The regional court of Kirov acquitted former governor Nikita Belykh of abuse of power charges during an appellate session on July 8, as reported by RIA Novosti.
In December 2023, Nikita Belykh, who was already in a penal colony for bribery, was sentenced to an additional 2.5 years but was exempted from punishment due to the statute of limitations. The damage caused to the budget by his actions was estimated at 740 million rubles.
The former head of Kirov Oblast was released from the penal colony on June 21. In 2018, he was sentenced to 8 years for accepting bribes totaling 400,000 euros, a charge he denied.
Nikita Belykh served as governor of Kirov Oblast from 2009 until his arrest in 2016. Previously, he led the Union of Right Forces Party. During his first term as governor, Alexey Navalny was his aide.
Belykh’s tenure saw the Kirovles case, in which Alexey Navalny was accused of embezzlement and received his first prison term, which was subsequently changed to a suspended sentence.
