Ex-Duma deputy Doroshenko ordered held in custody in Sochi fraud case
In short
A Sochi court ordered former State Duma deputy Doroshenko held in custody for one month and 16 days, until 19 November 2026, on charges of large-scale fraud (part 4 of article 159 of the Russian Criminal Code), the Krasnodar region courts' joint press service said. Investigators allege that from 2017 to 2025 he and others embezzled budget funds intended for road repair and reconstruction in the Krasnodar region through the Kuban Road Builders Union association and the Moya Kuban fund, which received more than 1.8 billion roubles from road-sector companies. Vedomosti reported he was detained in Armavir on 5 October, after losing parliamentary immunity on 29 September; documents disagree on his first name, which Vedomosti gives as Andrey and Interfax as Alexander.
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The Central District Court of Sochi ordered former State Duma deputy Doroshenko held in custody on a charge of large-scale fraud under part 4 of article 159 of the Russian Criminal Code, the joint press service of Krasnodar region courts said. The detention was set for one month and 16 days, until 19 November 2026. Vedomosti and Interfax both cited the courts' press service, and the state news agency RIA Novosti reported the arrest without further detail. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to the investigation, Doroshenko and others embezzled budget funds intended for the repair and reconstruction of roads in the Krasnodar region between 2017 and 2025. Investigators say the group used the Krasnodar regional association “Kuban Road Builders Union” and the fund “Moya Kuban”; road-sector companies paid more than 1.8 billion roubles into the fund at the group's demand, after which the money was sent to controlled bank accounts and moved into shadow circulation, according to the case materials cited by Vedomosti and Interfax. [ 1 , 2 ]
The court declined to impose bail because neither the accused nor others were able to provide it at the time of the hearing, and it did not order house arrest because the defence had no suitable residential premises, the courts' press service said. Interfax quoted the press service as saying the measure of restraint was custody “for a term of 1 month 16 days, i.e. until 19 November 2026”. [ 1 , 2 ]
Vedomosti reported that Doroshenko was detained in Armavir on 5 October, and that he lost parliamentary immunity on 29 September after failing to enter the new, ninth State Duma. The two documents disagree on his first name: Vedomosti names him Andrey Doroshenko, while Interfax names him Alexander Doroshenko. [ 1 , 2 ]
Vedomosti also reported that Doroshenko is a defendant in a Prosecutor General lawsuit connected to former State Duma deputy Anatoly Voronovsky. On 19 February, a court converted into state income property belonging to Voronovsky, Doroshenko and associated persons, including 19 enterprises and 207 real estate objects, and on 9 April a court ordered the liquidation of the Moya Kuban fund and the Kuban Road Builders Union, through which road companies transferred more than 1.9 billion roubles in 2017–2024 according to case materials, Vedomosti said. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The case is against a former member of the federal lower house and centres on money officially intended for road repairs in the Krasnodar region, so it carries weight in Russian domestic politics and in how regional road spending is supervised. Related court decisions already ordered the liquidation of the two organisations named in the case and the transfer of property belonging to Doroshenko and associated persons to the state, according to Vedomosti, indicating the legal fallout is broader than the criminal charge. The documents do not say how the case will proceed beyond the custody order.
Key facts
- The Central District Court of Sochi ordered former State Duma deputy Doroshenko held in custody on a charge of large-scale fraud (part 4 of article 159 of the Russian Criminal Code), according to the joint press service of Krasnodar region courts. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The custody order runs for one month and 16 days, until 19 November 2026. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Investigators allege that from 2017 to 2025 Doroshenko and others embezzled budget funds earmarked for the repair and reconstruction of roads in the Krasnodar region. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Road-sector companies paid more than 1.8 billion roubles into the Moya Kuban fund at the demand of the group, after which the money was sent to controlled accounts and moved into shadow circulation, according to the investigation. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The court refused bail because the accused or others could not provide it at the time of the hearing, and did not impose house arrest because the defence had no suitable residential premises. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Doroshenko was detained in Armavir on 5 October and lost parliamentary immunity on 29 September after not entering the new State Duma. [ 1 ]
- Doroshenko is also a defendant in a Prosecutor General lawsuit connected to former State Duma deputy Anatoly Voronovsky; Vedomosti reported that on 19 February a court converted property of Voronovsky, Doroshenko and associated persons into state income, including 19 enterprises and 207 real estate objects. [ 1 ]
- Vedomosti reported that on 9 April a court ordered the liquidation of the Moya Kuban fund and the Kuban Road Builders Union, through which road companies transferred more than 1.9 billion roubles in 2017–2024 according to case materials. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Central District Court of Sochi imposed detention as a measure of restraint on former State Duma deputy Doroshenko, charged with large-scale fraud. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The detention was ordered for one month and 16 days, until 19 November 2026, the courts' joint press service said. [ 1 , 2 ]
- According to the investigation, Doroshenko and others embezzled budget funds intended for road repair and reconstruction and used the Kuban Road Builders Union and the Moya Kuban fund to collect and divert the money. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Road-sector companies paid more than 1.8 billion roubles into the fund, which the investigation says was transferred to controlled accounts and moved into shadow circulation. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The court gave no grounds for bail and did not apply house arrest, the courts' press service said. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- Doroshenko's first name is given differently: Vedomosti names him Andrey Doroshenko, while Interfax names him Alexander Doroshenko. The two documents state different first names for the same former State Duma deputy and the source documents do not resolve which is correct.
- RIA Novosti's report contains only a headline and no article text. The document carries no readable article, so no detail from it beyond the fact of the arrest can be used.
- The fate of the criminal case beyond the custody order. The documents describe only the pre-trial detention decision and do not state when the case may go to trial or what sentence, if any, is sought.
- The exact sums involved. Vedomosti reports more than 1.8 billion roubles collected through the fund and more than 1.9 billion roubles transferred through the fund and union in a related court decision, while Interfax cites the same figure of more than 1.8 billion roubles; the documents do not reconcile the figures.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Vedomosti publishes its report saying the Central District Court of Sochi ordered former State Duma deputy Doroshenko held in custody until 19 November 2026. [ 1 ]
- Interfax publishes its report on the same custody decision, citing the Krasnodar region courts' joint press service. [ 2 ]
- RIA Novosti publishes a headline report on the arrest of the former State Duma deputy in the fraud case. [ 3 ]