Senior city official in Russia’s Chelyabinsk detained in fraud probe

A senior municipal official in Russia has been detained as part of an ongoing fraud investigation.

Alexander Astakhov, deputy mayor of Chelyabinsk, was taken into custody on Marcch 28, Caliber.Az reports per TASS, which cited regional law enforcement sources.

The detention was reportedly carried out in a joint operation involving officers from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Investigative Committee.

Preliminary information suggests Astakhov came under suspicion during an investigation into alleged fraud linked to the municipal unitary enterprise “POVV.”

Astakhov oversees municipal services in Chelyabinsk, including the housing and utilities sector. No official charges have been publicly confirmed, and authorities have not yet released further details about the case.

By Sabina Mammadli