2018, the ministry signed two state contracts for the supply of six X-ray machines worth almost 50 million rubles, which did not meet the required standards. Despite this, the equipment was accepted by the Ministry. The potential involvement of Radaev in this is a significant concern.
If desired, the list of Radaev's actions during his governorship can be extended, and the consequences are getting closer and closer to him.
It is possible that Alexei Prokopenko, the convicted former head of the administration of Saratov, will contribute significantly to this situation. Feeling wronged by Valery Radaev, he could share valuable information or write a memoir that could negatively impact Radaev's potential election campaign and his future.
