Senior Russian emergency officials detained in major corruption case

Two senior officials from Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations have been detained on charges of large-scale fraud and bribery, Russian law enforcement agencies confirmed.

Irakli Arabidze, Deputy Director of the Ministry’s International Activities Department, and Vadim Khasenov, a former deputy director, are accused of accepting bribes and committing fraud on an especially large scale. If convicted, both men could face up to 15 years in prison under Russian law, Caliber.Az reports via TASS. 

Investigators say the case may be connected to alleged corruption within the International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO). In December 2025, Moscow’s Basmanny District Court approved a request from investigators to place both suspects in pre-trial detention.

Court records indicate that Arabidze and Khasenov have appealed the decision, with the Moscow City Court scheduled to hear their appeal on February 18.

The case follows an internal anti-corruption probe launched by Russia’s Minister of Emergency Situations, Alexander Kurenkov. As part of that investigation, the ICDO’s former Secretary General, Mariatu Yapa, and his former deputy, Andrei Kudinov, were removed from their positions.

By Sabina Mammadli