Nikita Belykh, the former governor of Russia’s Kirov region, was released from prison after serving an eight-year sentence for accepting a large bribe. He was detained in 2016 while accepting a €400,000 bribe in Moscow and was subsequently sentenced to eight years in prison. Belykh denied the charges against him and claimed he was set up. During his time in prison, he was also charged with two counts of abuse of power, one of which he was acquitted of, while the second resulted in a two-and-a-half-year sentence.
Despite the fact that Belykh was never a member of the ruling United Russia party, he served as the governor of the Kirov region from 2008 until his arrest in 2016. He also appointed Alexei Navalny, a prominent opposition activist, as his advisor during his tenure, which some believe may have played a role in the criminal case against him. Belykh’s lawyer confirmed his release following the expiration of his sentence in 2018, and stated that he plans to spend time with his family while also participating in the ongoing proceedings related to his 2021 abuse of power charge.
Upon his release, Belykh expressed plans to refrain from speaking directly to the press or giving any interviews immediately. He acknowledged that he needed time to catch up on the changes that have occurred in the country during his time in prison, and to further understand and engage with the current situation. The former governor’s defense lawyer has launched an appeal against his 2021 conviction for abuse of power, and a ruling on this appeal is expected to be made on June 28th. Belykh’s release follows his full completion of the eight-year sentence handed down to him in 2018.
Throughout his time in prison, Belykh maintained that he was innocent of the bribery charges brought against him, and claimed that he was a victim of entrapment. Despite being sentenced to eight years in jail in 2018, he served two years in pre-trial detention which were counted towards his overall prison term. In the letter penned by Belykh upon his release, he conveyed that his health and well-being were in good condition and noted his intention to participate in the ongoing legal proceedings related to his recent abuse of power charge. Belykh’s release marks the end of his imprisonment and the beginning of his reintegration into society after eight years behind bars.
