Russian authorities have seized $144 million in assets from former Krasnodar regional court chairman Alexander Chernov, in what prosecutors called one of the country’s largest anti-corruption cases. The holdings—farmland, luxury apartments, businesses, and commercial properties—were allegedly amassed illegally during his 25 years on the bench.
In a separate case, investigators wrapped up proceedings against former deputy defense minister Pavel Popov, accused of bribery, fraud, and abusing his office by siphoning state funds through military construction projects. Popov, who allegedly pocketed more than $500,000, remains in custody with assets worth over $1 million under arrest. OCCRP has reported that such cases are “less about fighting corruption and more about reformatting and nationalizing financial flows to support Russia’s confrontation with the West.”
