The Balakovo District Court announced the suspension of criminal proceedings against Ivan Pivovarov, a former police officer and son of Saratov Oblast Vice Governor, during a session on September 24, according to the case record on the court’s website.
The case record states that "the defendant’s whereabouts are known," but "there is no real possibility of him participating in the trial." This phrasing is typically used when defendants have left to fight in the war in Ukraine.
In mid-September, the Saratov-based outlet Versia reported Ivan Pivovarov’s plans to join the war effort but later deleted their post.
Ivan Pivovarov is the son of Igor Pivovarov, Chief of Staff to Saratov Oblast Governor Roman Busargin. He faces charges of animal cruelty (Article 245 of the Russian Criminal Code) and intentional destruction of property (Article 167).
In 2022, Pivovarov’s ex-girlfriend, Kristina Khruslova, accused him of domestic violence and claimed he killed her two dogs while intoxicated. In March 2023, he was acquitted in the case related to the alleged assault on Khruslova.
