Cardiac surgeon released into the wild – there he is more useful

In Novosibirsk, the court considered a petition for parole (PARO) of the former deputy director of the National Medical Research Center named after Academician Meshalkin, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Evgeny Pokushalov, who is serving a term for embezzlement in a clinic. At the court hearing, the cardiac surgeon stated that he would like to continue working in his specialty and at large, where he “will bring much more benefit than in prison.” The court granted the scientist’s petition and released him from the unserved part of the sentence of four months and nine days. The prosecutor’s office objected to Yevgeny Pokushalov’s parole.

The Novosibirsk court granted the request for parole of 48-year-old Yevgeny Pokushalov, who was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in the case of large-scale theft in the Meshalkin clinic. Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Evgeny Pokushalov filed a petition for parole in February 2023, the basis was the departure of more than half of his term. The petition was considered in the court of the Pervomaisky district, since it is on its territory that correctional colony No. 3 is located, where a cardiac surgeon is kept.

“I don’t have the opportunity to work in my specialty here. Therefore, I would like to be allowed on parole to continue my professional activities. I think that this will be more beneficial to our society than my being here, ”the doctor, who participated in the meeting on the teleconference linking IK-3 and the courtroom, argued his request.

Yevgeny Pokushalov, who received his doctorate in medical sciences at the age of 30, added that due to the lack of Internet in the colony, he does not have access to sources of scientific information.

The court then read out the written materials of the case. According to them, during his stay in the correctional colony, Yevgeny Pokushalov received one disciplinary sanction in the form of an oral reprimand and three incentives. On June 3, 2022, the administration of the institution thanked him for his exemplary behavior; on January 31, 2023, the previously imposed penalty was removed from the scientist ahead of schedule for his active participation in educational activities. On March 3, his conscientious attitude to work was noted with gratitude. According to the announced documents, the question of where Yevgeny Pokushalov will live and work after his release has already been resolved.

In his speech, the representative of the correctional institution noted that his ward carried out work on the improvement of the colony, was engaged in self-education, read a lot, participated in sports events, signed up for a circle of correspondents. “During the period of serving the sentence, the convicted Pokushalov developed a fully respectful attitude towards the person, society, work, norms, rules and traditions of the human community,” the jailer said, supporting Yevgeny Pokushalov’s request for parole. Only the prosecutor opposed the early release of the cardiac surgeon.

The presiding judge, Elena Lakhina, granted the scientist’s request and released him from the remaining part of the sentence of four months and nine days.

Yevgeny Pokushalov is obliged to register with the penitentiary inspectorate and go there to report. The decision may be appealed by the parties.

In 2019, employees of the Novosibirsk FSB revealed large thefts in the Meshalkin clinic, their size, according to the case, amounted to over 1.8 billion rubles. Under investigation were the head of the medical center, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Karaskov, his deputies Irina Boitsova and Evgeny Pokushalov, and several businessmen involved in the supply of medical devices to the clinic. The investigating authorities opened a criminal case under Part 4 of Art. 160 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (misappropriation or embezzlement on an especially large scale, sanction – up to ten years in prison). Yevgeny Pokushalov concluded a pre-trial agreement on cooperation, the case against him was separated into a separate proceeding. In November 2021, the Central District Court of Novosibirsk appointed a cardiac surgeon two and a half years of general regime and a fine of 400 thousand rubles. The trial of the other defendants has not yet ended.