Retired Stavropol judge Khripunov arrested in bribery case

The Supreme Court has remanded Mikhail Khripunov, former deputy chairman of the Stavropol Krai Court, in custody after he was arrested on bribery charges. The defendant requested a more lenient pretrial detention measure.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, in March the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against three retired judges from the Stavropol Krai. Retired deputy chairman of the regional court, Mikhail Khripunov, was suspected of accepting bribes, while retired judge of the Oktyabrsky District Court of Stavropol, Timur Nabokov, and retired deputy chairman of the Nevinnomyssk City Court, Artem Sergeev, were suspected of acting as an intermediary in bribery.

A two-month preventive measure was imposed.

16:03 28.04.2026

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The Supreme Court granted the motion for the arrest of retired judge Mikhail Khripunov, the court's press service reported today. "The former deputy chairman of the Stavropol Krai Court is accused of preparing and accepting bribes on a large and especially large scale. The High Qualification Collegium previously approved the initiation of criminal proceedings against Mikhail Khripunov," the court's website stated.

According to the case file, the judge, in exchange for a fee of four million rubles, "expressed a willingness to assist" in changing the pretrial detention of two defendants to house arrest.

"However, he failed to realize his criminal intent. Later, in exchange for a bribe of 500,000 rubles, Khripunov, using his authority, influenced the civil cases panel of the Stavropol Krai Court, which upheld the claims of the interested party," the report cites the investigation's version.

The Special Judicial Collegium of the Supreme Court remanded Mikhail Khripunov in custody for two months. "No circumstances have been established indicating criminal prosecution of the judge in connection with his position in the administration of justice," the publication emphasizes.

Khripunov requested not to be placed in custody

A video recording of Khripunov's speech at the hearing was posted on the court's Telegram channel today.

I categorically, of course, object to the selection of such a preventive measure.

"I categorically, of course, object to the selection of such a preventive measure as detention. If the esteemed court deems it necessary to apply some [other] measure, then any other measure provided for by the Criminal Procedure Code [is acceptable], and I am, in fact, ready," he said.

As a reminder, according to the investigation, In addition to Sergeev and Nabokov, two other individuals served as intermediaries in the bribery scheme. In August and December 2023, Sergeev, Nabokov, and a certain Sergei Mikhailov acted as intermediaries, offering Khripunov bribes of one million and three million rubles in exchange for lenient pretrial detention for two arrested individuals. Khripunov agreed, but the court denied the defense's motions, so the money was never transferred.

In December 2023, according to investigators, Nabokov, through intermediary Evgeny Sokurenko, received 50,000 rubles for satisfying a debt collection claim, and in July 2024, Khripunov, through Mikhailov and Nabokov, received 500,000 rubles for assistance in upholding a court decision in a civil case.

Sokurenko and Mikhailov were detained, Mikhailov was remanded in custody, and Sokurenko was placed under house arrest.