The former head of the Nizhny Novgorod branch of RANEPA has been sentenced to 4 years in prison.

      On June 3, 2026, at 14:19, Incidents: The court has sentenced the former director of the Nizhny Novgorod Institute of Management of the RANEPA and ex-deputy of the regional legislative assembly, Alexander Paramonov.

      According to "Kommersant-Privolzhye," the convicted individual has been sentenced to 4 years in a strict regime colony. Additionally, he is required to pay a fine of 3 million rubles. In favor of RANEPA, he has been ordered to compensate damages amounting to 3.5 million rubles. Part of the previously seized cash will be directed towards repaying the amount of bribes. Furthermore, Paramonov is prohibited from holding positions in the education system for five years. The court took into account that Paramonov admitted his guilt, cooperated with the investigation, and entered into a pre-trial agreement.

      Recall that Alexander Paramonov was detained and taken into custody in March 2025. According to the investigation, from 2016 to 2022, while heading the branch of the Presidential Academy in Dzerzhinsk, he organized a scheme for issuing diplomas without actual training.

      Those wishing to obtain an education document without attending classes transferred money through his driver, Murad Magomedov. Paramonov met him at sports competitions and then hired him at the university.

      The investigation believes that the scheme was systemic in nature. At the direction of the management, teachers and the dean noted fictitious attendance, accepted credits and exams from students who were not actually studying. During sessions, money was transferred to the intermediary's bank card.

      The total amount of bribes, according to the investigation, exceeded 1.5 million rubles. The indictment included eight episodes, and based on Paramonov's testimony, criminal cases were initiated against the students who transferred money.

      After being appointed as the head of the Nizhny Novgorod Institute of Management of RANEPA, Paramonov transferred Magomedov there, initially hiring him as a driver and then as a specialist. Upon learning about the payment of large bonuses to employees, the director held personal meetings with them and indicated amounts ranging from 50 to 150 thousand rubles on a piece of paper, which they were to hand over to him "for common needs," without disclosing the agreements. According to the case materials, 7.9 million rubles were obtained in this way.

      It was also established that he fictitiously employed his wife's driver, who was paid more than 3.2 million rubles. Another episode is related to the embezzlement of 250 thousand rubles during a tender for organizing a boxing tournament with a total cost of 800 thousand rubles.

      Earlier, the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region prematurely terminated his deputy powers at his personal request. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When republishing, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.