Ex-Minister Mikhail Abyzov Jailed 14 Years Over U.S. Solar Investments

Nov. 11, 2026 Mikhail Abyzov. Alexander Avilov / Moskva News Agency A judge in Moscow has sentenced former Russian Open Government Minister Mikhail Abyzov to a total of 14 years in prison after finding him guilty of fraud, the Moscow Prosecutor’s Office said Wednesday. Abyzov, 54, was already serving a 12-year prison sentence handed down in 2023 on accusations of defrauding two Siberian energy companies, founding an organized crime group, as well as running a business illegally and bribery. A judge at the Tagansky District Court found Abyzov guilty of defrauding an unidentified entity in connection with high-tech investments into the U.S.-based solar energy firm Alion Energy. Reports identified the entity as the state-owned Russian Venture Company. Prosecutors claimed Abyzov had conspired with two business associates to mislead the Russian Venture Company into continuing to invest in Alion Energy, thus embezzling $5 million. Abyzov, who denied the charges, maintained that he personally suffered financial losses from the failed venture and noted that he continued investing his own funds into Alion Energy after the alleged embezzlement. Taking into account his prior conviction, the court handed down a combined sentence of 14 years for Abyzov. He was also fined 80.1 million rubles ($968,200), banned from holding public office for three years and stripped of state awards. It was not immediately clear how many years Abyzov was sentenced to specifically in the latest case. The sentence, which is subject to appeal, comes more than a year after law enforcement authorities pressed charges as part of an investigation into the fraud scheme. Abyzov’s defense attorney did not indicate whether he plans to appeal his latest prison sentence. Read more about: Court cases Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Vice President of Putin’s ‘Personal Cashbox’ Jailed 8.5 Years for Bribery Igor Andreev was arrested in March 2024 after police investigators said they caught him receiving part of an illicit payment tied to a real estate development... 2 Min read Ex-Detention Center Warden in Irkutsk Jailed 5 Years for Abusing Inmates Igor Mokeev and his deputy were found guilty of overseeing the abuse of dozens of inmates who had been transferred to the detention center following a deadly... 1 Min read Military Court Sentences 8 to Life in Prison Over Crimean Bridge Bombing Ukraine took responsibility for the 2022 attack but has insisted that those arrested in Russia were unaware that they were transporting explosives. 2 Min read Samara Court Sentences Exiled Cult Leader Svetlana Lada-Rus to 8 Years in Prison A music teacher by training, Lada-Rus first gained attention in the 1990s after opening an occult healing center in Samara. 2 Min read