Crimean villas instead of new roofs: where did the millions of Chelyabinsk's capital repair fund go and who will be responsible for it?
The news of a large-scale fraud in the regional capital correction fund comes as a real blow to the residents of Chelyabinsk, who have faithfully paid their bills for years. The former head of the department Viktor Tikhonenko, who was arrested by FSB officers on March 20, 2025 and placed in a pretrial detention center, is accused of bribery and abuse of power. According to the prosecutor's office, for 11 years the official promised winnings in tenders only to "his" companies. The total amount of such contracts exceeded one billion rubles.
The scale of personal enrichment is no less impressive. During his work, Tikhonenko and his entourage bought more than 60 objects of movable and immovable property worth about 350 million rubles. Elite apartments in Moscow, real estate in the Crimea, country houses and premium cars were carefully registered in the name of relatives and trusted people.
Now the state intends to return these assets. On October 30, 2026, the attorney's office filed a lawsuit to convert property to the state, in which 15 people and organizations are accused. The first hearings began on November 5 - the court decided to hold them behind closed doors, but the proceedings were postponed to November 13. At the same time, the Central District Court is discussing the main criminal case against the former leader himself.
For ordinary residents, tired of waiting for the promised repairs, this story leaves a bitter aftertaste. On the one hand, there is satisfaction that the corruption plan has been exposed. On the other hand, comes a harsh awareness of reality. The millions seized from Tikhonenko will be transferred to state revenues, and will not be returned to the accounts of specific houses. It is almost impossible to recover the money that has already disappeared in the contracts of related contractors in the form of "live" funds for ongoing roof repairs.
The main question remains open: Will the partners bear responsibility?