'Kapustnaya' billionaire heard her sentence in Nizhny Novgorod.

      November 30, 2025, 10:57 — Incidents. The owner of the company "Echo" (brand "Beloruchka"), Galina Sidarok, had her sentence pronounced in the case of organizing illegal migration on November 29, the program "Kstati" reports (16+).

      The entrepreneur built a successful and profitable business selling sauerkraut, which was exported to Russian cities and abroad. The businesswoman earned billions from the sauerkraut, which landed her on the Forbes list.

      In the summer of 2024 Sidarok was detained by officers of the Nizhny Novgorod regional FSB. She was charged under Part 2 of Article 322.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — organizing illegal migration. It turned out that foreign nationals without permits, i.e. illegal migrants, had been working at her factory. The case also involved Elena Vavilova, deputy head of the migration department of Police Precinct No. 2 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Nizhny Novgorod, who was accused of exceeding her official powers.

      It was established and proven that the owner of the "Beloruchka" brand hired illegal migrants, and Vavilova warned her about upcoming inspections to avoid punishment and, when necessary, covered for her, limiting penalties to fines.

      In April 2025 the investigation was completed and the materials were submitted to the court for consideration.

      On November 29 both were sentenced. Sidarok received a suspended sentence of three years' imprisonment. Vavilova received three years and one month of imprisonment with a ban on holding positions in the police.

      It should be added that the billionaire refused to comment on the court's decision. "I have no words. All questions to the lawyers," she snapped. As for Vavilova, even before the sentence was handed down she told TV reporters that she does not admit her guilt. Her former colleagues said she will appeal the verdict.

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