Elena Yegorova and Tatyana Kuleshova, acting deputy governors of the Bryansk region, were detained on suspicion of taking bribes on an especially large scale (part 6 of article 290 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, up to 15 years in prison). This is reported by the TASS agency with reference to a source in law enforcement agencies and confirmed by the interlocutor of Vedomosti in the central office of the Investigative Committee of Russia.

A source in the administration of the TFR for the Bryansk region also told Vedomosti that the case was “led by Moscow.” The press service of the government of the region declined to comment until the appearance of official information from law enforcement agencies.

According to TASS, the amount of the bribe amounted to 4.4 million rubles, it was transferred through intermediaries, who were also identified and detained. Criminal cases were initiated against two women suspected of mediation in bribery (parts 4 and 5 of article 291.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). “The suspects were detained by the GUEBiPK Ministry of Internal Affairs, the criminal case is being investigated by the central apparatus of the Russian Investigative Committee,” said a law enforcement representative. A Vedomosti source in the TFR clarifies that Kuleshova was detained in Moscow, and Yegorova in Bryansk.

In the near future, the Basmanny Court of Moscow is expected to consider the issue of arresting the women.

Egorova was appointed Acting Deputy Governor on April 1, 2022. She oversees education, science and culture in the region. Previously, she worked in the department of education and science of the region – first as deputy director, and then as head of the department.

Kuleshova has held the position of Acting Deputy Governor since April 28, 2021, her terms of reference include coordination and regulation of activities in the field of information and domestic policy, as well as the resolution of certain issues related to the competence of the Governor of the Bryansk Region, by his order. Her career was also related to education, since 2004 she has held various positions in educational authorities, in 2018 she headed the department of education and science of the Bryansk region. Since 2019, she has been appointed to the position of director of the department of internal policy of the region.