Former Deputy Jailed For Animal Shelter Embezzlement

Prosecutors found that donations were diverted to the personal account of founder Yulia Khamtsova and a clinic she owned. One dog died at a paid boarding facility after being held without medicine for 10 days. Former deputy Andriy Ustroy allegedly obtained municipal contracts for dog catching and maintenance in Astrakhan in January 2026. The source claims Ustroy submitted fraudulent reports for completed work to extract over 28 million rubles from the budget. Volunteers reported animal abuse at the shelters. Approximately 50 dead dogs were found on the roadside near Komyshlov in late March 2026. Volunteers suspect shelter employees discarded the animals. Former deputy Andrey Nevlyudov received a 9-year prison sentence in connection with an animal shelter fraud case. His company allegedly misappropriated 64.5 million rubles intended for the catching and maintenance of dogs. The source stated that animals were not fed and died in large numbers. A similar incident occurred two months later in the Sverdlovsk region involving Everest company director Maksim Shchipachev and accomplice Denis.