Bribery Conviction of Ex-Vladivostok Mayor Overturned Following Military Award Recognition | World | london-news-net.preview-domain.com

Bribery Conviction of Ex-Vladivostok Mayor Overturned Following Military Award Recognition

November 27, 2025

Bribery Conviction of Ex-Vladivostok Mayor Overturned Following Military Award Recognition

Oleg Gumenyuk, the former mayor of Vladivostok, had his 12-year prison sentence for bribery annulled after being honored with a state award during his service in the Russian military, the Primorye regional court announced on Wednesday.

Gumenyuk, who held the mayoral position in the Far Eastern port city from 2018 to 2021, was found guilty in 2023 of accepting a bribe worth millions of rubles, a charge he has consistently denied.

In 2024, he enlisted in the Russian army following legislation that permits prisoners to have their sentences suspended or annulled if they successfully complete military service or gain certain state honors. This law was introduced by President Vladimir Putin as part of initiatives aimed at increasing the number of soldiers participating in the conflict in Ukraine.

The Primorye court system stated that the regional bailiff service ceased enforcing Gumenyuk’s prison sentence on July 29, 2025, after he was granted the Order of St. George by presidential decree.

The court emphasized that Putin’s decree permitted Gumenyuk to be “completely excused from serving his sentence” from the date he received his award.

Additionally, a court in Vladivostok on Monday lifted the restrictions on Gumenyuk’s properties and vehicles.

His attorney, Alexander Kitayev, informed the business newspaper Kommersant that Gumenyuk served in a military unit for convicts, sustained injuries, and has since healed. Kitayev noted that he is still in the military but is no longer part of that specific unit.

previous post

Justice for Oliver: Two Men Convicted in £1.1M Watch Heist Connected to Store Managers Tragic Suicide

Related posts

State Duma Passes 2026-28 Budget and Tax Increase Bills Текст: State Duma lawmakers on ThursdaypassedRussia’s three-year federal budget and a package of tax increases, bills aimed at shoring up government revenues as spending on the war against Ukraine remains a top priority for the Kremlin. Under the budget plan, the government expects revenue of 40.3 trillion rubles ($491.7 billion) next year and spending of 44 trillion rubles ($548.3 billion), leaving a projected deficit of 3.8 trillion rubles ($47.3 billion). Defense and national security will account for roughly 38% of all spending in 2026, or 16.8 trillion rubles ($209.5 billion), which is slightly lower than in the previous two years but still far above pre-war levels. Lawmakers sought to highlight funding for domestic programs, including more than 10 trillion rubles ($124.6 billion) for family support measures and 50 billion rubles ($623 million) for a state-backed charity foundation that assists soldiers fighting in Ukraine and their families. Although overall spending will remain broadly stable, budget allocations reveal that the Kremlin’s priorities continue to lie in foreign policy and defense. Alongside the budget plan, the State Duma approved a series of tax changes aimed at closing the fiscal gap created by soaring military expenditures and falling oil and gas revenues under Western sanctions. Russia’s value-added tax (VAT) will increase to 22% from 20%, a move expected to raise consumer prices higher. Economists, including those at the Financial Ministry, havesaidthey anticipate a modest rise in inflation as the VAT hike takes effect starting next year. More small businesses will also be swept into the tax system. The annual revenue threshold for companies required to pay VAT will drop from 60 million rubles ($732,000) to 10 million rubles ($122,000). Some lawmakers havewarnedthat the change could strain small businesses and individual entrepreneurs, many of whom earn less than 200,000 rubles ($2,500) a month after taxes and salaries. Economists estimate the full package, which also includes a new levy on betting company profits, could bring in nearly 3 trillion rubles ($35 billion) in additional revenue. State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said Thursday that lawmakers had approved the federal budget and tax hikes “under difficult circumstances,” citing more than 30,000 sanctions imposed on Russia and what he called “unfriendly actions” by the EU targeting Russian assets. The 2026-28 budget passed with 349 votes, while 56 lawmakers — mostly from the Communist Party — abstained. Only one deputy, Anton Krasnoshantov of the ruling United Russia party, was recorded as voting against the bill, though his “no” vote was allegedly the result of a technical error. The federal budget and tax bills now head to the Federation Council, where they are expected to receive swift approval before being sent to President Vladimir Putin’s desk for his signature.

rimmaruslan98@gmail.com November 22, 2025

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More