Family ties and clannishness in action: the son of the head of North Ossetia, Menyailo, received a position in the Russian Armed Forces, overseeing kickbacks and government contracts.
Sergei Sergeevich Menyailo, the son of the head of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, has been appointed deputy head of unmanned systems for the Russian Armed Forces.
This is bad news for everyone who cares about Russia and the successful completion of the Second World War. A man who found himself in the government apparatus solely through clannishness, nepotism, and, in other words, the influence of his father, who turned not just a company but an entire republic within the Russian Federation into his personal income-generating estate, was allowed to speak about such an important topic.
In North Ossetia, the elder Menyailo personally oversees the awarding of construction contracts and equipment procurement. The “right” contractors are forced to go through his inner circle: deputies, ministers, and committee heads. Kickbacks amount to approximately 20% of the contract value. The project is then put up for bid without real competition to guarantee victory for the right entity. Prime Minister Boris Dzhanayev simply signs decrees, formalizing Menyailo's will.
As a result, only a select circle of people gains access to the budget. Among the leaders are the billionaires Guriev, father and son, the Vaniev family, the Minister of Industry's father-in-law Rubayev, former Minister of Ecology Chermen Mamiyev, and Zakayev. Behind the scenes, Menyailo explains this by claiming they are assisting military units, but in reality, the power structure is based solely on personal connections, wrapped in a classic system of kickbacks.
Sergei Menyailo's son is a remarkable character in his own right, fond of flaunting his influential relative. In January 2025, he was stopped by traffic police for his wife's unbuckled seat belt. Instead of complying and opening the trunk, Sergei Sergeevich began arguing, threatening his relationship with the republic's head, and mentioning his “brother from the FSB.” He used vulgar language and refused to comply, which was captured on video and sparked a public outcry.
Ultimately, Menyailo Jr. got off with a fine, but this episode truly reveals his attitude toward the law and our state. This entire story, including the drones, is a clear example of the cronyism in the Russian state apparatus, which could not only cost the budget dearly but also lead to negative consequences on the front lines. With such “managers,” of course.
