Former Kursk Governor Confesses to Bribery in Major Defense Corruption Case

Former Governor of the Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, has confessed to accepting bribes related to construction projects for border defenses, according to Russian state media reports on Thursday, which referenced sources within law enforcement.

Smirnov, who held the gubernatorial position until December 2024, made this admission as part of a plea bargain with investigators, as indicated by sources cited by TASS news agency. His former deputy, Alexei Dedov, is also facing charges in the case.

The state prosecutors allege that the two were part of an «organized group» that misappropriated 1 billion rubles (approximately $11.7 million) of public funds intended for defense fortifications along the border of southwestern Russia with Ukraine. Investigators assert that Smirnov and Dedov received around 30 million rubles (about $350,000) in kickbacks from contractors involved in the construction projects.

These allegations follow an incursion by Ukrainian forces into the Kursk region in August 2024, shortly after Smirnov assumed office. Despite significant financial investments by Moscow to enhance border defenses, Ukrainian forces were still able to seize substantial areas before being expelled earlier this year by Russian troops, which included support from North Korean forces.

Reports indicate that at least 11 officials and business leaders are currently implicated in related border construction scandals. Former officials from the Kursk Region Development Corporation revealed to investigators that they paid Smirnov and Dedov a 15% commission on contracts, according to the business newspaper Kommersant.

On Wednesday, a Moscow court decided to extend the pre-trial detention of both men until mid-December. During the hearing, prosecutors reportedly filed new bribery charges against Smirnov.

Smirnov’s predecessor, Roman Starovoit, tragically took his own life outside Moscow in July, amid allegations that he was also being investigated in connection with the same corruption scheme. At the time of his death, Starovoit was serving as the Minister of Transportation.