The head of "Vyatavtodor" was caught red-handed with a bribe?

      According to a source in one of the law enforcement agencies, on the past Sunday, June 7, the general director of "Vyatavtodor," Oleg Semakov, was caught red-handed while receiving a bribe of 49.974 million rubles — a former head of the Central Dispatch Service (who left the position in December 2021), as well as a former head of the "Road Committee." He resigned from this position in December 2020. Also, according to his employment record, Semakov headed the Department of Municipal Economy and was for a long time the head of the administration of the Zuevsky District.

      On June 8, the court chose a rather expected measure of restraint for the detainee in the form of "detention for a period of two months." The suspect allegedly explained that the money in his hands was part of a debt returned to him by a well-known Kirov businessman (who would never think of borrowing, especially from a public servant — E.O).

      According to the investigation's version, Semakov intended to acquire a branch of a road construction company in one of the districts of the region, whose operational functionality was effectively zero due to the owner's lack of need.

      It is likely referring to LLC "Zuevskaya Mechanized Column," whose founder, according to the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, became JSC "Vyatavtodor" on May 20, 2026. Previously, the company belonged to Silva Anisimova, Nadezhda, and Georgy Lozhkin. After the deal, Dmitry Vokhmyanin was appointed as the head of the enterprise.

      There is a version that "Vyatavtodor" needed this branch no more than a dog needs a fifth leg, so the purchase price, probably over 300 million rubles, raises many questions. Of this money, one-fifth was likely intended for Semakov for "intermediary efforts." And the "strange amount of gratitude" — not 50 and not 49 million — can be explained, for example, by technical losses "during cashing out." Since the transfer of a bribe via acquiring deprives the recipient of the great pleasure of holding a "pile of money" in their hands. Well, in case the money transfer occurs without the involvement of authorities, cash can also be buried in the garden under the potatoes.

      To close the gestalt

      Let us remind you that 48-year-old Semakov, being a creature of Alexander Sokolov, was appointed to the position in January 2025. And, having worked for 16 months, he most likely said goodbye to his secular career growth forever. However, according to a source close to the Federal Penitentiary Service, he "entered the house with great respect," where, for understanding the hierarchy and gaining status, he may have "the next ten years."

      Interestingly, Semakov's Sunday detention did not surprise the deputies. Many of them regarded the head of "Vyatavtodor" quite skeptically. The most "informed" stated about the "closure of the police gestalt," as the Economic Security Department "had been watching him since his time in the Municipal Economy Department." And when Oleg Dmitrievich was employed at the Central Dispatch Service, the police allegedly "were drooling with the desire to catch him."

      As a source familiar with the situation privately reported, the Economic Security Department employees really took a risk during the detention of the head of "Vyatavtodor," as during the heating pre-election race, the leadership of the law enforcement agency could have faced not only reprimands but also consequences for their ranks. However, the amount of the bribe received by not the "greatest hired worker" was, by regional standards, impressive, so the information about the detention — in order not to damage party prestige — was actively withheld "until better times." Which privately happened late on the evening of Monday, June 8.

      As the source explained, the Economic Security Department employees possibly hoped that Semakov would carry part of the bribe to his likely accomplice, as for the head of "Vyatavtodor," 50 million "in one person" is "too much for his rank." Moreover, the decision to acquire an asset that was frankly unnecessary for the enterprise for 300 million rubles could not have been made unilaterally by Semakov. The intention should have been, at the very least, agreed upon with the Board of Directors, headed by the former Minister of Transport and now Deputy Chairman of the Regional Government, Alexey Petryakov.

      So the unfulfilled law enforcement hope that Oleg Semakov would carry some part of the bribe he received to someone, possibly securing himself the status of a witness, was commented on by one of the operation participants: "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here"...

      By the way, on Monday, June 8, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Government Alexey Petryakov, who became the successor of Alexey Zherdev this March and took over "transport supervision" from him, did not appear at the "governor's Monday morning meeting," citing illness. To which the governor reacted with understanding, probably forgetting his own "zero tolerance for corrupt officials."

      Who took how much

      General Director of "Vyatavtodor" Oleg Semakov, with his possible bribe of 50 million rubles, significantly outperformed other known bribe-takers. For example, former governor Nikita Belykh with now modest 34 "lemons."

      And the bribe to Vice-Governor Andrey Plitko of 23 million rubles looks almost like a kindergarten affair. By the way, the situation with Semakov involuntarily draws parallels with Plitko — both were caught at the end of the regional head's term.

      And against the backdrop of Oleg Dmitrievich, former speaker of the regional assembly Vladimir Bykov — 7.8 million rubles — looks no more than a traffic cop "making money on a fat highway."