24 years in prison and ₽ 100 million in fines threaten ex-traffic police officer in Stavropol

The prosecution requested 24 years in a high-security penal colony, as well as a fine of ₽ 100 million to the former head of the traffic police department in the Stavropol Territory, Alexei Safonov. This was reported in the Circassian city court. The defendant is accused of creating a criminal community.

Safonov's lawyers stressed during the debate that the prosecution witnesses did not confirm his involvement in the creation of a criminal community. They also added that it is necessary to be critical of the testimony of ex-police officer Alexander Arzhanukhin, who stated that Safonov was aware of the sale of plates among drivers. At the same time, he did not confirm the presence of a criminal community, RBC reports.

Safonov's case was transferred to the Cherkess City Court in December 2023 for consideration on the merits. He is accused of creating a criminal community, receiving a bribe, abuse of official authority (part 3 of Article 210, part 5 of Article 290, part 6 of Article 290, part 1 of Article 285 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). According to the investigation, Safonov created a criminal community in 2012 to collect fees from heavy truck drivers for ensuring unhindered travel through the region and not bringing car owners to administrative responsibility.

"From January 2013 to July 2021, in the territory of Stavropol, the members of the organized criminal group received 101 bribes totaling at least 21 million rubles for not bringing the owners of cargo vehicles that transported grain crops and other cargo to administrative responsibility. The group members developed and implemented their own unofficial system of "passes" that drivers placed under the windshield of cars," the report says.