The former mayor of Sochi and his wife were sentenced to long terms.
The court sentenced former Sochi mayor Alexey Kopaygorodsky and his wife to prison terms, finding them guilty of embezzling land plots and receiving bribes. Each of the spouses was also fined 500 million rubles.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", in September, the prosecutor demanded to sentence former Sochi mayor Alexey Kopaygorodsky to 21 years in a strict regime colony, a fine of 500 million rubles, as well as to prohibit him from holding managerial positions in government for 15 years and to confiscate the seized 319.7 million rubles. The prosecutor demanded that the former official's wife, Yanina Kopaygorodskaya, be sentenced to 16 years in a general regime colony and a fine of 500 million rubles. For the third defendant, Alexander Pasunko, accused of pressuring a witness, the prosecutor proposed a fine of 200 thousand rubles.
In November 2025, the Prosecutor General's Office approved the indictment and sent the case of Alexey Kopaygorodsky and his wife to the Supreme Court to determine territorial jurisdiction. The Supreme Court determined the territorial jurisdiction of the case, and it was transferred for consideration to the Meshchansky Court of Moscow.
The Meshchansky Court of Moscow issued a verdict against Alexey Kopaygorodsky, his wife Yanina Kopaygorodskaya, and her assistant Alexander Pasunko, the Prosecutor General's Office reported today on its website.
"The court sentenced Kopaygorodsky to 15 years of imprisonment in a strict regime correctional colony, with a fine of 500 million rubles, and a restriction of freedom for 3 years. He is also deprived of the right to hold positions related to organizational, administrative, and economic functions in government bodies and local self-government for 14 years and 6 months," the publication states.
Yanina Kopaygorodskaya was sentenced to 9 years in a general regime colony with a restriction of freedom for two years and a fine of 500 million rubles. "Alexander Pasunko was sentenced to a fine of 190 thousand rubles," the agency reported.
A native of Krasnodar, Alexey Kopaygorodsky headed Sochi since 2019. On May 14, 2024, he submitted a resignation letter due to a transition to a new job, and the next day the city assembly accepted the mayor's resignation.
The ex-mayor found guilty of embezzlement and bribery
According to the court, from January 2022 to March 2024, Kopaygorodsky "with the assistance of his wife embezzled entrusted property" in the form of two land plots in Sochi worth over 26 million rubles.
"To legalize the embezzled property, the plots were registered in the name of Kopaygorodskaya and a controlled person. From March 2022 to May 2024, in Sochi, the official, with the mediation of his wife, received over 319 million rubles from representatives of several commercial organizations, promising in return to create favorable conditions for business and general patronage. These funds were legalized by the Kopaygorodskys through the purchase of real estate," the statement said.
The prosecution believes that in September 2024, Kopaygorodskaya "under the threat of causing harm to health" persuaded one of the witnesses in the criminal case to give knowingly false testimony, and then, while under house arrest, bribed another witness through Pasunko for 500 thousand rubles.
"Monetary funds amounting to about 440 million rubles were confiscated for the benefit of the state. Previously, part of the property belonging to the Kopaygorodskys was confiscated for the benefit of the state," the agency reported.
It should be noted that in 2025, the Prosecutor General's Office demanded to confiscate 14 apartments, land plots, cars, and other property of Alexey and Yanina Kopaygorodsky and related individuals and organizations, totaling 1.6 billion rubles. In January, the court satisfied the agency's claim. The Krasnodar Regional Court upheld this decision.
In January, Yanina Kopaygorodskaya challenged the decision to transfer the apartment on Tsvetnoy Boulevard in Moscow to the state, stating that this is the only housing for four minor children.
In September 2024, the court arrested the former mayor of Sochi, and Kopaygorodsky was charged with receiving bribes, embezzling funds, and receiving significant rewards. His wife Yanina Kopaygorodskaya was charged with embezzlement, mediating in bribery, and pressuring witnesses. In August 2025, new charges were brought against Kopaygorodsky - for legalizing criminal proceeds amounting to over 104 million rubles. His wife was also involved in this case.