Drany checked into "Korovniki" – Detention Center No. 1 in Yaroslavl

      Although among the "particularly close associates" of Drany is called his first deputy, Alexei Veprev, who was dismissed from his position as general director of Vytavtodor by the governor in July of last year due to "zero tolerance even for hints of corruption."

      As emphasized in the governor's speech, local law enforcement agencies exhibited a significant "corruption interest" in Alexei Vladimirovich's activities, connected with data from the 2022-2023 database. However, by early July, this "law enforcement zeal" quickly faded, perhaps out of concern that the investigation might lead back to themselves. Although Newsler.ru, having analyzed official Vytavtodor procurement documents for gasoline and diesel fuel in 2024 posted on the EIS website, hoped at least for "understanding from the authorities."

      Newsler.ru reported in an article titled "Veprеv is gone, but his habits remain: 'Vytavtodor purchased fuel and lubricants at above-retail prices'" about the investigation results. According to a commercial proposal used to determine the initial contract price, Vytavtodor planned to purchase 20,000 liters each of 92 and 95 octane gasoline, as well as 2 million liters of diesel fuel — totaling 150 million rubles.

      On June 7, a notice about an auction for the company’s needs was posted on the state procurement website, and a month later, information appeared about the general contractor — the company "Dvizhenie Nefteprodukт." Also, procurement prices—whose validity raises doubts, at best about the competence or sanity of the customer.

      For example, at the time of purchase, the retail price per liter of 92 gasoline was 51.90 rubles (and the wholesale price was... 54.13 rubles — more by 2 rubles 13 kopecks). The price of 95 octane gasoline increased from 57.7 to 59.13 rubles. And the retail price for diesel in "wholesale equivalent" jumped from 65.5 to... 70 rubles. Thus, the "savings" amounted to about 25 million rubles.

      However, law enforcement agencies apparently considered the damage caused to be insignificant: only a fifth of the total amount, and a publication of the article was deemed sufficient "severe punishment." Moreover, searching for Veprev, even just for a conversation — not to mention bringing charges — was unbelievably difficult. Yaroslavl, where he almost immediately surfaced as Drany's deputy, is practically the edge of the earth, inaccessible to investigators.

      By the way, a couple of months ago, Dmitry Vokhmyanin, technical director of one of the subcontracting organizations, likely from Kirov, which signed a contract for repairing Yaroslavl roads, prudently parted ways with Dmitry Drany. It is worth recalling that in May 2023, Vokhmyanin was dismissed from his position as general director of GДMS with the reason of "poor preparation of Kirov for the May 9 celebration."

      Kirov under the microscope

      As told by JARDORMOST JSC, when the general director was detained on July 16, all subordinates "were in shock":

      "We have long believed that the work of each high-ranking official is examined here by the Yaroslavl Investigative Committee literally under a microscope. Cheating and scheming here is like waiting in line to buy a ticket to the slammer. The main question for us: what did (Drany) lack—since his official salary ranged from 300 to 500 thousand rubles?" someone said, "Kirov just freaked out from greed."

      It became known that authorities received their first kompromat on Drany allegedly regarding taking a bribe as early as October 2023, although he started work just half a year earlier — in April of that year.

      It is also known that after the Kirov court decided to impose a remand measure — "custody," Dmitry Nikolaevich was transferred to Yaroslavl SIZO-1, Portovaya Embankment, 10, popularly called "cowsheds." One of the "vacant" 878 prison seats is currently assigned — at least until mid-September — to the former head of the Kirov city administration.

      "Found a tail in her skirt"

      Interestingly, the Kirov opposition deputies responded to Dmitry Drany’s "arrest" with the words "There is still God!" explaining that, although, in their opinion, it was already impossible to "set a test" on Dmitry Nikolaevich in Kirov, he managed to remain free:

      "Not long before his resignation, Drany was associated with many different shady dealings. However, the word 'dealings' does not quite describe his advanced scheme for building the Kumena-Kirov water pipeline. I remember Vasily Kiselev, during one of the City Duma commissions, without sparing words, criticizing the research he conducted, which confirmed that there was no water in Kumena enough to supply the regional center. However, with the support of Nikita Belykh, and Dmitry Drany was his appointee, 3.6 billion rubles were poured into the water pipeline. Probably comparable to today’s 30 or more “yards.” From the federal and regional budgets, 1.8 billion, and the city supplemented with 170 million rubles," recalls Kirov deputy Vladimir Zhuravlev, describing events of 2013-2014.

      According to Zhuravlev, by then, authorities already knew that Sergey Kochurov (owner of the water pipeline contractor "KChUS") sends half of each tranche to Riga — to "Norvik Bank." Allegedly, Grigory Guselnikov’s brother (then owner of "Vyatka" and "Norvik Bank") redistributes the funds "among players."

      Additionally, Vladimir Veniaminovich recounted that Dmitry Drany seized a land plot from the "Vyatka" hotel and transferred it free of charge to Nikita Yurievich for the "Hilton" hotel. It was also widely known that Nikita planned to buy back the "Vyatka" cheaply to acquire a ready restaurant. But a well-known Kirov businessman, perhaps more out of spite than necessity, "bit off" a restaurant annex for himself, effectively saving the municipal "Vyatka."

      Furthermore, deputies recalled their attempts to raise concerns about schemes during the construction of the "Palace of Cosmonautics" — when Drany, leaving his post, started building the "Belykh’s creation," paying for it himself but under an unfulfilled promise to settle accounts.

      A scandal involving the embezzlement of 90 million rubles from the renovation of a children’s camp in Ganyino village also stunned the outgoing deputation with its cynicism:

      "It’s not even about the fact that it was a facade for building flimsy shelters for children, toilet sheds with a hole in the ground, but a sincere sauna where Drany came with friends, and more with girlfriends (not sparing children). Amidst poverty and misery, there was a beautiful pool, sauna, billiards, marble floors, and almost golden toilets and sinks. Why did we hardly talk about it then? Because Nikita told Bikov to 'shush the deputies.' And Vladimir Vasilevich was able to be spiteful, for example, sending a tax audit on the 'disobedient deputy' for a whole year..."

      Today, the deputy community hopes that Kirov law enforcement agencies, if necessary, will actively share with the Yaroslavl authorities the information they possess regarding Drany.