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In Sochi, on 4 June, Tatiana Polivanova, head of the Russian Association of Households and Land Users, who for several years has been assisting locals whose plots were seized following lawsuits by the prosecutor’s office related to the Sochi National Park case, was detained, reports Sochi1.ru.

She faces criminal charges of acting as an intermediary in bribery for knowingly unlawful actions or using official position (part 2 of Article 291.1 of the Criminal Code).

According to the media, the decision to open the case states that a woman filed a complaint against Polivanova. Investigators allege that this woman transferred 10,000 roubles (approx. US$110) to Polivanova’s son, and another 50,000 roubles (approx. US$550) to one of her acquaintances as a bribe, which the activist supposedly promised to pass on to “unidentified officials of the Sochi administration” for allocation of a land plot in Lazarevsky District.

The ruling states that Polivanova used “extensive connections” and her “official position” in her organisation, writes Kavkazsky Uzel.

The activist does not admit guilt and considers the case to be fabricated. Her sons and acquaintances insist that they have no knowledge of the people mentioned in the case and question the plausibility of the bribe amount.

“It looks like a farce. Sixty thousand is the price of a used smartphone, not a bribe for land in Sochi where officials demand tens of millions for such plots,” said one of her sons, Alexey Polivanov.

On the morning of 4 June, a search was conducted at the activist’s home. According to her son, law enforcement arrived at 6:30 am—over the next three hours, no family members were allowed to contact a lawyer. As a result of the search, a phone, computer and bank cards were seized.

The activist was then taken to the Investigative Committee for questioning, which ended only at 19:00. Afterwards, she was placed in a temporary detention centre. On 5 June, the Central District Court of Sochi is set to decide on pre-trial restrictions for her.

6 June The Central District Court of Sochi remanded Tatiana Polivanova in custody until 31 July, reports Kavkazsky Uzel.

The court considered the request for arrest on the evening of 5 June, after working hours. As a result, Polivanova’s supporters were not allowed into the hearing.

Additionally, Judge Galina Kazimirova refused to include both collective and individual statements in support of the activist, calling them “irrelevant to the case.” In their statements, locals described how Polivanova had helped them defend their rights in disputes with Sochi authorities, judges and security officials.

Polivanova’s son, who was allowed into the courtroom, said she appeared deeply distressed. Her lawyers insist that there is no reliable evidence in the case, and that it is based on assumptions and distortions.

“This is an example of blatant pressure: an activist dealing with the sensitive issue of land and property distribution in Sochi is being isolated from the outside world without sufficient grounds, with the court completely ignoring citizens’ voices and refusing to accept materials confirming her reputation and contributions to defending residents’ rights,” one of her lawyers told the publication on condition of anonymity.

Defenders also state that, according to investigators, Polivanova allegedly handed over 60,000 roubles (approx. US$660) to an official of the Sochi Department of Property Relations. The activist claims she approached this official for advice on land matters but denies any bribery. The official corroborated her statement, noting that they had not received any bribes from her, the lawyers say.

The lawyers believe that a woman named Kashke, who reported the activist, was set up as a figurehead in the case.

  • In 2021, the Krasnodar Krai prosecutor’s office announced the need for mass seizure of land plots in the territory of Sochi National Park. Following this, courts placed more than 11,000 plots under arrest, including some allocated to large families in 2015 on the president’s initiative. A criminal case for fraud was also launched.
  • Tatiana Polivanova, as head of the Russian Association of Households and Land Users, began helping people who lost their land. She said her organisation and lawyers managed to get several land seizure decisions overturned.
  • In November 2024, Polivanova was searched in connection with a criminal case against her for alleged fraud involving national park lands in Sochi. The fate of that case remains unclear.