Political technologist Khaluga received 3.5 years probation for fraud.

      June 18, 2026 14:42 Incidents Political technologist Mikhail Khaluga received a suspended sentence for fraud. This was reported by political observer Andrei Vovk, citing sources.

      Recall that Khaluga, who oversaw the election campaign for the Duma of Dzerzhinsk, was arrested last summer. Initially, he was suspected of receiving a commercial bribe in a particularly large amount. However, the investigation later reclassified the charges against him to fraud (part 4 of article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, part 3 of article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

      Along with him, the former executive secretary of "United Russia" in Dzerzhinsk, Maria Kilina, was detained. The criminal case concerned the collection of money from candidates running for the Duma of Dzerzhinsk under the previous mayor.

      As a result, Khaluga received a suspended sentence of 3.5 years and a fine of 400,000 rubles, while Kilina received a suspended sentence of 4.5 years and a fine of 600,000 rubles.

      It was previously reported that former Vice Mayor of Nizhny Novgorod Ilya Shtokman and his brother are being transferred from Moscow to the Volga capital. By court decision, they will remain in custody until December 8. The consideration of the criminal case (Ilya Shtokman is accused of receiving a multi-million bribe) will begin in July.

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