Russian law enforcement authorities have reportedly arrested and pressed fraud charges against Alexander Neradko, the former head of the state civil aviation agency Rosaviatsia, nearly three years after his dismissal.
Neradko led Rosaviatsia from 2009 until he was removed for undisclosed reasons in September 2023. His tenure concluded during a turbulent period for Russia’s aviation sector, which was hit hard by Western sanctions following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Investigators are now petitioning a court to place Neradko in pre-trial detention on charges of fraud, the newspaper Kommersant reported Friday, citing court documents.
Moscow’s Khoroshevsky District Court is reportedly scheduled to rule on Friday on whether to hold Neradko in pre-trial detention for two months.
Reports did not detail the specific allegations against Neradko, who had been serving as an adviser to the CEO of the state-owned State Transport Leasing Company since leaving Rosaviatsia.
The RBC news outlet reported that several senior officials at Rosaviatsia faced criminal prosecution during the final years of Neradko’s tenure.
His former deputy, Sergei Timoshenko — who served at the agency for six months between September 2021 and March 2022 — was charged with bribery this spring.
Investigators accused Timoshenko of accepting 2.3 million rubles ($29,700) in bribes tied to construction work at Domodedovo International Airport.
In May 2022, shortly after the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government officially reprimanded Neradko for Rosaviatsia’s failure to carry out its instructions.
Kommersant previously reported that Neradko’s ouster was linked to strained relations between Russia’s Transportation Ministry and Rosaviatsia, which had long maintained a high degree of institutional independence.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Moscow Times as an “undesirable” organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a “foreign agent.”
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work “discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership.” We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It’s quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you’re defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Continue
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.
×
Remind me next month
Thank you! Your reminder is set.
