The Ministry of Finance will pay former Kirov Oblast governor Nikita Belykh 200,000 rubles.

      The Sverdlovsky District Court of Perm partially upheld a suit by former Kirov Oblast governor Nikita Belykh against the Russian Ministry of Finance. The ex-official sought 10 million rubles for unlawful criminal prosecution, but the court awarded compensation of 200,000 rubles.

      The suit was heard with the participation of third parties — the investigative authorities, the prosecutor’s office, the Investigative Committee for Kirov Oblast and the Federal Treasury Department for Perm Krai.

      Belykh’s case concerned alleged abuse of power in connection with his work at the Kirov Regional Mortgage Corporation. In December 2023 the Oktyabrsky District Court of Kirov found him guilty on one count but exempted him from punishment because the statute of limitations had expired, and acquitted him on the second count. However, on July 8, 2024 the Kirov Regional Court fully overturned the verdict and terminated the criminal prosecution, recognizing Belykh as rehabilitated.